National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) athletes, coaches and fans will return to the Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) Aquatic Center next month as the college hosts, for the fourth consecutive year the 2015 NAIA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving National Championships.
The 59th annual men’s and 35th annual women’s NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championships will be held March 4-7. This event attracts approximately 425 top NAIA swimmers to Oklahoma City each year.
“Oklahoma City Community College is excited and ready to have NAIA swimming and diving championship athletes on campus again,” said Mike Shugart, OCCC Recreation and Fitness director. “Hosting these events has been a great opportunity for the college the past three years, and we’re ready to have these groups back to the pool.”
Events will kick off 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, with preliminaries and finals in the women’s one-meter and men’s three-meter springboard diving competitions. Starting Thursday, March 5, through Saturday, March 7, the preliminary swimming and diving events will be 9 a.m. and finals will be 5 p.m. A schedule of events can be found at /naia.
“We are excited to be back in Oklahoma City again this year,” said Jamie Adams, NAIA Manager of Championship Sports. “The Aquatic Center at OCCC has proven to be a great venue for these championships, and we are confident that the meet will again be a memorable event for NAIA student-athletes, coaches and fans.”
The Parade of Champions and Senior Recognition will be 4:30 p.m. Saturday, before the start of finals. Award finals will be presented at 9 p.m. Saturday; awards will be presented in the following categories:
• Female Swimmer of the Year
• Male Swimmer of the Year
• Female Swim of the Meet
• Male Swim of the Meet
• Female Diver of the Year
• Male Diver of the Year
• Men’s Coach of the Year
• Women’s Coach of the Year
• Men’s Team Runner Up
• Men’s Team Champion
• Women’s Team Runner Up
• Women’s Team Champion
Ticket information for the 2015 NAIA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving National Championships:
• $45 – advanced purchase ALL-INCLUSIVE
Save $5 – includes admission to all swim/dive sessions
One event program and session heat sheets
(March 4 – 7, 2015)
• $35 – advanced purchase ALL-SESSION
Save $5 – includes admission to all swim/dive sessions
(March 4 – 7, 2015)
• Prices at the door:
All-inclusive ticket – $50
All-session ticket – $40
Daily ticket – $15
Program – $5
Heat sheet prelim – $3
Heat sheet finals – $2
• Daily Sessions
Single day admit to prelims and finals – $15
(sold at door only)
• Banquet of Champions – $35
Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The OCCC Aquatic Center made its debut 26 years ago when the 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival was held in Oklahoma City. The facility remains a premier competitive natatorium in the state and region hosting numerous state, regional and national competitions.
In addition to the 50-meter competition pool, the facility features a separate diving well equipped with two one-meter springboards, two three-meter springboards and platforms at five, seven and ten meters.
Additional support for the 2015 NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championship meet is provided by local partners, including Oklahoma Swimming, High School Swimming, Sooner Dive Club, Oklahoma Baptist University and the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The NAIA is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. Since 1937, the NAIA has administered programs and championships in proper balance with the overall educational experience. In 2000, the NAIA reaffirmed its purpose to enhance the character-building aspects of sport. Through the Champions of Character program, the NAIA seeks to create an environment in which every student-athlete, coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through five core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
To learn more, or to watch the event live, visit /naia. Follow the 2015 competition at OCCC on Twitter at #NAIASWIM. For more information about the OCCC Aquatic Center, contact (405)682-1611 ext. 7860, or visit /rf/aquatic.html.
