Indian River Board of Trustees Tables Decision on Swimming and Diving Program

The Indian River State College Board of Trustees has tabled a recommendation to get rid of the swimming and diving team.

During a meeting in Okeechobee, the board voted Tuesday, Oct. 27, to delay the president’s recommendation to eliminate the program.

After news of the possible elimination came out, there was a lot of uproar around the college and the swimming community at large. Indian River has won more than 90 national championships in NJCAA competition, the most ever.The men have won 52 consecutive NJCAA national titles, while the women have won 48.

The board of trustees asked the college administration to prepare a comprehensive report on the swimming and diving program. The board requested that the report include input from the community.

President Timothy Moore said at the meeting that the proposal was from a monetary standpoint and was nothing specifically against the swimming and diving program.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to leave this college with that kind of skill, resource and talent here, but it comes at a price,” Moore said.

There are three parts to the proposed plan.

The first is to “Eliminate both the Men’s & Women’s Swimming and Diving programs, effective at the start of the Fall 2027-28 academic year.”

The second is a transition for baseball, softball and men’s basketball to Division 2 competition, joining volleyball.

The third is an evaluation of the cost feasibility to reinstate the women’s basketball program at Indian River.