COLUMBUS (July 9, 2018) – The Greater Columbus Sports Commission today announced Columbus will host the 2019 College Club Swimming National Championship, sponsored by U.S. Masters Swimming.
The Ohio State University’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion will host the second annual event March 29-31, 2019. Linda Logan, executive director, Greater Columbus Sports Commission, said Columbus beat a national field in winning the bid to host more than 2,000 athletes from over 100 universities across the country.
“Hands down, the USMS College Club Swimming National Championship is one of the largest and fastest collegiate swim meets outside of the NCAA,” Logan said. “Columbus has a long and rich history hosting national swim events, and we’re thrilled to host these elite athletes next year.”
Kristof Kertesz, outgoing competition committee chair, College Club Swimming, said club swimming is one of the fastest-growing club sports on college campuses. Formerly known as the East Coast Collegiate National Championship, the USMS College Club Swimming National Championship has grown exponentially since its first event in 2004. More than 2,000 participants from 100 universities took part in the 2017 event, an increase from six teams and 73 swimmers in 2004.
“Club Swimming at Ohio State has been one of CCS’s most enthusiastic clubs and a model program. They blew us away with their comprehensive bid backed by the city of Columbus to host the 2019 USMS College Club Swimming National Championship,” Kertesz added. “The McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion is a state-of-the-art pool and one of the fastest in the country, as recognized by it having hosted multiple Big Ten Championships, NCAA Championships, and the TYR Pro Swim Series.”
Michael Cochenour, a fourth-year student at The Ohio State University, oversees competition for Club Swimming at Ohio State and will serve as meet director for the 2019 USMS College Club Swimming National Championship. He said the team now has more than 100 members, and he expects more than half to qualify for the March championships.
“We’re so excited for this opportunity and to have a chance to win a national title in our own backyard,” he said.
Club Swimming at Ohio State is a Sport Club that is part of the University’s Department of Recreational Sports and Office of Student Life.
Interested teams, supporters, and swim fans can visit the event website to learn more about the 2019 USMS College Club Swimming National Championship or follow CCS on Instagram at @collegeclubswimming. Anyone can follow the Greater Columbus Sports Commission on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on this and other sporting events around Columbus.