ATLANTA – The Atlantic Sun Conference will now sponsor Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving, announced Monday by ASUN Commissioner Jeff Bacon, with competition beginning in the upcoming 2023-24 season.
"The chance to add two outstanding sports to the ASUN slate of sport sponsorship offerings is tremendous for our conference and membership," Bacon said. "We look forward to welcoming many new friends to the ASUN family and to handing out ASUN awards to our newest student-athletes. Thank you to former ASUN Commissioner Ted Gumbart, and to Deputy Commissioner Jerome Rodgers, for their work in making this happen."
On the Men's side, Bellarmine, Florida Atlantic, Gardner-Webb, Old Dominion, SMU and Queens now compete under the ASUN banner. The Knights, Royals and Runnin' Bulldogs join FGCU, Liberty, North Florida and UNC Asheville on the Women's side.
Queens was crowned as an NCAA Division I Conference Champion for the first time in school history in 2023 as the Royals tallied 933.5 points to claim the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Men's Swimming and Diving Championship at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Feb 18. The Royals won 17 events while breaking 10 meet records over the four-day competition. Additionally, Queens Men's Swimming earned the team title in the National Invitational Championship, scoring 674 points en route to the milestone victory. The Royals finished ahead of Tennessee (562) and Ohio State (474.5).
The Flames also turned up the heat over the final two nights of competition last February to hold off the Dukes for the 2023 CCSA Women's Swimming and Diving crown. Liberty earned 1,441.5 points, besting James Madison's 1,339.0. Fellow newcomer, Queens, finished third (1,119.0). The Eagles (931.0) and Bulldogs (791.0) rounded out the top five in the team race.
As the league looks ahead to a full schedule of events, details on the 2024 ASUN Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships will be announced when they become available.
About the Atlantic Sun Conference
The ASUN, a Division I conference member of the NCAA, boasts a membership of institutions that share visionary leadership, bold ambition and creative innovation. As a nimble adaptive conference, unafraid to blaze a national pathway for better service to our student-athletes, teams, and institutions, the ASUN has a proud history of firsts, national academic and athletic achievements and a conference culture that walks the walk with its four ASUN Beams. Students First! Rise. Connect. Impact.
#ASUNBuilt by Austin Peay (Clarksville, Tenn.), Bellarmine (Louisville, Ky.), Central Arkansas (Conway, Ark.), EKU (Richmond, Ky.), FGCU (Fort Myers, Fla.), Jacksonville (Fla.), Kennesaw State (Ga.), Lipscomb (Nashville, Tenn.), North Alabama (Florence, Ala.), North Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.), Queens (Charlotte, N.C.) and Stetson (DeLand, Fla.).