ROCK HILL, SC – The South Atlantic Conference has awarded the league’s annual Spring Sports Festival to Rock Hill and York County for three years, beginning in 2004, Commissioner Doug Echols announced today.

Presbyterian College President Dr. John Griffith, left, and Mike Racy discuss what is happening with the NCAA at the Division II level during the South Atlantic Conference annual business meeting in Asheville, NC. Racy is the Chief of Staff for Division II at the NCAA and was on hand for the SAC's meeting.

The event, which recently concluded its ninth year, brings together nearly 700 student-athletes, competing for conference championships in six sports. The SAC estimates that along with coaches, team and school personnel, students and family, the Spring Sports Festival could bring in close to 1,400 visitors to Rock Hill and York County.

The league’s Athletic Directors Council accepted the bid from the Rock Hill/York County Tourism and Sports Commission at their annual business meeting this week in Asheville, N.C.

“The Athletic Directors were impressed with the excellent proposal submitted by Rock Hill, and are looking forward to making this their home for our spring championships for the next three years,” said Echols. “We have worked with Bennish Brown and his fine staff in the past, and know they will make this a first-class event for our student-athletes.”

Brown, the executive director of the Rock Hill/York County Tourism and Sports Commission, said he was very excited about bringing the Spring Sports Festival to York County.

“This is a great addition to our resume of events that we bring into this community, which benefits all facets of the community. We look forward to playing our part in making this a great event for the athletes, the coaches, the students and their families.”

The week-long festival will include the league’s season-ending conference tournaments in men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, baseball and softball. The Festival will take place from April 19-25 in 2004. In 2005, the dates are April 18-24. Tentative dates for 2006 are April 24-30.

Golf will be played at Regent Park and Springfield Golf Club, both in Fort Mill. Baseball will be played primarily at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, with two games played at Winthrop’s Eagle Field. Tennis will be played at Winthrop’s new tennis complex, as well as city courts at Sullivan Middle School. Softball will be played at Cherry Park.

“Rock Hill is a perfect location for this event for a number of reasons,” said David Riggins, Director of Athletics at Mars Hill College and chair of the AD’s Council. “It is the home of the conference office, it is big enough to give a big-city feel, but small enough for a small-town feel that our student-athletes are used to on our campuses. The facilities are second to none and will provide our student-athletes a first-class playing facility for all of our events. And the city of Rock Hill has a great tradition of hosting events like this.”

Brown said this was a joint effort with the City of Rock Hill Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department. He also expressed thanks to Winthrop University for the cooperation in using their facilities.

“This underscores the fact that Rock Hill and York County is a competitive area when it comes to attracting sporting events and visitors,” Brown said. “Our quality sports facilities are one of the reasons we continue to be successful.”

The South Atlantic Conference is a member of NCAA Division II and is composed of eight colleges and universities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee -- Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.; Catawba College, Salisbury, N.C.; Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, N.C.; Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, N.C.; Newberry College, Newberry, S.C.; Presbyterian College, Clinton, S.C.; Tusculum College, Greeneville, Tenn.; Wingate University, Wingate, N.C.