Eighteen Penn State teams will begin Big Ten competition in the 1991-92 season, Penn State athletic director Jim Tarman announced yesterday.

"Following a year of planning with Big Ten athletic admistrators and conference coaches groups, it will be rewarding to see the Nittany Lions take our conference membership from the discussion stage to the competition stage," Tarman said in a press release.

The 18 teams are split evenly between women's and men's squads. Men's sports include baseball and soccer, and women's sports include softball and volleyball. The other 14 teams entering the Big Ten next season are men's and women's cross country, golf, gymnastics, swimming and diving, tennis and track (both indoor and outdoor).

Tarman added the wrestling team will remain in the Eastern Wrestling League through the 1991-92 season. The wrestling team will begin Big Ten competition the following season. Also, coaches are developing formats to incorporate men's and women's fencing and field hockey.

"The quality of all Big Ten regular season and championship competition has been enhanced with the integration of Penn State," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said in a press release.

Six Big Ten universities now sponser soccer, field hockey and men's fencing with Penn State's addition. This meets minimum membership requirements, sparking conference championships in those sports. Men's volleyball and men's and women's lacrosse, sports not sponsered by the Big Ten, will continue to compete as independents.

Discussions are continuing at the Conference Office level for the full integration of football and men's and women's basketball programs.