By Anya Pelshaw on SwimSwam
The College of West Florida introduced in a press convention on Thursday morning that it could make the transition from NCAA Division II to Division I starting within the upcoming 2026-2027 faculty yr. The ladies’s swimming and diving program will compete out of the ASUN Convention.
“This transition represents the subsequent chapter within the evolution of our athletics program and a testomony to the dedication of our student-athletes, coaches, workers and supporters,” mentioned Dave Scott, the varsity’s Athletic Director. “As we put together for Division I competitors, we stay targeted on constructing champions for all times. We look ahead to rising our custom of success and welcoming our followers and companions to be a part of this thrilling journey.”
The college’s soccer program will be a part of the United Athletic Convention whereas all different sports activities will compete out of the Atlantic Solar Convention (ASUN). The college is not going to be eligible for NCAA postseason tournaments in the course of the subsequent three seasons, that means for the swim and dive program, they won’t be able to ship athletes to the NCAA Championship meet. Though they can’t compete on the NCAA Championship meet, they’re nonetheless eligible to compete for the ASUN convention title. Full NCAA postseason eligibility will start as soon as the transition course of is full in 2029.
The West Florida girls’s swim and dive program captured the 2026 New South Championship workforce title with 1239 factors, ending over 300 factors forward of 2nd place Delta State. The West Florida girls went on to complete 4th on the 2026 Division II NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships with 298.5 factors.
Agata Naskret led the workforce with 56 particular person factors together with NCAA Division II data within the 100 again (50.91) and 200 again (1:52.90). Each of these occasions would have made the 2026 NCAA cutline on the Division I degree, though Naskret simply completed her senior season.
The ASUN will was house to 9 girls’s groups this previous season with the Delaware girls capturing the convention title with 1627 factors. Florida Gulf Coast was 2nd with 1619 factors. Notably additionally within the convention is Queens-North Carolina who was third as a workforce this previous season. Queens made the transition to Division I starting in 2022 and have become a full member in 2025.
Learn the complete story on SwimSwam: College of West Florida Transitioning From D2 To D1, Girls’s Swim to Be a part of ASUN Convention
