PROVIDENCE, R.I. - On behalf of the Little East Conference (LEC) Presidents Council, Commissioner Al Bean announced the addition of Gordon College as an affiliate member in men’s and women’s swimming & diving beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The addition of the Fighting Scots increases LEC membership to 12 women’s programs and eight men’s programs for the upcoming academic year. 

“We're pleased to provide Gordon College with a new home for their men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs,” said Bean. “Gordon has established and growing programs, and brings more depth to the Little East Conference field. I'm happy that we can provide student-athletes from their institution an outstanding and very competitive championship experience with our LEC members.”

Gordon has competed in the Metropolitan Collegiate Swimming & Diving Championships the past three years. Its women’s program placed third of nine teams in 2026, while its men’s program placed fourth of seven teams. The Fighting Scots had a trio of individual champions in Theo Dietrich (men’s 200 butterfly), Emma Lippiatt (women’s 100 breaststroke), Evie Lacock (women’s 200 breaststroke). The women’s 200 medley relay team of Kendall Smith,Lippiatt, Lacock and Isabella Gadouas were also crowned Metropolitan champions.

“The Little East Conference presents a tremendous opportunity for our swimming & diving programs to continue their growth while competing at a high level,” said Gordon Director of Athletics Jason Linders. “Our student-athletes will have the chance to compete in a strong conference with more regional ties, earn meaningful recognition, and contend for conference championships. Gordon already shares competitive history with many LEC institutions, and we are excited to see those rivalries continue to develop as our programs prepare to compete in their first Little East Conference Championships next year.”

The LEC has seen tremendous growth in the number of competing teams and the level of competition in recent years, highlighted by a conference record of three women’s divers qualifying for the NCAA Division III Regional Championship this past season. Bridgewater State University’s Cailey Simard advanced to the NCAA Division III National Championships for the second consecutive season.

To better accommodate this growth, the 2027 Little East Conference Swimming & Diving Championship will be held at the University of Rhode Island’s Tootell Aquatic Center. The facility offers increased deck space and spectator seating capacity. The facility also features a separate diving pool that includes two one-meter and two three-meter boards, allowing the meet to be contested at a single facility for the first time in its current format. 

Gordon will join LEC core members Eastern Connecticut State University, Keene State College, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Plymouth State University and Rhode Island College, and affiliate members Bridgewater State, Husson University, Maine Maritime Academy, University of New England, Western New England University and Westfield State University. 

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 one of New England’s premier NCAA Division III multi-sport athletic conferences. The LEC now features 24 championship sports, sponsoring quality competition for our student-athletes while following the Division III mission of “passion, responsibility, sportsmanship and citizenship.”
 
The Little East’s nine primary institutions  – Eastern Connecticut State University, Keene State College (N.H.), UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, Plymouth State University (N.H.), Rhode Island College, University of Southern Maine, Vermont State University Castleton, and Western Connecticut State University - encompass all six New England states, as do its affiliate members.