Rose-Hulman will compete in the CCIW swimming championships beginning next year.

TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has agreed to join the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin as an associate member in men’s and women’s swimming, effective in the 2007-08 academic year.

Rose-Hulman, which remains in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference in its remaining 20 sports, spent the 2006-07 academic year as a member of the Bluegrass Mountain Swimming Conference.  The Engineer men finished third in the league in their lone season of competition.

The Rose-Hulman swimming team will become the first affiliate member of the CCIW in any sport.  Only Transylvania in the HCAC sponsors swimming as a varsity sport.

“Joining the CCIW is a tremendous move for our swimming program,” said head coach Michael Caruso.  “We will have less travel than in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference, and will compete against NCAA Division III with similar academic reputations to Rose-Hulman.”

“In addition, the championship meet is one week earlier and that helps with our academic schedule.  We are pleased that the CCIW agreed to accept Rose-Hulman as an associate member in swimming and diving,” added Caruso.

The CCIW consists of full members Augustana College, Carthage College, Elmhurst College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Millikin University, North Central College, North Park University and Wheaton College (Ill.). 

In 2007, Wheaton swept both the men’s and women’s swimming championships, and the 2007-08 meet will be held at Carthage.  Rose-Hulman has been granted a two-year associate membership in swimming, which will be evaluated in 2008-09.