Sports have been an active part of Franklin and Marshall since its inception. The school's sports teams are called the
Diplomats. Many of the teams compete in the Centennial
Conference. Men's intercollegiate competition is in thirteen sports: baseball,
basketball, cross
country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, squash, swimming, tennis, indoor track and field,
outdoor track and field, and wrestling. Women's intercollegiate
competition is in 13 sports: basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf,
lacrosse, soccer, softball, squash, swimming, tennis, indoor track and field,
outdoor track and field, and volleyball. F&M competes in NCAA Division III for all varsity sports except wrestling, which is Division I, and men's and women's squash, which are nondivisional.In 1866, the student-run Alpha Club sponsored the college's first baseball game.In 1887, the first football team was
organized by Seminary student Miles O. Noll. Franklin and Marshall College was defeated 9-0 by the York YMCA.Distler House, the school's first gymnasium, was constructed in 1891. It contained a bowling alley, indoor running track, and
gymnastic equipment.The "New Athletic Field" was constructed in 1895 with the assistance of $1,500 from
Henry S. Williamson. It was later renamed "Williamson Field." A concrete grandstand was added in 1922 at a cost of $10,000.In 1900 the first basketball game was
played. The opposing team was Millersville Normal School.F&M's football team finally defeated the University of Pennsylvania in 1915. The score was 10-0.1924 saw the college's first wrestling match.Mayser Physical Education Center, the college's second gymnasium, was opened in 1927.In 1950, the football team celebrated an
undefeated season.In 1995, the Alumni Sports and Fitness Center, the school's third gymnasium opened on the site of the college's former ice rink.