RIPON, Wis. – After leaving the Midwest Conference (MWC) after the 1996-97 season the Cornell College Rams are officially back to the conference they helped form in 1921. As of July 1st the Rams are officially a MWC member and will begin competing in 16 of the 20 MWC Championship sports in the 2012-13 season.

Prior to its departure, the Mount Vernon, Iowa-based institution played a prominent role in the history and development of one of the top academic conferences in NCAA Division III, something that Cornell Faculty Athletic Representative Ellen Whale is excited to see. “Rejoining the Midwest Conference allows Cornell to expand on its longstanding academic relationships with other members of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest.”

Aligned with members of the MWC as a highly-ranked and nationally-recognized liberal arts institution, Cornell also has a prominent athletic footprint in the annals of league record books. Among the Rams 67 championships, 12 were won by both Men’s Basketball and Football while Men’s Cross Country won nine championships. The Rams had 11 other programs win MWC titles.

Although he is only in his first year as President, Cornell’s Jonathan Brand understands the magnitude for the Rams coming back to the MWC. “Rejoining the Midwest Conference is a crucial step for Cornell, especially because Cornell was one of the Conference's founding schools, Brand said. “We have an invaluable and enduring connection with the Midwest Conference members schools, both academically and athletically, and we are eager and excited to participate fully again in the Conference.”

With Cornell moving into the MWC schedules will look different this year than they have in the past. In sports that are separated by divisions the Rams will be slotted in the South Division. In the team sports of men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball there will be no changes to the respective schedules. Football will see a schedule that features nine conference games and one non-conference game while both men’s and women’s basketball will play a modified round robin schedule that will feature 18 conference games. Men’s tennis will have a major change as Lake Forest will move to the North Division while the Foresters will stay in the South on the women’s side to participate in a six team division.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to renew our affiliation with this excellent group of institutions, many of whom we have competed with throughout much of the entire history of our athletic program, stated Cornell Athletic Director John Cochrane. “The Midwest Conference has been very gracious in welcoming us back and assisting in making this transition as seamless as possible; for that we are very grateful and excited to begin competition in the fall.”

Cornell, a private four-year liberal arts college, was founded in 1853 and offers varsity programs in 17 sports (nine men, eight women). The Rams were a two-time winner of the Women’s All-Sports Championship Trophy which is awarded to the school based on its standing in each of the MWC’s 20 sports.

“We are excited to celebrate the tradition and history that returns with Cornell’s returning membership to the Midwest Conference,” Commissioner Chris Graham said. “Cornell’s contributions to the league’s philosophy and administration were instrumental in leading us to where we are today. We look forward to working with its fine staff once again.”

The Midwest Conference is a proud member of NCAA Division III that sponsors 20 championship sports for over 3,000 student-athletes. The Midwest Conference is now comprised of 11 private, liberal arts colleges and universities in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin: Beloit College, Carroll University, Cornell College, Grinnell College, Illinois College, Knox College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Monmouth College, Ripon College and St. Norbert College.

For more information on the Midwest Conference, please visit http://www.midwestconference.org.

For more information on Cornell, please visit http://www.cornellcollege.edu or visit the athletics site at http://www.cornellrams.com.