INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletic Conference has announced the addition of Davenport University as an associate member for the sports of men’s lacrosse, STUNT, and wrestling. The addition of Davenport quickly moves the conference to six associate members in addition to Davis & Elkins, Hiram, Mercyhurst, Seton Hill, and Wheeling.
 
Davenport University, a private institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, currently sponsors 23 NCAA sports and are full-time members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
 
Davenport’s men’s lacrosse program currently competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), where they finished last season with an overall record of 5-8. The Panthers will compete alongside 10 other institutions in the league, including full-time members Lake Erie, Malone, Northwood, Thomas More, Tiffin, and Walsh. Davis & Elkins College, Mercyhurst, Seton Hill, and Wheeling also compete as associate members.
 
The Panthers will join six other G-MAC wrestling programs in 2024-25, including Ashland, Findlay, Kentucky Wesleyan, Lake Erie, Thomas More, and Tiffin. Davenport initially competed as an unattached program before beginning competition in the GLVC during the 2020-21 academic year.  
 
In the sport of STUNT, Davenport was crowned the 2022-23 National Champions last season, finishing 13-2 overall. The STUNT program currently has eight national championships under their belt. The addition of Davenport increases STUNT membership to eight. The Panthers will compete against full time members Ashland, Malone, Tiffin, Ursuline, and Walsh, as well as associate members Hiram and Mercyhurst.
 
“We are pleased to welcome Davenport as an associate member and have enjoyed working with Executive Director Paul Lowden and Associate Director of Athletics Ronda Varnesdeel over the last few months to develop this partnership”, said Great Midwest Commissioner Tom Daeger. “Davenport has excelled during their time as a Division II member and will bring additional support to our sponsorship numbers in three sports, including a national champion program in the sport of STUNT.  We are proud to be able to provide 26 championship sports in the Great Midwest, including emerging NCAA sports, that offer a culminating experience, and all that it encompasses, to benefit the student-athletes”.
 
Davenport will begin competition during the 2024-25 academic year, becoming the G-MAC’s sixth associate member.