WCU Stories      February 27, 2019

Western Carolina University is back in the annual “top adventure college” competition sponsored by Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine after sitting out the contest for a year.

WCU was crowned “top adventure college” in the mid-Atlantic region for four consecutive years – 2014 through 2017 – as a result of votes cast by readers through the periodical’s online poll. But the university was yanked from the contest last year by the magazine staff and relegated to the publication’s “hall of fame” to give other schools a chance to win. A Blue Ridge Outdoors staff member confirmed recently that WCU is back in the competition this year.

This year’s contest, “Blue Ridge Mountain Melee,” includes colleges and universities meeting in head-to-head matchups in a 32-school bracket. The college or university receiving the most votes in each round advances to the next round.

The first round of voting for this year’s title, with WCU pitted against Appalachian State University, began Feb. 25 and continues until March 4. Other rounds will be held March 4-11, March 11-18 and March 18-25, with voting in the first four rounds ending at 10 a.m. on Mondays. The championship round is set for March 25-30.

Visit contests.blueridgeoutdoors.com to vote and view the 32-school bracket.