GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Davis & Elkins College Men's Lacrosse program officially has a conference home as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference officially announced the addition of men's lacrosse as a sponsored sport beginning with the upcoming 2016-17 academic year.
 
The Senators will be joined by six other programs to bring the total to seven schools forming the new men's lacrosse league for the 2017 spring season. The sport will feature five current or incoming G-MAC schools and a minimum of two additional associate members.

"With the expansion of the G-MAC to include men's lacrosse, our program will experience the same level of professionalism and excellence in competition and the opportunity to compete for conference championships," said Athletic Director Jamie Joss. "This is a significant step forward in strengthening the G-MAC and the men's lacrosse program at D&E."
 
Davis & Elkins College is joined by traditional G-MAC members Alderson Broaddus University, Ohio Valley University, Lake Erie College and Walsh University. Mercyhurst University (Erie, Pa.) and Seton Hill University (Greensburg, Pa.) will also join as associate members of the newly sponsored sport.

"This is a very exciting time for the Men's Lacrosse Program at Davis & Elkins," said head coach Brian Anken. "I'm confident that men's lacrosse will be a successful addition as an official GMAC sport."
 
The other six institutions previously competed together in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and all will be eligible for conference championship participation in the inaugural G-MAC season.
 
"We are excited to see these institutions remain together to compete in one of the fastest growing collegiate sports in the country," said G-MAC Commissioner Tom Daeger. "Our organization will work hard to ensure the experience for the student-athletes is a positive one as they compete for league and national championships."
 
"The ECAC leadership has been very helpful in the coordination of this transition and we are appreciative of the opportunity to provide this new championship for institutions in the G-MAC."
 
The inaugural conference championship tournament will be conducted the weekend prior to the NCAA Regional on May 4-6, 2017.

"Having the ability to compete for a conference championship and end of year awards is the perfect next step for our young program," said Anken. "I also commend the GMAC for being extremely diligent in pursuing such a well respect group of associate members. GMAC lacrosse will have the immediate ability to be competitive nationally."

With the addition of men's lacrosse to the G-MAC, all 18 intercollegiate sports at D&E in 2016-17 will be affiliated with a conference.
 
More information about D&E men's lacrosse, including scheduling within the G-MAC for the spring of 2017, will be made available in the upcoming months.