BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Union College is ready to host the 2012 Appalachian Swimming and Diving Conference Championships this weekend at the new, state-of-the-art Stivers Aquatic Center. In all, 258 student-athletes from the 15-member schools of the ASC will compete on the weekend.

"It is with great pleasure that Union College hosts this year's ASC Conference Championship meet," said head coach Rafael Forti. "Athletes and coaches will be very pleased with what the Stivers Aquatic and Wellness Center has to offer. This will mark the first big event this new estate-of-art facility hosts and we are excited for it."

In the event, Asbury (Ky.) looks to defend their overall conference championship from a season ago, as they edged out Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.) last season to capture the ASC Conference Title.

Action kicks off on Thursday evening beginning at 7 p.m., in which diving events will be contested. On Friday and Saturday, preliminary races will be run in the morning each day, with action starting on Friday at 9:30 a.m., and Saturday at 9 a.m. This will lead into the final competition in each event swum, which will begin at 6 p.m. each evening.

Doors open on Friday morning at 8 a.m. on Friday morning, and 7:30 on Saturday, while they will open at 4:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday afternoon in prep for the finals.

Fans are reminded that admission will be charged at each session ($8.00). They can also purchase a convenient Combo Pass for $30.00 that will grant them admission to all five sessions taking place on the weekend.

Fans are also reminded that all parking will take place only on the Union College campus, with complimentary shuttles transporting you to and from the Stivers Aquatic Center. Fans can also elect to take the short three block walk from campus to the Stivers Center if they choose to do so, as well.

Also, if you can't make it to the Stivers Aquatic Center this weekend, you can follow all the action online thanks to the Bulldog Sports Network, who will cover the finals on both Friday and Saturday nights.

More information will be posted to UCBulldogs.com as it becomes available.