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Lakeland College joined 13 other colleges and universities Monday in signing a declaration of intent to merge the Lake Michigan and Northern Illinois-Iowa Conferences into one large all-sport conference beginning in some sports with the 2006-07 season.
The new, as-yet unnamed conference will also include LMC members Alverno College, Concordia University-Wisconsin, Dominican University, Edgewood College, Maranatha Baptist Bible College, Marian College, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Wisconsin Lutheran College and NIIC members Aurora College, Benedictine University, Clarke College, Concordia University-Illinois and Rockford College.
The schools will soon begin the process of drafting a conference constitution and related by-laws.
One of the biggest changes will be the formation of a new eight-team football conference which will include Aurora, Benedictine, Concordia-Ill., Concordia-Wis., Lakeland, Maranatha, Rockford and Wisconsin Lutheran.
“There are still a lot of details to be worked out, but we’re excited about the chance to play all sports in the same conference,” said Lakeland College President Stephen Gould.
In recent years, two of the four LMC institutions that have football programs (Concordia, Wis. and Lakeland) have competed in the Illini-Badger Conference (IBFC) during their fall season, along with Aurora, Benedictine and Concordia, Ill. Wisconsin Lutheran currently plays football in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, while Maranatha plays football in the Upper Midwest Conference.
All institutions in the new conference offer men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and women’s volleyball, except Alverno, the aforementioned all-female institution. Scheduling details remain to be worked out.
Men’s and women’s cross country, golf, tennis, plus track and field conference schedules will be offered by most of the new members and will be refined into logistically-favorable competition schedules.
“Obviously refinements still need to be made,” said Concordia President Patrick Ferry, “but everyone is enthused and working toward a common goal. We recognize that we can do a lot more and a lot better together than any of us could do apart.”
Rockford’s president, Paul Pribbenow, said, “Bringing together institutions, though diverse, to a common goal is very admirable. Rockford’s faculty was extremely excited about linking this core of institutions academically and athletically.”
“We walked into the unknown when we joined the Lake Michigan Conference two years ago, but we were immediately accepted into a spirit of genuine collegiality and professionalism,” said athletic director Sue Hansen of Alverno. “I expect no less of this new affiliation.”
Lakeland agrees to join new athletic conference
Athletics - posted on 2/15/2005
Lakeland College joined 13 other colleges and universities Monday in signing a declaration of intent to merge the Lake Michigan and Northern Illinois-Iowa Conferences into one large all-sport conference beginning in some sports with the 2006-07 season.
The new, as-yet unnamed conference will also include LMC members Alverno College, Concordia University-Wisconsin, Dominican University, Edgewood College, Maranatha Baptist Bible College, Marian College, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Wisconsin Lutheran College and NIIC members Aurora College, Benedictine University, Clarke College, Concordia University-Illinois and Rockford College.
The schools will soon begin the process of drafting a conference constitution and related by-laws.
One of the biggest changes will be the formation of a new eight-team football conference which will include Aurora, Benedictine, Concordia-Ill., Concordia-Wis., Lakeland, Maranatha, Rockford and Wisconsin Lutheran.
“There are still a lot of details to be worked out, but we’re excited about the chance to play all sports in the same conference,” said Lakeland College President Stephen Gould.
In recent years, two of the four LMC institutions that have football programs (Concordia, Wis. and Lakeland) have competed in the Illini-Badger Conference (IBFC) during their fall season, along with Aurora, Benedictine and Concordia, Ill. Wisconsin Lutheran currently plays football in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, while Maranatha plays football in the Upper Midwest Conference.
All institutions in the new conference offer men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and women’s volleyball, except Alverno, the aforementioned all-female institution. Scheduling details remain to be worked out.
Men’s and women’s cross country, golf, tennis, plus track and field conference schedules will be offered by most of the new members and will be refined into logistically-favorable competition schedules.
“Obviously refinements still need to be made,” said Concordia President Patrick Ferry, “but everyone is enthused and working toward a common goal. We recognize that we can do a lot more and a lot better together than any of us could do apart.”
Rockford’s president, Paul Pribbenow, said, “Bringing together institutions, though diverse, to a common goal is very admirable. Rockford’s faculty was extremely excited about linking this core of institutions academically and athletically.”
“We walked into the unknown when we joined the Lake Michigan Conference two years ago, but we were immediately accepted into a spirit of genuine collegiality and professionalism,” said athletic director Sue Hansen of Alverno. “I expect no less of this new affiliation.”
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