SALEM, West Virginia, May 11. SALEM International University has announced that it will restore its men's and women's swimming and water polo programs in the fall. The programs spent a year on the shelf due to financial changes and problems with the school pool, which is scheduled to undergo a renovation this summer. It is expected to be ready by August.
"We are delighted to bring back aquatics to our athletic program," said President Robert Long. "It is in keeping with our intention to reconnect with the local community. We believe that it will add to the enthusiasm building on campus and we look forward to having new student-athletes this fall as a part of the Salem student body.
Before their brief stoppage, the Salem programs boasted quality credentials, including men's swimming championships in 2003 and 2004 in the WVIAC. Meanwhile, the men's water polo squad won the Eastern Division II title in 2005.
"At the time of the hiatus, the university recognized that the loss of the sports had created a hole in the campus culture and the athletes had been some of the finest student-athletes recruited to SIU," said Athletic Director Keith Bullion, the former swimming and water polo coach. "It is a pleasure to witness the return and the ability to again enrich the campus," he added.