University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics
Northern Colorado Swimming & Diving Joins the MPSF
2/13/2025 10:03:00 AM | General, Women's Swimming & Diving
The Bears will begin competition in the MPSF in the 2025-26 season.
SEATTLE – The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) has announced the addition of current Western Athletic Conference (WAC) members California Baptist University, University of Idaho, New Mexico State University, Northern Arizona University, Northern Colorado University, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and Utah Tech University to its swimming & diving programs beginning with the 2025-26 season. Of the seven new schools, six of them will compete solely in the women's championship for a total of 10 women's programs next year. The Lancers also have a men's program, giving the MPSF a total of 13 teams in the conference. The MPSF's 15th edition of the swimming & diving championships in 2025, held at Utah Tech (Feb. 19-22), features the women from the University of Incarnate Word, Pacific, Pepperdine, and San Diego, while the Tigers and Cardinals will battle head-to-head for the men's title.
Since hiring MPSF Executive Director Foti Mellis in 2021, the conference has added 58 teams, 28 schools, and six sports. "We are excited to welcome all seven schools to the MPSF," said Mellis. "Change can be challenging, especially when it occurs unexpectedly. The MPSF was established to provide competition and championship opportunities for teams without a conference affiliation. It offers a platform that renews the aspirations of student-athletes and ensures they have an excellent experience. We are thrilled to collaborate with all seven schools as they join our current members in revitalizing the sport of swimming and diving. Together, we will make a significant impact and elevate the future of this sport within the MPSF."
California Baptist finished third on the men's side in each of the last two WAC Championships. CBU brought home several annual conference awards in 2024, including the WAC Men's Diving Coach of the Year (Miranda King)--and for the third-straight year--the diver and freshman of the year, as well as the women's swimmer of the year. From 2014-18, CBU women finished in the top-10 three times at the NCAA D-II Championships, while the men did so on two occasions. On the NAIA level, the Lancer men won four-straight team national championships from 2006-09, as did the women from 2005-08. CBU is coached by Jim Bossert, currently in his first season. Located in Riverside, CA, California Baptist was previously an MPSF member in men's volleyball from 2013-17.
Northern Arizona has been a member of the WAC since 2005, having won 11-straight women's conference titles (2014-24). Eight of those team championships were decided by over 100 points. Under the leadership of nine-time WAC Coach of the Year and 29th-year Head Coach Andy Johns, the Lumberjacks have set nine WAC records and have qualified 49 student-athletes for the NCAA Championships. Currently a sophomore, Keegan Knott represented Team USA at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, competing in the S9 Women's 400m Freestyle. NAU will be making its first-ever MPSF appearance in any sport.
New Mexico State entered the WAC in 2005, which was also the initial season of four-time WAC Coach of the Year Rick Pratt as head coach. The NMSU women have placed in the top-three in 10 of the last 16 WAC Championships, including a second-place team finish seven times in that span. The Aggies will be first-time MPSF members across their entire athletic department.
Idaho Women's Swimming & Diving has been competing in the WAC since 2006, where it has three times finished in the top-three, in 2014 (second), 2017 (third), and 2018 (third), all under 14th-year Head Coach Mark Sowa. Located in Moscow, ID, The Vandals previously competed in MPSF Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field in 1997, when the men took the conference title.
Northern Colorado will be making its second stint in MPSF Women's Swimming & Diving. The Bears were original members in the first two seasons the conference sponsored the sport from 2011-12. They have been competing in the WAC since then, taking third-place four times at the championship (2023, 2022, 2019, 2015). UNC, located in Greeley, CO, has been coached by Lisa Ebeling since 2016-17.
Utah Tech will be first-time MPSF participants, though in 2025, will serve as hosts of the MPSF Championships for the third-straight year in St. George, UT. The Trailblazers have been in the WAC since 2020-21, and previously were D-II members (known then as Dixie State University) from their inaugural placing fourth. Second-year Head Coach Shawn King is no stranger to the MPSF, helping the BYU men to three-straight MPSF titles (2021-23) as an assistant. In King's first season with Utah Tech in 2023-24, the program broke seven school records.
