Aug. 13, 2006

Contact Staci Schottman, NAIA Media Relations

OLATHE, Kan. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) awarded Palo Alto College (Texas) and the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) the 2007 and 2008 NAIA Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships. The 51st Annual Men's and 27th Annual Women's Swimming and Diving National Championship will be contested February 28 - March 3, 2007, at the Palo Alto College Natatorium. The 2008 event will be February 27 - March 1.

"The NAIA is extremely happy to carry on the tradition of the Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships in San Antonio. The facility is host to numerous national championship events so we are confident that NAIA student-athletes and coaches will have a memorable experience," said NAIA Interim President and CEO Jim Carr. "This national championship event boasts talent from across the country and brings a level of excitement to collegiate swimming and diving not only for the participants but for the entire San Antonio community."

Palo Alto College, prior host to the 1993 and 1994 NAIA Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships, will serve as the host institution during the event. Palo Alto College has a standing tradition of organizing successful swimming and diving events for organizations from across the country. Most recently the Palo Alto College Natatorium has played host to swimming and diving national championships for the NCAA Division II, U.S. Open of USA Swimming, the U.S. Paralympics and the National Junior College Athletic Association.

"Palo Alto is excited about hosting the NAIA championships. We want to help carry on their tradition of fast swimming in March," said Palo Alto Athletic Director Dennis Ryther. "I can promise them a fast pool and hopefully great weather."

The Palo Alto Natatorium features an eight lane all deep water competition pool, an additional eight lanes for warm up and cool down and two one meter and two three meter duraflex "B" boards.     

San Antonio will offer NAIA student-athletes, coaches and fans an excellent site for the total championship experience. Championship participants will stay in the San Antonio Market Square area and have the opportunity to see all the attractions the area has to offer including San Antonio's jewel the Paseo Del Rio, better knows as the "River Walk". Over 300 student-athletes and coaches will spend several days in the eighth largest city in the United States competing for both individual and team titles.

"The San Antonio Sports Foundation is excited that the NAIA is returning to San Antonio and to the Palo Alto College Natatorium, one of the fastest swimming pools in the country. The Natatorium was built to attract quality competitions like the NAIA Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving National Championships," said Dr. Susan Blackwood, executive director of the San Antonio Sports Foundation.  "The NAIA institutions' student-athletes who attend this meet are sure to be inspirational role models for the youth in our community."

In 2006 California Baptist University men's and women's swimming and diving teams took home the NAIA titles. The men's team won the national championship with 752 points and the women's team took home first place honors with a total of 457 points.