LINCOLN Neb. — If you haven’t heard, the Iowa Conference has a new member this year. Nebraska Wesleyan joined the IIAC on July 1, becoming the ninth member of the conference and in the process ending its dual affiliation with Division III and NAIA, the only school in the nation to be doing so.

Previously a member of the NAIA’s Great Plains Athletic Conference, the Prairie Wolves became the first addition to the IIAC since Coe College and Cornell College joined the conference in 1997. Their addition marked the first IIAC realignment since Cornell rejoined the Midwest Conference in 2012.

Nebraska Wesleyan Rundown

Mascot- Prairie Wolves

Location- Lincoln, Nebraska (208 miles or approximately three hours from Simpson)

Previous Conference- Great Plains Athletic Conference (NAIA with D III affiliation)

Colors- Black and Gold

Athletic Director- Ira Zeff

Enrollment- 2,100

Athletics Rundown

Baseball-

2016 Record- 12-28

Top Returner- Matt Orozco, Junior DH, All-GPAC Honorable Mention

Simpson’s First Shot- March 31, 2017 at Nebraska Wesleyan

Men’s Basketball-

2015-16 Record- 22-8

Top Returner- Cooper Cook, Sophomore forward, 11 PPG, 3.7 rpg

Simpson’s First Shot- January 4, 2017 at Simpson

Women’s Basketball

2015-16 Record- 4-21

Top Returner- Addie Wetzel, Sophomore forward, 6.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg

Simpson’s First Shot- January 4, 2017 at Simpson

Men’s Cross Country

Best Meet- First at the GPAC Championships and eighth at NCAA Central Region Championships

Top Returner- Jordan Wheeler, Junior, 2015 GPAC Men’s Runner of the Year

Simpson’s First Shot- October 29, 2016 at IIAC Championships

Women’s Cross Country

Best Meet- Second at the GPAC Championships and eighth at NCAA Central Region Championships

Top Returner- Jamie Larsen, Senior, 18th at NCAA Central Region Championships

Simpson’s First Shot- October 29, 2016 at IIAC Championships

Football

2015 Record- 4-6

Top Returner- Joel Wiedel, Senior running back, Honorable Mention All-GPAC as a junior

Simpson’s First Shot- October 29, 2016 at Simpson

Men’s Golf

2015-16 Outcome- Eighth at GPAC Championships

Top Returner- Matt Unruh, Junior, Seventh at GPAC Championships

Simpson’s First Shot- TBD

Women’s Golf

2015-16 Outcome- Fourth at GPAC Championships

Top Returner- Sam Beal, Junior, Eighth at GPAC Championships

Simpson’s First Shot- September 14 at Simpson Fall Invite (4th place)

Men’s Soccer

2015 Record- 9-8-1 (Beat Simpson 4-2 on September 16, 2015)

Top Returner- Jake Kennedy, Sophomore forward, Second team All-GPAC as freshman

Simpson’s First Shot- October 19, 2016 at Nebraska Wesleyan

Women’s Soccer

2015 Record- 9-9 (Beat Simpson 2-0 on September 16, 2015)

Top Returner- Katelin Blosser, Senior forward, Second team All-GPAC as junior

Simpson’s First Shot- October 19, 2016 at Nebraska Wesleyan

Softball

2016 Record- 21-19

Top Returner- Madi Francis, Senior catcher, Second team All-GPAC as junior

Simpson’s First Shot- April 4, 2017 at Nebraska Wesleyan

Men’s Swimming and Diving

2015-16 Outcome- Third place at Liberal Arts Championships

Top Returner- Garrett Cadotte, Sophomore, School records in eight different individual events, achieved NCAA B Cut

Simpson’s First Shot- October 15, 2016 at Simpson

Women’s Swimming and Diving

2015-16 Outcome- Seventh place at Liberal Arts Championships

Top Returner- Christine Cullinane, Senior, Part of four school record relay teams, set school record in 400 IM

Simpson’s First Shot- October 15, 2016 at Simpson

Men’s Tennis

2015-16 Record- 7-15

Top Returner- Matheus Bustamante, Sophomore, 10-12 Individual record as freshman

Simpson’s First Shot- April 2, 2017 at Nebraska Wesleyan

Women’s Tennis

2015-16 Record- 13-11, GPAC Champions

Top Returner- Bridget McKeegan, Sophomore, 13-9 Individual record as freshman

Simpson’s First Shot- September 8, 2016 at Nebraska Wesleyan (Simpson won 8-1)

Men’s Track and Field

2015-16 Outcome- 24th place at NCAA Division III Outdoor Track Championships

Top Returner- Malik Morris, Junior, Part of fifth place 4x100m relay team, placed third in long jump

Simpson’s First Shot- TBD

Women’s Track and Field

2015-16 Outcome- Sixth place at NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships, 11th at Indoor Championships

Top Returner(s)- National Champion 4x400m Relay Team of Elizabeth Jones, SO, Abbie Hunke, SR, Kaylee Jones, SO, and Katie Krick, SO

Simpson’s First Shot- TBD

Volleyball

2015 Record- 9-19

Top Returner- Malory Dahl, Senior outside hitter, Honorable Mention All-GPAC as junior

Simpson’s First Shot- October 25, 2016 at Simpson

Wrestling

Wrestling makes a comeback this season at NWU after the program was cut in 1982.