Southern Miss adding more D-1 women sports in the near future?

Purvis, Miss. - Word around town is that Southern Miss is looking to add more female sports to its athletic program.

The university is starting to gain some interests in one particular sport.

Candi Workman, Owner of Jumpin’ Gymnastics and Tumbling said, "I've actually had some conversations with the administration there and they are looking to do that. When? We don't know, but we want to start generating some excitement for gymnastics, since it is on the Horizon for USM to add female sports."

But, Conference USA doesn't have any gymnastics teams. So even if USM got a gymnastics team, which conference would they play in?

Workman said "there's something called the MIC (Midwest Independent Conference). Any university program that does not belong to a conference may join if the governing body of that conference elects to have that school join."

Schools in Mississippi don't have gymnastics. But if Southern Miss creates a D-1 gymnastics team, then that might start a trend throughout the state.

Workman said "we want to show that gymnastics has support not only from Hattiesburg and the Pinebelt area, but from the country. The country wants to see gymnastics get started no matter where it's at. And I would like to get it started in Mississippi."

Workman said they have been to talking with USM for about a month now and are very hopeful to add gymnastics to Southern Miss Athletics.