Conference Carolinas Adds 5 New Swimming Teams from Rival Conference

The expansion brings the total number of women's swim teams to 12 and men's teams to 11 in the conference.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:30pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fractured, multi-perspective action of a collegiate swimming competition, with vibrant blues, greens, and whites representing the water, swimmers' movements, and energy of the event.The addition of five new swimming programs from a rival conference promises to reshape the competitive landscape of collegiate swimming in the Carolinas.Mars Hill Today

Conference Carolinas has announced the addition of five new associate members for the 2026-27 season, specifically targeting men's and women's swimming programs. The new members are all from the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) - Carson-Newman University, Catawba College, Mars Hill University, Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Wingate University. This move could spark debates about the impact on the SAC, as it will significantly reduce the number of teams participating in their conference championships.

Why it matters

The addition of these institutions is a strategic move to provide a more competitive landscape for the Conference Carolinas swimming programs. Based on current performance, Wingate is predicted to dominate both the men's and women's championships, which could create a ripple effect on the SAC conference.

The details

Mars Hill and Wingate already compete in Conference Carolinas in other sports, but now they're adding swimming to the mix. The expansion brings the total number of women's swim teams to 12 and men's teams to 11 in the conference. Commissioner Chris Colvin points out that this move strengthens Conference Carolinas' swimming programs.

  • The new associate members will join Conference Carolinas for the 2026-27 season.

The players

Conference Carolinas

A collegiate athletic conference that sponsors men's and women's swimming competitions.

South Atlantic Conference (SAC)

A collegiate athletic conference that currently includes the five new associate members joining Conference Carolinas.

Chris Colvin

The commissioner of Conference Carolinas.

Wingate University

One of the new associate members joining Conference Carolinas, predicted to dominate both the men's and women's swimming championships.

UNC Pembroke

The defending champion of the 2025 Conference Carolinas Championships.

Emmanuel University

The defending champion of the 2025 Conference Carolinas Championships.

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What they’re saying

“This expansion brings the total number of women's swim teams to 12 and men's teams to 11 in the conference.”

— Chris Colvin, Commissioner, Conference Carolinas

What’s next

The 2026 Conference Carolinas Championships will be the first to feature the new associate members, and it will be interesting to see how the competition unfolds with the addition of these strong swimming programs.

The takeaway

This strategic move by Conference Carolinas to add five new associate members from the South Atlantic Conference could significantly impact the competitive landscape of collegiate swimming in the region. The influx of talented programs like Wingate, Catawba, and Carson-Newman is expected to elevate the overall level of competition in Conference Carolinas, potentially creating a new era of swimming excellence.