Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico

Last updated
Inter-university Athletics League
Liga Atletica Inter.jpg
FormerlyIntercollegiate Athletic Association (1929–1942)
Conference FISU
FoundedFebruary 2, 1929;96 years ago (February 2, 1929)
CommissionerJosé Enrique Arrarás
Sports fielded
  • men's: 16
  • women's: 13
No. of teams17
Headquarters San German, Puerto Rico
Region Puerto Rico
Official website laipr.org

The Inter-university Athletic League, often abbreviated LAI, is a college athletics conference in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. [1]

Contents

The LAI is a non-profit organization whose main purpose is to regulate sports amongst its member institutions. The league was founded in 1929 by Cosme Beitía of the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, Charles Leker for the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, and Luis Izquierdo Galo y José D. Morales from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. [2] The league is best known for its flagship inter-collegiate sports event locally called Las Justas which takes place yearly during the month of April, generally in the city of Ponce. [3]

History

The League began celebrating three sports events amongst its member institutions in 1929; Baseball, Basketball, and Athletics. For 40 years, the League's events were open to male athletes only. Women began competing in the league starting in the 1969–1970 academic year. Today, male athletes compete in some 16 events and female athletes in 13. Every year the league hosts the Justas de Atletismo y Festival Deportivo , their flagship sports competition event. For many years the event was held in San Juan, but in 1993 the event was moved to the city of Ponce. [4] In 2010 the event was held in Mayagüez in preparation for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. [5] Games resumed in Ponce in 2011, and continued in Ponce in 2012. [6]

The league is administered by a "Administrative Council" made up of the Deans of Students, Athletic Directors, and a student representative. There is also a "Cuerpo Rectoral" called the "Junta de Gobierno" made up of the Rectors and presidents of the member institutions. The "Junta de Gobierno" chooses an employee called "The Commissioner" who is appointed to act as executive officer of the LAI for a period of two years. The League is a founding member of International University Sports Federation.

Sports

Member schools

Current members

Institution (English)Institution (Spanish)AcronymColorsNicknameLocation [a] JoinedAffiliationEnrollment [b] Section
University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras Universidad de Puerto Rico en Río PiedrasUPRRP  Gallitos &
Jerezanas
San Juan 1929 Public 18,653Beitia
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Universidad de Puerto Rico en MayagüezRUM  Tarzanes &
Juanas
Mayagüez 1929 Public 13,148Mangual
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico Universidad Interamericana de Puerto RicoUIPR  Tigres San German 1929Private50,000Mangual
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto RicoPUCPR  Pioneros Ponce 1954 Catholic 12,000Mangual
University of Puerto Rico at Cayey Universidad de Puerto Rico en CayeyUPRC   Toritos &
Toritas
Cayey 1971 Public 4,128Mangual
University of Puerto Rico at Humacao Universidad de Puerto Rico en HumacaoUPRH  Buhos &
Buhas
Humacao 1975 Public 4,732Beitia
University of the Sacred Heart Universidad del Sagrado CorazónUSC Delfines Santurce 1979 Catholic 5,261Beitia
University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón Universidad de Puerto Rico en BayamónUPRB   Vaqueros &
Vaqueras
Bayamón 1980 Public 5,014Beitia
University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo Universidad de Puerto Rico en AreciboUPRA  Lobos &
Lobas
Arecibo 1983 Public 3,693Mangual
Bayamón Central University Universidad Central de BayamónUCB  Halcones Bayamón 1991 Catholic 2,133Beitia
University of Puerto Rico at Ponce Universidad de Puerto Rico en PonceUPRP  Leones &
Leonas
Ponce 1992 Public 4,000Mangual
University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla Universidad de Puerto Rico en AguadillaUPRAG  Tiburones Aguadilla 1992 Public 3,393Mangual
University of Puerto Rico at Carolina Universidad de Puerto Rico en CarolinaUPRCA  Jaguares Carolina 1994 Public 4,240Beitia
University of Puerto Rico at Utuado Universidad de Puerto Rico en UtuadoUPRU   Guaraguaos Utuado 1998 Public 1,682Mangual
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico Universidad Politécnica de Puerto RicoPUPR  Castores San Juan 1999Private5,195Beitia
Caribbean University CU   Grifones Bayamón 2005Private1,603Beitia
Ana G. Méndez University Universidad Ana G. MéndezUAGM  Taínos &
Taínas
San Juan 2019 [c] Private24,700Mangual
Notes
  1. All cities are located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  2. Undergraduate
  3. UAGM was formed in 2019 from the merger of the three institutions under the Ana G. Mendez University System: the University of Turabo, Metropolitan University and the Universidad del Este, all of whom were LAI members at the time of merger.

Former members

Institution (English)Institution (Spanish)AcronymColorsNicknameLocation [a] JoinedLeftAffiliationEnrollment [b] SectionCurrent
conference
University of the Virgin Islands Universidad de las Islas VírgenesUVI    Bucaneros &
Bucaneras
St. Thomas 20052017 Public 2,138N/A HBCU (HBCUAC) [c]
Ana G. Méndez University at Gurabo [d] Universidad Ana G. Méndez en GuraboUT  Taínos &
Taínas
Gurabo 19752019Private16,000MangualN/A [e]
Ana G. Méndez University at Carolina [f] Universidad Ana G. Méndez en CarolinaUNE  Pitirres Carolina 20052019Private10,366Mangual
Ana G. Méndez University at Cupey [g] Universidad Ana G. Méndez en CupeyUMET  Cocodrilos San Juan 20052019PrivateBeitia
American University of Puerto Rico AUPR  Piratas Bayamón 19912023Private2,934BeitiaN/A [h]
Notes
  1. All cities were located in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; excluding the UVI, which was located in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  2. Undergraduate
  3. Currently an NAIA athletic conference.
  4. Formerly known as the University of Turabo (or Universidad del Turabo).
  5. All three universities were former independent institutions that were part of the Ana G. Méndez University System, before being merged to form Ana G. Méndez University.
  6. Formerly known as the University of the East (or Universidad del Este).
  7. Formerly known as the Metropolitan University of Puerto Rico (or Universidad Metropolitana).
  8. Closed following the end of the 2022–23 school year.

Membership timeline

Ana G. Méndez UniversityUniversity of the Virgin IslandsAna G. Méndez UniversityAna G. Méndez UniversityCaribbean UniversityPolytechnic University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico at UtuadoUniversity of Puerto Rico at CarolinaUniversity of Puerto Rico at AguadillaUniversity of Puerto Rico at PonceBayamón Central UniversityAmerican University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico at AreciboUniversity of Puerto Rico at BayamónUniversidad del Sagrado CorazónUniversity of Puerto Rico at CayeyAna G. Méndez UniversityUniversity of Puerto Rico at CayeyPontifical Catholic University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras CampusUniversity of Puerto Rico at MayagüezInteramerican University of Puerto RicoLiga Atletica Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico

 Full member (non-football)  Associate member (sport) 

References

  1. "Luna Athletic Interuniversity of PR and Virgin Islands (translated from Spanish)". 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  2. "Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico". Archived from the original on 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
  3. Donativos a manos llenas en Ponce. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  4. Las Justas se quedan en Ponce. Amigos de Ponce. 21 January 2010. Univision. (Originally published in El Nuevo Dia Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  5. "Deportes - Primera Hora". Archived from the original on 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  6. Ponce se duplicará durante las Justas. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. Ponce, Puerto Rico: La Perla del Sur. Year 30. Issue 1480. Page 4. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.