As another school year begins, NYU Athletics prepares itself for the changes that come with the finalized NYU and the Polytechnic School of Engineering merger that occurred at the beginning of January 2014.

The influx of more athletes, coaching staff and other athletic faculty has created a new atmosphere within the NYU Athletics Department.

Roster sizes for men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s tennis will increase approximately three to five people, as Poly athletes make their way over to the NYU campus.

Pros and cons can both be found in the wake of this merger. Roster size increases can help foster good competitive energy in order to create the best starting line-ups or first teams. However, the increase in student-athletes under one fully merged program can also inhibit players from having the chance to see minutes or playing time.

The increase in roster size leaves potential for an increase in athletic faculty. While NYU administration has offered some new positions to provide opportunity for the coaching staff of Poly Athletics to continue their work within their respective sports programs, this may not be the case for all sports.

Not only is there an increase in student-athletes, but an increase in the potential participation in new sports programs as well.

As Poly Brooklynites merge with their campus counterparts, they also bring their baseball and softball program to the Washington Square campus. NYU, which has not seen a varsity baseball program since 1974 and never held a softball program, will now offer new baseball and softball recruits the chance to participate in this varsity sport.

With all aspects of the merger wrapping up, Poly, having previously participated in the Skyline Athletic Conference, will now compete in the University Athletic Association under the same membership as NYU.

Having discussed the possibility of this merger since the beginning of 2008, NYU and Poly have finally seen their work come together six years later in the unification of both programs.

Michelle Tran is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].