The Collegiate Water Polo Association originally began as the Mid Atlantic Conference, founded by Dick Russell (Bucknell University swimming & water polo coach) in the 1970’s. Its founding membership included teams from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

The leadership and management of the organization relied on volunteer coaches until 1990, when it hired a commissioner to perform basic scheduling for the 15 member teams. Officiating assignments at the time were performed by an independent organization called the Eastern Water Polo Referees Association.

The next major milepost occurred in 1993, when the Southern and New England Conferences merged into the Mid Atlantic. The new structure combined all of the varsity teams in the East, along with the few sport clubs in existence at that time.

During the 1995 season, the conference received its first major challenge, as the organization experienced a strike by its officiating corps. This strike ultimately resulted in the organization establishing its own officiating bureau, assuming responsibility for all of its officiating assignments. The conference hired Tere Ma as its inaugural Director of Officials and Loren Bertocci as its first Technical Director. These two individuals laid the groundwork for the Officiating Bureau that exists today.

Today the CWPA is the largest water polo conference in the country with teams in 75% of the states nationwide. Including both intercollegiate varsity competition and club competition, it stands as the only conference of this type. Due to its breadth and influence, the conference plays a pivotal role in the sport of water polo today, which will only increase in the future as it continues to grow.

• 1970’s
  – The Mid Atlantic Conference is founded by Dick Russell.

• ---

  1990
  – The conference hires a commissioner to manage the league administration.

• ---

  1993
  – The New England and Southern Conferences merge into the Mid Atlantic. The conference changes its name to the Eastern Water Polo Association. Thirty-nine club and varsity teams participate in the new structure.

• ---

  1994
  – The Association adds women’s teams to its membership.
  – Total membership equals 55 teams.

• ---

  1995
  – The conference ends its relationship with the Eastern Water Polo Referees Association and establishes its own officiating bureau. Tere Ma hired as the inaugural Director of Officials and Loren Bertocci hired as the first Technical Director.
  – Men’s Midwest division is added.
  – Club championships are separated by division.
  – Membership increases to 82 teams.

• ---

  1996
  – Women’s Midwest Division is added.
  – Men’s Southwest Division is added.
  – Men’s New York Division separates into regions to accommodate growth.
  – Eastern Water Polo Association changes its name to Collegiate Water Polo Association to reflect the geographic representation of its membership.
  – Membership rises to 95 teams.

• ---

  1997
  – Women’s Southwest Division is added.
  – Women’s Northern Division splits into New York and New England Divisions.
  – Great Lakes Division is added.
  – Men’s New England Division splits to North Atlantic and New England Divisions.
  – Membership reaches 110 teams.

• ---

  1998
  – Northwest men and women’s divisions added.
  – Men’s Pacific Coast Division added.
  – Membership includes 40 women’s teams and 97 men’s teams for 137 programs.

• ---

  1999
  – Women’s Pacific Coast Division added.
  – Midwest Women’s Division reinstated.
  – Men’s Great Lakes Division changes its name to the Heartland Division.
  – Men’s Great Plains Division added.
  – Membership increases to 52 women’s teams and 107 men’s teams, totaling 159 programs.

• ---

  2000
  – Men’s Southeast Division added.
  – Men’s Atlantic Division added.
  – Membership increases to 54 women’s teams and 121 men’s teams for 175 programs.

• ---

  2001
  – Women’s varsity and club programs separate competitively.
  – Women’s varsity teams form Northern and Southern Divisions.
  – Women’s Southeast Division added.
  – Texas Division added for men and women.
  – Membership increases to 122 men’s teams and 80 women’s teams for 202 programs.

• ---

  2002
  – Men’s Florida Division added.
  – Men’s Great Lakes Division added.
  – Men’s Midwest Division renamed the Ohio Valley Division.
  – Membership increases to 124 men’s teams and 91 women’s teams totaling 215 programs.

• ---

  2003
  – Men’s New England and North Atlantic Divisions realigned.
  – Men’s Division II Eastern Championship established.
  – Membership steadies at 120 men’s teams and 95 women’s teams totaling 215 programs.
  – League office moves headquarters to Bridgeport, Pennsylvania after 13 years in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

• ---

  2004
  – Women’s varsity teams realign to form Northern, Northeastern, Southern and Western Divisions.
  – Men’s Florida Division teams merge into Southeast Division.
  – Men’s Great Plains Division splits forming Great Plains and Missouri Valley Divisions.
  – Membership grows to 126 men’s teams and 98 women’s teams totaling 224 programs.

• ---

  2005
  – Six women’s varsity teams amicably leave to join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. Remaining varsity teams realign to form Northern, Western and Southern Divisions.
  – Women’s Atlantic and North Atlantic Divisions added.
  – Women’s National Collegiate Club Championship expands to 16 teams.
  – Membership grows to 131 men’s and 99 women’s teams totaling 230 programs.

• ---

  2006
  – Women’s Atlantic Division merges with the Mid-Atlantic Division.
  – Men’s Ohio Valley Division members join Great Lakes and Missouri Valley Divisions.
  – CWPA varsity teams establish a Technical Committee to oversee officiating education, evaluation and assignment for varsity contests, a first in the history of the sport.
  – Membership grows to 138 men’s and 96 women’s teams totaling 234 programs.

• ---

  2007
  – Women’s Ohio Valley Division added.
  – Women’s Sierra Pacific Division added.
  – Men’s North Atlantic Division realigned to qualify for the Division III Collegiate Club championship.
  – Men’s Florida and Rocky Mountain Divisions added.
  – Education begins for referees and coaches via video clips on the website.
  – Membership grows to 141 men’s and 101 women’s teams totaling 242 programs.

• ---

  2008
  – Women’s Ohio Valley Division merges into Midwest Division.
  – Membership grows to 143 men’s and 100 women’s teams, totaling 243 programs.
  – CWPA launches a new website with PrestoSports.

• ---

  2009
  – Big Ten men’s club teams join the CWPA.
  – CWPA initiates online education program for referees.
  – CWPA Women’s Division III Varsity Championship created, becoming the first solely Division III grouping in the history of the sport.
  – New Team Leader orientation program established.
  – Media Guide & cover win CoSIDA “Best in the Nation” Awards for conference publications from the Collegiate Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) to become the first water polo publications to receive the honor.
  – CWPA broadcasts men’s championships for the first time
  – Membership grows to 161 men’s and 98 women’s teams for 259 programs.

• ---

  2010
  – Big Ten women’s club teams join the CWPA.
  – CWPA broadcasts women’s championships for the first time.
  – Membership grows to 161 men’s and 111 women’s teams for 272 programs.

• ---

  2011
  – Women’s Southwest Division splits forming Rocky Mountain Division
  – Men’s Southwest Division merges into Rocky Mountain Division
  – Men’s Sierra Pacific Division formed with teams from the Pacific Coast Division
  – Membership grows to 156 men’s and 126 women’s teams totaling 282 programs

• ---

  2012
  – Director of Multimedia position established
  – Membership steadies at 159 men’s and 121 women’s teams totaling 280 programs.

• ---

  2013
  – Membership changes to 158 men’s and 115 women’s teams totaling 273 programs.