Midwest Conference

Midwest Conference. The Midwest Conference is a NCAA Division III athletic conference comprising 10 private colleges in the Midwest. The conference was formed in 1994 through the merger of the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference and the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The conference is affiliated with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the NCAA Division III Presidents Council.

● History

The Midwest Conference has its roots in the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference, which was established in 1921 by Beloit College, Carleton College, Grinnell College, Knox College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Monmouth College, and Ripon College. In 1994, the conference merged with the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, which included Augustana College, Elmhurst College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Millikin University, and Wheaton College. The resulting conference was renamed the Midwest Conference and has since undergone several changes, including the addition of Cornell College and the departure of Augustana College and Millikin University. The conference has also been affiliated with the NCAA Division III Independents and the Association of Division III Independents.

● Member Schools

The Midwest Conference currently consists of 10 member schools, including Beloit College, Carleton College, Cornell College, Grinnell College, Illinois College, Knox College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Monmouth College, and Ripon College. These schools are located in the Midwest and are affiliated with the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Council of Independent Colleges. Many of the member schools are also members of the Annapolis Group and the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities, and are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

● Championships

The Midwest Conference sponsors championships in 20 sports, including Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, and Volleyball. The conference has produced several NCAA Division III national champions, including University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in Hockey and University of Wisconsin–La Crosse in Track and Field. The conference is also affiliated with the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship and the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship, and has sent teams to the NCAA Division III Football Championship and the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

● Sports

The Midwest Conference offers a range of sports, including Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, and Volleyball. Many of the conference's member schools have a strong athletic tradition, with teams competing in the NCAA Division III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The conference is also affiliated with the United States Olympic Committee and the National Federation of State High School Associations, and has produced several Olympic Games athletes, including Michael Johnson and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The conference's teams have also competed against other NCAA Division III conferences, including the University Athletic Association, the New England Small College Athletic Conference, and the Centennial Conference.

● Organization

The Midwest Conference is governed by a council of presidents from its member schools, which includes Beloit College President and Carleton College President. The conference is also affiliated with the NCAA and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, and is a member of the NCAA Division III Presidents Council and the Association of Division III Independents. The conference has a number of committees, including the Championships Committee and the Sports Administration Committee, which oversee the conference's athletic programs and ensure compliance with NCAA regulations. The conference is also accredited by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation. Category:National Collegiate Athletic Association