On October 12, 2024, Texas Rio Grande Valley swam its first-ever NCAA meet, hosting current MPSF member Incarnate Word. The Vaqueros will travel to Houston for their first-ever conference championship, Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2025. Betsy Graham became the first head coach in program history on March 19, 2024. UTRGV co-hosted the 2022 and 2023 WAC Championships with the City of Pharr, TX.
The MPSF entered the 2025 calendar year with 118 total national championships, with its 112 NCAA titles leading the nation amongst Non-Power Four Conferences. The MPSF won four NCAA titles in each of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.
MPSF Swimming and Diving information, including specific championship details, is located on the conference website's championship central page at mpsports.org. Follow the MPSF on social media @MPSFSports.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ADDITIONS TO MPSF SWIMMING & DIVING
"We are very excited to join the MPSF. The conference is competitive for both our men's and women's swim & dive programs. Every year will be a test and highly competitive. We've been competitive at the MPSF Open Water Championships for two seasons now and cannot wait to further our relationship with the MPSF."
-Jim Bossert, California Baptist University Head Coach
"We are thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to join the MPSF and continue to compete against many familiar rivals and new programs. For years the MPSF has provided a competitive home for many at a high level, and this move will help us continue to grow as a program and provide a strong experience for our student athletes."
-Rick Pratt, New Mexico State University Head Coach
"We are excited for our Aggie Swim & Dive team to join the MPSF. This move aligns us with a highly competitive group of schools and provides our student-athletes with an incredible opportunity to continue to challenge themselves at the highest level. The MPSF's commitment to excellence matches our own, and we are excited for the future of our program in this prestigious conference."
-Dr. Amber Burdge, New Mexico State Acting Director of Athletics
"We are excited to be joining the MPSF for the 2025- 2026 season. The Western Athletic Conference was a nice home for us for the last 21 years, but we are looking forward to this new relationship and competition with some new teams and some familiar ones."
-Andy Johns, Northern Arizona University Head Coach
"In the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics, the leadership of the MPSF have proven to be devoted and supportive of the growth and stability of mid-major swimming & diving. With the addition of the remaining WAC teams and the current member institutions we feel that this is a great landing spot for our program for years to come. My thanks to Terry Gawlik and Tim Mooney as well as the commissioners of the MPSF for being proactive in protecting our sport."
-Dr. Mark Sowa, University of Idaho Head Coach
"I'd like to thank the WAC for providing opportunities for our student-athletes over the past several years. My team and I are incredibly excited about beginning a new era of swimming in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Thank you to our university for their unwavering support for our program and their hard work to secure our future with this prestigious swimming federation. Thank you also to Foti Mellis and the membership committee for recognizing the value in our program and welcoming UNC as an affiliate member. We are excited to join a conference with a rich swimming tradition and we are eager to compete for championships."
-Lisa Ebeling, University of Northern Colorado Head Coach
"We are excited about the opportunity to rejoin the MPSF. We would like to thank the Western Athletic Conference for being the home of Bears Swimming and Diving for the past 12 years."
-Darren Dunn, University of Northern Colorado Director of Athletics
"We are excited to deepen our connection to the MPSF as an affiliate member. We have come to know the conference well through hosting their conference championships over the years. They do a fantastic job supporting a strong competitive conference. We are grateful for the opportunity to join the MPSF and look forward to some strong competition and great growth."
-Shawn King, Utah Tech University Head Coach
"I am excited to join a conference that will house some familiar faces from our first DI season. I am looking forward to forming relationships with the new coaches and programs as we embark on this journey."
-Betsy Graham, UTRGV Head Coach
"We are thrilled for our swimming & diving program to join the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. This is a significant step as we continue building a championship caliber program at UTRGV. Competing in the MPSF provides our student-athletes with an outstanding competitive environment."
