INDIANAPOLIS—The Great Midwest Athletic Conference has announced the addition of Hiram College and Mercyhurst University as associate members for STUNT. Hiram will begin competition during the 2022-2023 academic year and Mercyhurst will join for the 2023-24 season. The additions of the two STUNT programs quickly moves the Great Midwest to eight member institutions sponsoring the sport by 2023-24.
Hiram College, a private liberal arts institution located in northeast Ohio, will participate in conference regular season competition and will be immediately eligible for the Great Midwest STUNT championship this spring. The Terriers will compete in STUNT during the 2022-23 season along with full member institutions Ashland University, Tiffin University, and Ursuline College.
In addition to Hiram, the conference is extending associate membership to Mercyhurst University for the 2023-2024 academic year. The Lakers, also an associate member in the Great Midwest in the sport of men’s lacrosse, will join Malone University, Trevecca Nazarene University, and Walsh University next season to expand league teams competing in STUNT to eight.
“The ability to partner with Hiram and Mercyhurst in these early stages of STUNT’s rapid growth and development will enhance the experience for our student-athletes and provide additional competition opportunities. We are thankful to Hiram's Scott Pohlman and Mercyhurst's Brad Davis for their interest in the Great Midwest STUNT Championships and welcome them to associate membership in the sport,” stated Great Midwest Commissioner Tom Daeger.
“The addition of these two outstanding institutions, coupled with the recent announcements by three current members planning to sponsor the sport in 2023-24 illustrates the strong interest in STUNT. These developments along with the great opportunity to support the female student-athlete demand for this emerging sport made the recent decision to sponsor STUNT an easy one,” added Daeger. “We couldn’t imagine failing to bring this championship online considering this demand and substantial growth in high school and college STUNT sponsorship.”
On January 14, the NCAA Division II membership added STUNT as an emerging sport for women and established legislation relating to membership, playing and practice seasons, and financial aid, effective August 1, 2023.
The first Great Midwest STUNT Championship is set to take place March 31 - April 1 in Ashland, Ohio.
Information on the continued development of STUNT in the Great Midwest can found on greatmidwestsports.com. Additional information on the sport’s growth nationally can be found at stuntthesport.org.