INDIANAPOLIS -- The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced Thursday it will start sponsoring women's wrestling as its 27th sport, beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.

The inaugural season of GLVC women's wrestling will feature seven institutions, including full-time league members McKendree University, Quincy University, Upper Iowa University, and William Jewell College, as well as associate members Davenport University, Grand Valley State University, and Northern Michigan University. All three institutions are members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and were approved for associate membership in June of 2025.

"The GLVC is pleased to partner with the GLIAC to promote the growth of women's wrestling by sponsoring a regular season championship for the seven schools that sponsor the sport in both leagues." Said Jim Naumovich, GLVC Commissioner, "We look forward to the addition of the programs from Davenport, Grand Valley State, and Northern Michigan, that will all compete for the inaugural GLVC Women's Wrestling Championship in 2026."

McKendree started their program in 2013-14 and was an original invitee to the Inaugural National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships (NCWWC). Davenport has been competing since 2020-21, with Northern Michigan and William Jewell starting their programs in the 2021-22 season. Quincy began competing in 2022-23 while Upper Iowa started in 2023-24, with Grand Valley State the newest program, only starting theirs last season in 2024-25.

McKendree has gone 110-35 over the 12 seasons since the program's first year of competition in 2013, including three NCWWC National Championships in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The program has 20 individual national champions with over 100 All-Americans in its history. Alexio Garcia has served as the head coach since May of 2022 and has a record of 33-10, mentoring five National Champions (Emily Shilson, Cameron Guerin (twice), Sydnee Kimber, and Tristan Kelly) and 23 All-Americans over three seasons. The Bearcats have finished top4 in all NCWWC championships with a third-place finish in 2025 behind 207 lb. National Champion Tristan Kelly, four National Runner-Ups, and nine total All-Americans.

Quincy has gone 25-21 in the three seasons they have been around. The Hawks are led by Jeff Haley who also is an assistant coach for the Quincy men's wrestling team. The Hawks have had one All-American, when Trinity Pendergrass placed seventh in the 110 division at the NCWWC Tourney.

Upper Iowa has been competing for two seasons and recently announced Jay Tiedemann as the head coach in June of 2025.

William Jewell holds a record of 14-16 in their four seasons of competition. The Cardinals are led by Desiree Ramos who enters her fourth season having coached Alex Waitsman to an All-American honor in 2025.

Davenport is located in Grand Rapids, Mich., and has five seasons under its belt being mentored since 2022 by head coach Scott Lucas who also coaches the Davenport men's wrestling team.

Grand Valley State is located in Allendale, Mich., and has competed in one season, going 3-2. The Lakers are coached by Jake Short who led two wrestlers to National Championships and earned a fourth-place finish.

Northern Michigan is located in Marquette, Mich., and has accumulated a 10-7 record over the last four seasons. Adam Wilson was hired as the head coach in May of 2025.

The inaugural GLVC Women's Wrestling champion will be determined upon the winning percentage of Conference matches only.

For more information on GLVC women's wrestling, stay tuned online at GLVCsports.com and social media (@GLVCsports; #GLVCwwrstl) throughout the coming years.