The NSIC finally gets with it

The NSIC, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, of which Winona State is a member, has finally  got with the program and finally elevated competitive swimming and diving to a level with the other, less demanding sports.

Even better yet, their FIRST conference championships will be in our backyard. I will have to ask around to try and find out why, but i suspect it is for the 8 lane pool, more spectator seating, centrally located.

Meaning IF we were to get Winona State to replace their 1940's bath tub with an up-to-date 8 lane competition venue with diving facilities and spectator seating, Winona and WSU would be the desired Midwest destination and venue for youth through college and even Masters swimming & diving for the foreseeable future.

For Immediate Release/
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release

Burnsville, Minn. – Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Commissioner Butch Raymond has announced that women’s swimming & diving will be added as the league’s 18th championship sport. The NSIC will add women’s swimming and diving for the 2012-13 academic year, with the championship taking place February 7-10, 2013 in Rochester, Minn.

“We are excited to add women’s swimming and diving as our 18th championship sport in the NSIC.” said Raymond. “This will be an opportunity to add to the exposure for the student-athletes competing in swimming and diving.”

Of the 16 institutions in the NSIC four will sponsor women’s swimming and diving. Minnesota State University, Mankato; Minnesota State University Moorhead; Northern State University and St. Cloud State University will compete along with two associated members from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA); Lindenwood University (St. Charles, Mo.) and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The NSIC Swimming & Diving Championship will be hosted by the Rochester Amateur Sports Commission (RASC) and take place at the Rochester Recreation Center, which is the home of one of only two 50 meter Olympic-size pools in the state of Minnesota. RASC operations manager Shelley Boettcher stated, “We are very pleased to be working with the NSIC once again and playing host for the swimming & diving championship. The Rochester Amateur Sports Commission and the Rochester Swim Club – ORCAS are looking forward to an exciting event in 2013.”

As of July 1, 2012 the NSIC will be a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with teams located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The NSIC sponsors the following NCAA Division II Championship Sports: Baseball; Men’s Basketball; Women’s Basketball; Men’s Cross Country; Women’s Cross Country; Football; Men’s Golf; Women’s Golf; Men’s Indoor Track & Field; Women’s Indoor Track & Field; Men’s Outdoor Track & Field; Women’s Outdoor Track & Field; Women’s Soccer; Softball; Women’s Swimming & Diving; Women’s Tennis; Women’s Volleyball and Wrestling.

http://www.northernsun.org/news/2012/4/10/WSD_0410121531.aspx?path=swimdive