Contact: Lou Groce, Director of Media and Information, 920-229-8157

GRINNELL, Iowa – The Midwest Conference (MWC) football coaches have selected St. Norbert College and Monmouth College to meet in the MWC Championship game and win the North and South Division, respectively, in the annual MWC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll.   

The Green Knights earned 10 first-place votes to earn 65 points and top the North Division.  The University of Chicago, which will be competing in the MWC for the first time since the 1987 season, earned a first-place tally and finished second in the North with 55 points.  Fellow affiliate member Macalester College earned the final first-place vote in the North Division and finished third in the division with 48. 

Ripon College was picked to finish fourth with 29 points and was followed by Lawrence University (26) and Beloit College (23). 

The Fighting Scots will be seeking their second consecutive MWC title and earned 10 first-place votes in the preseason poll to finish with 65 points.  Lake Forest College earned the other two votes for the top spot and were picked second with 57.  Illinois College is expected to finish third (44), while Cornell College is projected to take fourth (38).  Knox College (26) and Grinnell College (16) complete the South Division poll. 

The 2017 season kicks off on September 2 and league play begins on October 7.  The winners of each division will meet in the MWC Championship Game on November 11, with the victor earning the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Playoffs.
 
North Division
1. St. Norbert (10) 65
2. UChicago (1) 55
3. Macalester (1) 48
4. Ripon 29
5. Lawrence 26
6. Beloit 23

South Division
1. Monmouth (10) 65
2. Lake Forest (2) 57
3. Illinois College 44
4. Cornell 38
5. Knox 26
6. Grinnell 16