Valparaiso accepts MVC invite

Posted on May 25, 2017

By WJBC Staff

ST. LOUIS – Valparaiso University has accepted an invitation to join the Missouri Valley Conference this fall.

The Indiana school becomes the league’s 10th team to join, following the departure of Wichita State which left this spring to join the American Athletic Conference.

“We are truly excited to welcome Valparaiso University to our Missouri Valley Conference family,” said MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin. “Valpo brings a combination of strong athletics tradition and academic excellence, and will be a great fit competing in our league.”

President Dan Bradley, Chair of the MVC Presidents Council, added: “Valparaiso University has very high academic standards, and will be a wonderful addition to the league. Valpo also has a strong, recognized athletics brand, and many Missouri Valley members are excited at the opportunity to renew old rivalries.”

Valparaiso sponsors all 17 sports in which the MVC conducts a championship, including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, softball, baseball, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, women’s tennis and women’s swimming. Valpo also offers football in the Pioneer Football League; men’s tennis, men’s swimming, and women’s bowling in the Southland Bowling League.

Valpo’s men’s basketball team has advanced to the NCAA Tournament twice in the last six years as members of the Horizon League. Baseball has two NCAA Tournament appearances in the past five years, while men’s golf, women’s soccer and softball have also competed in the NCAA Tournament at least once in the past five seasons.

Founded in 1859, Valparaiso University is an independent Lutheran institution, located in Valparaiso, Ind., approximately one hour east of Chicago. With more than 4,000 students, Valpo has five colleges, a graduate school and a law school.

“This is an exciting time for Valparaiso University and our athletics programs,” said Valparaiso President Mark Heckler. “We are fortunate to join the historic, tradition-rich Missouri Valley Conference. Membership in the Valley will increase the national profile of our institution and our athletics program, and we will undoubtedly contribute to the strength and character of the conference.”

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…