TIFFIN, Ohio - In collaboration with colleges and universities in the region, Tiffin University Athletic Director Lonny Allen has announced the formation of the Great Lakes Esports Conference (GLEC) to serve collegiate Esports programs in the Great Lakes region.
Conference membership will consist of nine teams across Ohio and Indiana competing in League of Legends, Overwatch, Counter Strike, and Rocket League. The inaugural GLEC schools are Defiance College, Lourdes University, Marietta College, University of Mount Union, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Muskingum University, Ohio Northern University, Tiffin University, and Trine University. They will play a nine-week fall schedule on Saturdays from Sept. 21 and Nov. 16, with one bye week for each team. The same schedule will also be followed for a spring season.
A conference championship will be held in Tiffin in the spring, with all teams coming to TU's Esports Facility to compete for the title.
"We are so excited to partner with institutions from our region to start the conference," said Allen. "We want to give our Esports student-athletes something to call their own, and want them to have the opportunity to play for conference championships and host live events like the other student-athletes on campus. Although it is a new beginning, as conference administrators we feel that we can build an incredible experience for all participants."
"The GLEC will be extremely beneficial for collegiate Esports, not only in our area, but areas around the country," said TU Esports head coach Chalin Cahlik. "It shows that many people are like-minded in the idea of moving Esports into a more structured and professional environment. At Tiffin, we are entering our third year of competition and even though the number of teams in the country have grown, we have always felt that collegiate Esports has lacked that interpersonal feel you get when you're competing regionally within a conference."
"The GLEC will give Esports student-athletes the opportunity to compete in person, put faces to their online names, and develop a rivalry that will only grow for years to come."