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Swim team finds a home
SDSU joining Mid-Continent
Sioux Falls Argus Leader - Sioux Falls,SD,USA
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...37/1002/SPORTS
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
Article Published: 11/4/05
South Dakota State's men's and women's swimming and diving teams will join the Mid-Continent Conference immediately as an associate member.
SDSU and Eastern Illinois were granted membership Thursday after the league's nine presidents voted unanimously to extend the invitation.
"We thought we'd be without a conference for years, and we already have something," said Brandon Maydew, a junior from Sioux Falls. "To have a conference right away is great."
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Only five of the nine full Mid-Continent members offer swimming: Centenary (La.), Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis, Oakland (Mich.), Valparaiso (Ind.) and Western Illinois.
The Jackrabbits, who will be eligible for weekly conference awards, will get to compete in the Mid-Continent Swimming and Diving Championships in mid-February at IUPUI.
SDSU swimming coach Brad Erickson said the discussions to join the league began last spring. Oakland and IUPUI served as sponsors for associate membership.
Eastern Illinois had been swimming as an independent since 1996. SDSU had been doing the same since 2004, when it moved to Division I.
"For us to get in this early is such a great thing," said Erickson, in his 30th season. "I think it's about the best conference of things that were open. It's just what we wanted."
Swimming joins football (Great West) as the two SDSU sports with a conference. The school has been focusing its full conference search on the Mid-Continent and Big Sky conferences for its 21 sports. The Big Sky does not offer swimming.
While it is just one sport gaining entry into the Mid-Continent, Athletic Director Fred Oien said it opens up weekly discussions between SDSU's athletic department and the league.
"They will get to know a little bit more about us," Oien said. "We're a part of them now in one respect."
SDSU hosts the University of South Dakota at 6 p.m. today.
SDSU joining Mid-Continent
Sioux Falls Argus Leader - Sioux Falls,SD,USA
http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...37/1002/SPORTS
Chris Solari
csolari@argusleader.com
Article Published: 11/4/05
South Dakota State's men's and women's swimming and diving teams will join the Mid-Continent Conference immediately as an associate member.
SDSU and Eastern Illinois were granted membership Thursday after the league's nine presidents voted unanimously to extend the invitation.
"We thought we'd be without a conference for years, and we already have something," said Brandon Maydew, a junior from Sioux Falls. "To have a conference right away is great."
ADVERTISMENT
Only five of the nine full Mid-Continent members offer swimming: Centenary (La.), Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis, Oakland (Mich.), Valparaiso (Ind.) and Western Illinois.
The Jackrabbits, who will be eligible for weekly conference awards, will get to compete in the Mid-Continent Swimming and Diving Championships in mid-February at IUPUI.
SDSU swimming coach Brad Erickson said the discussions to join the league began last spring. Oakland and IUPUI served as sponsors for associate membership.
Eastern Illinois had been swimming as an independent since 1996. SDSU had been doing the same since 2004, when it moved to Division I.
"For us to get in this early is such a great thing," said Erickson, in his 30th season. "I think it's about the best conference of things that were open. It's just what we wanted."
Swimming joins football (Great West) as the two SDSU sports with a conference. The school has been focusing its full conference search on the Mid-Continent and Big Sky conferences for its 21 sports. The Big Sky does not offer swimming.
While it is just one sport gaining entry into the Mid-Continent, Athletic Director Fred Oien said it opens up weekly discussions between SDSU's athletic department and the league.
"They will get to know a little bit more about us," Oien said. "We're a part of them now in one respect."
SDSU hosts the University of South Dakota at 6 p.m. today.