- Molly Castner, UTRGV Deputy Director of Athletics/Senior Women's Administrator
UP NEXT
The Bears will shift their focus to the 2025 Western Athletic Conference Championships in Houston, Texas. The four-day meet begins on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the women's swim and dive team on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsSwim), Instagram (@UNC_BearsSwim_Dive), and Facebook (/UNCOBearsswimdive).
Since hiring MPSF Executive Director Foti Mellis in 2021, the conference has added 58 teams, 28 schools, and six sports. "We are excited to welcome all seven schools to the MPSF," said Mellis. "Change can be challenging, especially when it occurs unexpectedly. The MPSF was established to provide competition and championship opportunities for teams without a conference affiliation. It offers a platform that renews the aspirations of student-athletes and ensures they have an excellent experience. We are thrilled to collaborate with all seven schools as they join our current members in revitalizing the sport of swimming and diving. Together, we will make a significant impact and elevate the future of this sport within the MPSF."
California Baptist finished third on the men's side in each of the last two WAC Championships. CBU brought home several annual conference awards in 2024, including the WAC Men's Diving Coach of the Year (Miranda King)--and for the third-straight year--the diver and freshman of the year, as well as the women's swimmer of the year. From 2014-18, CBU women finished in the top-10 three times at the NCAA D-II Championships, while the men did so on two occasions. On the NAIA level, the Lancer men won four-straight team national championships from 2006-09, as did the women from 2005-08. CBU is coached by Jim Bossert, currently in his first season. Located in Riverside, CA, California Baptist was previously an MPSF member in men's volleyball from 2013-17.
Northern Arizona has been a member of the WAC since 2005, having won 11-straight women's conference titles (2014-24). Eight of those team championships were decided by over 100 points. Under the leadership of nine-time WAC Coach of the Year and 29th-year Head Coach Andy Johns, the Lumberjacks have set nine WAC records and have qualified 49 student-athletes for the NCAA Championships. Currently a sophomore, Keegan Knott represented Team USA at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, competing in the S9 Women's 400m Freestyle. NAU will be making its first-ever MPSF appearance in any sport.
New Mexico State entered the WAC in 2005, which was also the initial season of four-time WAC Coach of the Year Rick Pratt as head coach. The NMSU women have placed in the top-three in 10 of the last 16 WAC Championships, including a second-place team finish seven times in that span. The Aggies will be first-time MPSF members across their entire athletic department.
Idaho Women's Swimming & Diving has been competing in the WAC since 2006, where it has three times finished in the top-three, in 2014 (second), 2017 (third), and 2018 (third), all under 14th-year Head Coach Mark Sowa. Located in Moscow, ID, The Vandals previously competed in MPSF Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field in 1997, when the men took the conference title.
Northern Colorado will be making its second stint in MPSF Women's Swimming & Diving. The Bears were original members in the first two seasons the conference sponsored the sport from 2011-12. They have been competing in the WAC since then, taking third-place four times at the championship (2023, 2022, 2019, 2015). UNC, located in Greeley, CO, has been coached by Lisa Ebeling since 2016-17.
Utah Tech will be first-time MPSF participants, though in 2025, will serve as hosts of the MPSF Championships for the third-straight year in St. George, UT. The Trailblazers have been in the WAC since 2020-21, and previously were D-II members (known then as Dixie State University) from their inaugural placing fourth. Second-year Head Coach Shawn King is no stranger to the MPSF, helping the BYU men to three-straight MPSF titles (2021-23) as an assistant. In King's first season with Utah Tech in 2023-24, the program broke seven school records.
On October 12, 2024, Texas Rio Grande Valley swam its first-ever NCAA meet, hosting current MPSF member Incarnate Word. The Vaqueros will travel to Houston for their first-ever conference championship, Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2025. Betsy Graham became the first head coach in program history on March 19, 2024. UTRGV co-hosted the 2022 and 2023 WAC Championships with the City of Pharr, TX.
