Contact: Heather Benning, Executive Director, benningh@midwestconference.org
GRINNELL, Iowa -- The Midwest Conference announced today that Luther College has joined the conference as its 10th core member institution.
"Today is a day that has long been anticipated, and it is with great enthusiasm that we are finally able to welcome Luther College to the Midwest Conference," said Executive Director Heather Benning. "The addition of the Norse brings an exciting new dynamic to our historic league, while at the same time serving to maintain and strengthen our core values."
Luther is coming off a 2025-26 athletic campaign during which four of its teams qualified for their respective NCAA team-sport championships, five student-athletes qualified as individuals to NCAA Championships, and two student-athletes competed at the NCAA Diving Regional Qualifiers. The Norse claimed three regular-season conference championships and three conference tournament titles. Academically, Luther placed 128 student-athletes on their respective academic all-conference honor rolls, while 32 were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma and seven were installed in Phi Beta Kappa.
The Norse are scheduled to open fall Midwest Conference competition on Saturday, September 12 when the women’s tennis team hosts Illinois College. The men’s and women’s soccer teams, as well as the football team, kick off on Saturday, September 19, when Beloit College travels to Decorah in all three sports. Volleyball has its first Midwest Conference match on Friday, October 2 at Knox College, while the cross-country teams will compete on Saturday, October 31 at the league’s championship.
Founded in 1921, the Midwest Conference is an interstate athletic association of institutions in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The conference’s core membership now includes Beloit College, Cornell College, Grinnell College, Illinois College, Knox College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Luther College, Monmouth College, and Ripon College. The Midwest Conference also maintains affiliate membership relationships with St. Norbert College and Milwaukee School of Engineering in swimming and diving, and with the University of Chicago in football.