Ohio Swimming Inc. (OSI) and Lake Erie Swimming Inc. (LESI) announced Thursday the final approval of a merger that will see the two form a single Local Swimming Committee (LSC) in the state of Ohio.
LSCs are the local administrative organizations of USA Swimming’s governance structure.
The new LSC will operate under the name Ohio Swimming Inc., and will officially come into effect on September 1, 2025. The records of the two previous LSCs will be archived and published on the new Ohio Swimming LSC’s website, but the new website will start fresh with a brand new record set.
The first official LSC Championships will be held in March.
The official approval comes 17 months after the LSCs announced a merger was in the works back in January 2024. The process began in April 2023 during the USA Swimming Workshop in Denver, when athlete representatives from the two LSCs met to discuss the possibility of coming together.
“This LSC unification enhances competition through expanding programs & services, improving operational efficiencies while creating new levels of achievement and success in competitive swimming for every athlete, family member, coach, volunteer and community within the State of Ohio,” the press release says.
When the two LSCs began discussing the idea of a merger in 2023, they keyed in on four areas that would make a partnership mutually beneficial: LSC unification (combining resources), enhanced competition, strengthening operational efficiency and financial position, and improving member retention/attracting new families.
“By unifying OSI and LESI, this merger marks a strategic and forward-thinking shift designed to enhance the sport’s reach and impact throughout Ohio.”
Previously, the LESI served the northeast section of Ohio, while the OSI covered the rest of the state. Both competed in the Central Zone.
“We are incredibly proud of the collaborative hard work and due diligence put forth by our Athlete Representatives, Board of Directors, and House of Delegates over the past 27 months,” Jim Peterfish, OSI General Chair, and Vince Colwell, LESI General Chair, said in a joint statement.
“This merger positions USA Swimming in Ohio to be the best it can be for many decades to come.”
In the 2024 calendar year, Ohio Swimming had 6,195 premium and outreach athlete members, while Lake Erie had 3,164, both slight increases from 2023 (Ohio increased by 255 athletes or 4.29%, while Lake Erie increased by 101 athletes or 3.30%).
Ohio also had 60 clubs registered in 2024, while Lake Erie had 33.
In January 2024, Steven Connock, the Administrative Vice Chair of OSI, said he expected the merged LSC to have membership numbers in the 9,000 swimmer, 100+ club range.
“The mission of the new OSI is to foster a united environment where all members can learn life skills, strive for excellence, and grow as both competitors and individuals through the sport of swimming. Its vision strives for competitiveness, respect, and sportsmanship among a diverse community which cultivates possibilities for initiative and personal growth,” the press release continued.
“The OSI merger represents a bold, positive step forward—reshaping the landscape of competitive swimming in Ohio and reinforcing a shared commitment to promoting, growing, and advancing the world’s greatest sport.”
A bunch of others should merge
Is nKY staying in the Ohio LSC?
the clippers were in the KY LSC this year
Clippers and the territory of Kenton County are in KYLSC now. There are still 2 northern Ky counties that are part of Ohio. RC Durr YMCA and the Cincinnati Marlins NKU site are also still part of Ohio.
I loved being in the LE LSC. I liked the breakdown they had for recognizing swimmer and event records.