Jan 25, 2010 9:25:23 AM

Cabrini will compete as an affiliate member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in men's and women's swimming and diving, effective in 2010-11.

The move permits the AMCC to continue sponsoring swimming and diving as a championship sport, as Cabrini replaces Frostburg State as one of four schools sponsoring the sport in league competition. Frostburg State is moving to the Capital Athletic Conference this fall.

"It is an honor to join Penn State Behrend, Penn State Altoona and Pitt-Bradford and their rich swimming traditions," said Joe Giunta, director of athletics at Cabrini, which competes in the Colonial States Athletic Conference in other sports. "Most importantly, we are elated for our men's and women's student-athletes who will now be able to experience the benefits of competing within an intercollegiate conference."

The AMCC Presidents Council approved Cabrini's affiliate membership. The league requires four schools to sponsor a championship sport in the conference. Men's and women's swimming are among 14 championships sponsored by the league.

"It is important to preserve these postseason opportunities for our student-athletes," said AMCC Commissioner Donna Ledwin. "We are pleased that the Cabrini program will be part of our conference tradition in swimming and diving."

Penn State Behrend has won the three men's and three women's swimming and diving titles awarded since the league began sponsoring the sport in 2006-07.

Cabrini has sponsored women's swimming and diving since 2003-04 and added a men's program in 2006-07.

"This is a great day for Cabrini swimming," said coach Mike Kernicky. "We've added some great meets over the last few seasons, but a conference affiliation and end-of-season meet for our swimmers legitimizes the program even more."