Could Division I Merge Swimming and Diving Championships?

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, March 31. DURING the men's NCAA Division I swimming and diving championships, USA Swimming national team head coach Frank Busch told viewers of the meet's live webcast that he would be in favor of merging the men's and women's championships meets.

Read Swimming World's report on Busch's comments.

After making the statements on the live stream, Busch talked to Swimming World correspondent Mike Stott and elaborated on his belief that Indianapolis would be the ideal location for the meet based on the number of hotels in the area and the IU Natatorium, as well as creating a merged Division I meet.

In that interview, Busch said his position as USA Swimming national team head coach doesn't really give him the power to make such a change take place. Joel Shinofield, the executive director of the College Swimming Coaches Association, said that the IU Natatorium is a great place to host the championships, but would favor a rotation of various pools on college campuses in order to “promote new and better facilities being built.” In terms of merging the Division I meet, no consensus has been reached on the viability of making it one big meet, he said.

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