INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Midwest Athletic Conference announced the addition of Wheeling Jesuit University as an associate member for the sport of men’s lacrosse effective in 2017-18 on Tuesday afternoon.
Wheeling Jesuit will give the Great Midwest a total of eight men’s lacrosse institutions in the mix for a new title during the 2018 spring season. The Cardinals will increase the league’s associate members total to three with Mercyhurst and Seton Hill.
Alderson Broaddus, Davis & Elkins, Lake Erie, Ohio Valley and Walsh, will all be full member institutions of the G-MAC for this upcoming academic year.
“The Great Midwest Athletic Conference is pleased to partner with Wheeling Jesuit as an associate member in the sport of men’s lacrosse, said G-MAC Commissioner Tom Daeger. “Following a successful first season as a men’s lacrosse conference, the league will be bolstered by an additional program that is committed to excellence. The Great Midwest men’s lacrosse members maintained a close scheduling partnership with Wheeling Jesuit in 2017 and are eager to formally welcome the Cardinals to the Conference for the 2018 season.”
Wheeling Jesuit has already been factored into scheduling for 2018. The Cardinals finished the 2017 season as an independent with a 6-8 overall record while playing all seven current men’s lacrosse league members.
“We are excited that WJU’s men’s lacrosse team will be joining teams from our previous league,” said WJU Director of Athletics Kevin Forde. “Men’s lacrosse in the G-MAC is not only a high level of lacrosse, but it also fits the institutions we want our student-athletes to be associated with. Having the ability to compete for conference championships is an important part of the student-athlete experience and I am pleased this partnership will again allow this to happen.”
This past spring under head coach Landon DelPrince, Wheeling Jesuit was able to win in three overtime sessions against Lake Erie and additionally edged out Davis & Elkins, Ohio Valley, Alderson Broaddus and Walsh.
Statistically, the Cardinals were paced by junior attack Dereck Downs, who had 55 points with 38 goals and 17 assists. His point total would have ranked second in the league only behind Great Midwest Offensive Player of the Year Keyan McQueen (Mercyhurst).
“I am extremely excited for our program to officially become an associate member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference next season,” said DelPrince, a former WJU lacrosse standout who tallied 147 points in his four-year career. “I believe the G-MAC shares Wheeling Jesuit University's passion for honoring and developing student-athletes, and I sincerely want to thank Commissioner Tom Daeger and Associate Commissioner Kevin Alcox for allowing us this opportunity.”
“I look forward to building a strong relationship with the G-MAC over the coming years, as well as continuing to develop a healthy and competitive rivalry among the other teams in the conference,” continued DelPrince. “I am confident that the G-MAC will soon become one of the elite conferences in Division II given the current tradition and potential growth for all eight membered institutions.”
The inaugural season of Great Midwest men’s lacrosse saw No. 3 seed Seton Hill topple No. 1 seed Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa., for the first championship trophy. Lake Erie and Walsh also qualified for the four-team postseason tournament.