Big Ten Club Conference Joins Collegiate Water Polo Association

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- The Collegiate Water Polo announces the addition of the Big Ten club division to the league's membership.

In Fall 2009, University of Illinois, Indiana University, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Purdue University, University of Wisconsin and defending national champion Michigan State University will compete in the men's Big Ten division with a berth to the National Collegiate Club Championship awarded to the division champion.

The change does not impact the National Collegiate Club Championship in which the Big Ten champion already earned a berth in the 16-team championship field.  Rather, the change moves the Big Ten schools under the auspices of the Collegiate Water Polo Association as the institutions' athletes will now be eligible for All-Conference, Scholar-Athlete and National Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, while the coaches will be eligible for Division Coach of the Year honors which are presented to CWPA member programs. 

In addition to men's competition, the Big Ten division will also fold into the women's season as the division will hold onto its automatic berth to the National Collegiate Club Championship.