SE Grand Rapids News

Davenport University has announced that three of its athletic programs will join the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) as associate members starting in the 2024-25 academic year. The men's lacrosse, men's wrestling, and STUNT teams are making this transition because their current conference, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, does not sponsor these sports.

"The GLVC has been a competitive conference for our men's wrestling and men's lacrosse teams over the years," said Paul Lowden, executive director of intercollegiate athletics. "We appreciate their support of us as an associate member. As we recently assessed our athletic blueprint, the GMAC consists of 14 private schools and 26 conference championships that allow not only our men's wrestling and men's lacrosse programs to compete but allows for our national championship STUNT team to have more competitive opportunities. We feel it is important to provide championship opportunities for all our varsity programs and the G-MAC offers us this opportunity."

Davenport will join ten other institutions in the league, including full-time members Lake Erie, Malone, Northwood, Thomas More, Tiffin, and Walsh. Associate members include Davis & Elkins, Mercyhurst, Seton Hill, and Wheeling.

The Panthers' wrestling team will be one of seven G-MAC programs in 2024-25 alongside Ashland, Findlay, Kentucky Wesleyan, Lake Erie, Thomas More, and Tiffin.

In STUNT competition last season (2022-23), Davenport was crowned National Champions with a record of 13-2 overall. The program boasts eight national championships. With Davenport's addition to G-MAC's STUNT membership now at eight teams competing against full-time members Ashland, Malone, Tiffin Ursuline Walsh as well as associate members Hiram Mercyhurst.