Swimcloud

VMI To Join America East Conference

LEXINGTON, Va. and BOSTON, Mass. - The VMI swimming and diving programs will become associate members of the America East Conference in 2017-18, according to information released by that organization Thursday afternoon.

“VMI is grateful for the opportunity to join America East in men’s and women’s swimming and diving," said VMI athletics director Dr. Dave Diles. "The league is widely recognized for the high educational achievement of its student-athletes, sportsmanship and competitive excellence. Amy Huchthausen provided exceptional leadership through our discussions. Joining America East provides our programs with an exceptional competitive platform and underscores our commitment to advancing all of the intercollegiate programs at VMI.”

The AEC will be the fifth conference home in the history of the VMI men's program, following the Southern Conference (1937-82), the Southern States Conference (1991-2003), the Northeast Conference (2003-07) and most recently, the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (2008-2017).

The Keydets will join Binghamton, Maine and UMBC in a league that will be reforming after being defunct since 2013, and will be with at least one familiar team, as the Keydets and UMBC are both currently in the CCSA. VMI also got a sample of its future conference action this season, when the Keydets faced Binghamton on Nov. 12.

This will be the third home for the Keydet women, who spent one year in the NEC before moving to the CCSA. UMBC and New Hampshire have combined to win four of the last five titles on the women's side in the AEC.

In the AEC, VMI will join the three schools that feature men's S&D - UMBC, Maine and Binghamton - while also facing Vermont, New Hampshire and Stony Brook.

"Our programs are very excited about joining the America East Conference, and I am excited about the competitive opportunities this will provide for our cadet-athletes," said Keydet head coach Bill Nicholson. "I personally would like to thank everyone who facilitated this move, from the conference administration to the VMI athletic department, and we look forward to making an impact in our new home."

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