The MPSF entered the 2025 calendar year with 118 total national championships, with its 112 NCAA titles leading the nation amongst Non-Power Four Conferences. The MPSF won four NCAA titles in each of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.
MPSF Swimming and Diving information, including specific championship details, is located on the conference website's championship central page at mpsports.org. Follow the MPSF on social media @MPSFSports.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ADDITIONS TO MPSF SWIMMING & DIVING
"We are very excited to join the MPSF. The conference is competitive for both our men's and women's swim & dive programs. Every year will be a test and highly competitive. We've been competitive at the MPSF Open Water Championships for two seasons now and cannot wait to further our relationship with the MPSF."
-Jim Bossert, California Baptist University Head Coach
"We are thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to join the MPSF and continue to compete against many familiar rivals and new programs. For years the MPSF has provided a competitive home for many at a high level, and this move will help us continue to grow as a program and provide a strong experience for our student athletes."
-Rick Pratt, New Mexico State University Head Coach
"We are excited for our Aggie Swim & Dive team to join the MPSF. This move aligns us with a highly competitive group of schools and provides our student-athletes with an incredible opportunity to continue to challenge themselves at the highest level. The MPSF's commitment to excellence matches our own, and we are excited for the future of our program in this prestigious conference."
-Dr. Amber Burdge, New Mexico State Acting Director of Athletics
"We are excited to be joining the MPSF for the 2025- 2026 season. The Western Athletic Conference was a nice home for us for the last 21 years, but we are looking forward to this new relationship and competition with some new teams and some familiar ones."
-Andy Johns, Northern Arizona University Head Coach
"In the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics, the leadership of the MPSF have proven to be devoted and supportive of the growth and stability of mid-major swimming & diving. With the addition of the remaining WAC teams and the current member institutions we feel that this is a great landing spot for our program for years to come. My thanks to Terry Gawlik and Tim Mooney as well as the commissioners of the MPSF for being proactive in protecting our sport."
-Dr. Mark Sowa, University of Idaho Head Coach
"I'd like to thank the WAC for providing opportunities for our student-athletes over the past several years. My team and I are incredibly excited about beginning a new era of swimming in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Thank you to our university for their unwavering support for our program and their hard work to secure our future with this prestigious swimming federation. Thank you also to Foti Mellis and the membership committee for recognizing the value in our program and welcoming UNC as an affiliate member. We are excited to join a conference with a rich swimming tradition and we are eager to compete for championships."
-Lisa Ebeling, University of Northern Colorado Head Coach
"We are excited about the opportunity to rejoin the MPSF. We would like to thank the Western Athletic Conference for being the home of Bears Swimming and Diving for the past 12 years."
-Darren Dunn, University of Northern Colorado Director of Athletics
"We are excited to deepen our connection to the MPSF as an affiliate member. We have come to know the conference well through hosting their conference championships over the years. They do a fantastic job supporting a strong competitive conference. We are grateful for the opportunity to join the MPSF and look forward to some strong competition and great growth."
-Shawn King, Utah Tech University Head Coach
"I am excited to join a conference that will house some familiar faces from our first DI season. I am looking forward to forming relationships with the new coaches and programs as we embark on this journey."
-Betsy Graham, UTRGV Head Coach
"We are thrilled for our swimming & diving program to join the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. This is a significant step as we continue building a championship caliber program at UTRGV. Competing in the MPSF provides our student-athletes with an outstanding competitive environment."
- Molly Castner, UTRGV Deputy Director of Athletics/Senior Women's Administrator
UP NEXT
The Bears will shift their focus to the 2025 Western Athletic Conference Championships in Houston, Texas. The four-day meet begins on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the women's swim and dive team on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsSwim), Instagram (@UNC_BearsSwim_Dive), and Facebook (/UNCOBearsswimdive).
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