Riding the wave of growth and expansion present in the athletic department at Incarnate Word, the announcement has come that the Cardinals next fall will be in the business of swimming for men.

“Based on the growth of our women’s program in the last 18 months,” UIW Athletic Director Mark Papich said, “this was the natural direction for us to take. Plus, in the Barshop Natatorium, we have this outstanding facility. That added to the unlimited enthusiasm of Coach Phillip Davis gives us the components to make this addition successful.”

This addition, following closely after the announcement that UIW will field a football team in the fall of 2009, gives Incarnate Word 19 sponsored teams including 10 for women and nine for men.

Recruiting is underway for the men’s team and early returns show the potential roster already into double figures with athletes committing to UIW.

“Coach Davis’ energy in recruiting and his coaching knowledge are exactly what we need for this program to take off,” Papich said. “We have been laying the groundwork for more than a year now to add men’s swimming.”

Another factor cited in the growth into men’s swimming is that when scheduling, most all schools prefer formats for both men and women.

The new Cardinals team will begin competition in the schoolyear 2007-2008. Incarnate Word’s men’s team, as does its women’s team, will compete in the New South Intercollegiate Swimming Conference.