PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Little East Conference (LEC) Commissioner Pamela S. Samuelson announced three new affiliate members will join the conference in men’s and women’s swimming & diving beginning in 2024-25 - Husson University, Maine Maritime Academy and the State University of New York Delhi.
“On behalf of the Little East Conference presidents and athletic directors, it gives me great pleasure to welcome these three institutions to the LEC as we continue our ongoing efforts to enhance our swimming & diving championships,” said Samuelson. “Husson, Maine Maritime and SUNY Delhi are programs that will enhance the increasing competitiveness of our conference.”
The addition of the Eagles, Mariners and Broncos will increase the number of women’s swimming & diving teams competing in the LEC to 12, and brings the number of men’s swimming & diving teams in the LEC to seven. They will join the men’s and women’s programs from Bridgewater State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Keene State College, and Plymouth State University, and women’s programs from Rhode Island College, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, University of New England, Western New England University and Westfield State University.
The LEC Swimming & Diving Championships have seen considerable growth in recent years. What was once a one-day event consisting of seven women’s programs is now a four-day, seven session event that will feature 19 total teams this coming academic year. That expansion began in 2022 with the addition of the men’s championship and LEC conducting its first-ever multi-day meet.
The 2025 LEC Swimming & Diving Championships will begin with three-meter diving February 13, 2025 before once again competing at the Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley, Massachusetts February 14-16, 2025.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
John Sutyak, Director of Athletics - Husson University
"Husson University is extremely honored to be joining the Little East Conference in swimming & diving. The opportunity to compete for a conference championship within our region is something that the students and staff at Husson are excited to embark on. We have been fortunate to compete at a high level within the North Atlantic Conference (NAC), claiming four consecutive NAC championships on the women's side, and embrace this new challenge of competing in the LEC amongst a larger group of competitive programs."
Steve Peed, Director of Athletics - Maine Maritime Academy
“We are tremendously excited for this opportunity to compete in the Little East Conference. We have been committed to building this program since its inception in 2017 and having access to a top-tier championship meet, featuring some of New England’s finest programs and finest swimmers, will only enhance our ability to maintain our upward trajectory. We look forward to the opportunity to test ourselves against outstanding competition, and we will work hard to make a strong league even stronger in and around the pool.”
Robert Backus, Director of Athletics - SUNY Delhi
“On behalf of SUNY Delhi Athletics, I'd like to thank the LEC and Commissioner Samuelson for this opportunity. As our program continues to grow and develop, the LEC is an excellent conference to be affiliated with."
About the Little East Conference
The Little East Conference (LEC) was formed in 1986 when six public institutions gathered to create a single sport athletic conference, and has expanded into what is now New England’s premier athletic conference for public institutions in NCAA Division III. The LEC will soon feature 23 championship sports, sponsoring quality competition for our student-athletes while following the Division III mission of “passion, responsibility, sportsmanship and citizenship.”
The Little East consists of nine primary institutions that encompass all six New England states – Eastern Connecticut State University, Keene State College (N.H.), University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Plymouth State University (N.H.), Rhode Island College, University of Southern Maine, Vermont State University Castleton, and Western Connecticut State University. The LEC will include 22 affiliate member programs competing in seven championship offerings with the addition of men’s and women’s ice hockey in 2025-26.
About Husson University
Since our founding in 1898, Husson University has transformed students’ lives. We do this by inspiring and preparing students for professional careers in current and emerging fields as part of an education informed by the sciences and humanities. We have a long-standing commitment to extraordinary teaching and experiential learning. Our students learn hands-on in all of our programs in the areas of business, legal studies, communications, education, health, pharmacy, science and humanities, and technology. We’re also committed to ensuring that a Husson degree remains accessible to our students. Our careful stewardship of university resources has enabled us to remain the lowest-priced private university accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education in Maine.
About Maine Maritime Academy
Maine Maritime Academy is a co-educational, public college offering 22 programs of study in engineering, management, science, and transportation to promote the maritime interests of the United States. The college is consistently recognized for providing a high-value education by organizations including the Brookings Institution, U.S. News and World Report, and Money Magazine. A 2022 Report by Georgetown University ranked MMA #1 among all public colleges for return on investment for low-income students at public bachelor’s degree institutions.
About SUNY Delhi
Founded in 1913, SUNY Delhi has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade, reaching a record enrollment of over 3,100 students. Delhi is carving a unique niche in higher education by offering hands-on, technology-based education that includes over 60 programs from certificates to master's degrees. Several academic programs have earned state and national reputations for excellence.