The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) is a Division II college sports conference made up of 11 universities located across the U.S. Midwest region. Established in 2013, the conference is a result of the merger between the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The Conference is made up of teams from Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.
History of the G-MAC
The Christian Brothers University became the first team associated with the league in May of 2012. By December, the number of associated teams had grown and the G-MAC was formed in June, 2013. The Conference commenced its first season in the fall of 2013 with 11 member institutions and five sports disciplines: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, softball, and volleyball. Today, the conference has grown to include 12 universities participating in 11 different sports.
Member Institutions
The member institutions of G-MAC are:
- Christian Brothers University (Tennessee)
- Davis & Elkins College (West Virginia)
- Kentucky Wesleyan College
- Malone University (Ohio)
- Notre Dame College (Ohio)
- Ohio Dominican University
- Urbana University (Ohio)
- University of Charleston (West Virginia)
- University of Findlay (Ohio)
- Wisconsin-Parkside
- Trevecca Nazarene University (Tennessee)
Sports Participated
The G-MAC is home to 11 sports disciplines that include: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross-country, men’s and women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, and volleyball.
Notable Achievements
The conference holds several distinctions, including the presence of the only NCAA Division II-level lacrosse program in Kentucky (Kentucky Wesleyan College), the first lacrosse championship won by an Ohio-based college or university (Notre Dame College), and the production of an NCAA Division II champion, Findlay, in 2013. The conference has several NCAA scholar-athletes of the year, including Ohio Dominican University’s Matt Baker, who won the award in 2017.
Rivalries Within the Conference
The G-MAC has several, prominent rivalries among member institutions. The top three rivalries in the conference include:
- Malone University vs University of Findlay
- Kentucky Wesleyan College vs Davis & Elkins College
- Christian Brothers University vs Trevecca Nazarene University
Conference Governance and Operation
The G-MAC is led by a governing board, which is made up of presidents from each of the 12 member institutions. The board is responsible for setting the policies and standards for the conference and making decisions on all matters relating to the conference’s operations. Additionally, the board determines the championship events and scheduling for the various sports, which is in line with other Division II college sports conferences.
Role and Impact of G-MAC on Sports Arena
The G-MAC serves as an important platform for member institutions to compete in college-level sports. The conference provides an opportunity for teams to build strong rivalries and to compete for regional and national championships. The G-MAC also provides valuable academic and athletic opportunities for student-athletes, promoting athletic excellence, academic success, and sportsmanship.
Future Prospects for G-MAC
The future of the G-MAC looks promising. The conference has seen an increase in sports participation and is projected to continue to grow in the future. Additionally, the conference is looking to further expand its geographic reach to include more teams and additional sports disciplines. As the G-MAC continues to expand, it is sure to remain an important resource for student-athletes and fans alike.
Conclusion
The Great Midwest Athletic Conference is an important part of the college sports landscape, providing an opportunity for its member institutions to compete in an NCAA-sanctioned league. The G-MAC has seen great success over the past several years and is poised to continue growing in the future. With its unique blend of rivalries, championships, and valuable academic and athletic opportunities, the G-MAC is sure to remain an important resource for student-athletes and sports fans for years to come.