GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas announced that the University of Montevallo has accepted an invitation to join the league as an associate member in men's and women's swimming and acrobatics & tumbling.
Montevallo already competes in Conference Carolinas in men's wrestling and will join in men's and women's swimming immediately. The Falcon acrobatics & tumbling program will join the league for the 2025-26 academic year.
"We are thrilled to welcome Montevallo as an associate member in these additional sports," commissioner Chris Colvin said. "These additions strengthen our existing relationship with the University of Montevallo and are particularly important for the conference in securing sufficient membership in swimming to meet conference sponsorship requirements."
Montevallo has sponsored men's and women's swimming since 2019-20 and the 2024-25 season is the inaugural season for the Falcons' acrobatics & tumbling program.
"We are excited to join Conference Carolinas as associate members in the sports of swimming and acrobatics & tumbling," said vice president for athletics and special programs Mark Richard. "Conference Carolinas has presented a fantastic opportunity for our student-athletes in these sports to compete in a robust conference, earn recognition and compete for championships."
Conference Carolinas schools that currently sponsor men's and women's swimming are Barton College, Chowan University, Converse University, Emmanuel University, King University, Lees-McRae College. UNC Pembroke sponsors women's swimming as well.
Conference Carolinas currently has 11 acrobatics & tumbling members in 2024-25 in Belmont Abbey College, Coker University, Converse University, Emmanuel University, Francis Marion University, King University, Lander University, Limestone University, Mars Hill University, Newberry College, and Wingate University.
About Conference Carolinas
Conference Carolinas has a rich tradition that dates back to its inception on Dec. 6, 1930. The NCAA Division II athletics conference presently has full member schools located in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Conference Carolinas full member institutions in the 2024-25 academic year are Barton, Belmont Abbey, Chowan, Converse, Emmanuel, Erskine, Francis Marion, King, Lees-McRae, Mount Olive, UNC Pembroke, North Greenville, Shorter, Southern Wesleyan and Young Harris. Ferrum College (Va) will join the conference in 2025-26.
Conference Carolinas believes in the development and formation of the whole person in body, mind and soul. Our students are nationally recognized for their extraordinary success in the classroom, in the community and at the highest levels of NCAA competition.
Conference Carolinas is a sole sponsor of 24 sports and also collaborates with two other conferences (South Atlantic Conference and Great Midwest Athletic Conference) to offer opportunities in four additional sports for a total of 28 in the 2024-25 academic year.
Conference Carolinas will be a sole sponsor of 26 sports and offer opportunities for a total of 30 sports with the official addition of football and women's flag football in the 2025-26 academic year.
The ability to provide its membership sports sponsorship in 30 sports is the most in all of NCAA Division II. In addition, Conference Carolinas also provides championship opportunities for its member institutions in esports and spirit.
This is all in addition to hosting developmental championships in various sports for its member institutions. Conference Carolinas is believed to be the first NCAA conference to offer sub-varsity championships to its members.