WHAC Welcomes Saint Xavier & Bethel as Affiliate Members in Esports

The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) is excited to announce Saint Xavier University (SXU) and Bethel University as its newest affiliate members in Esports. The Cougars will compete in all four WHAC game offerings including: Rocket League, Valorant, League of Legends and Overwatch 2. A season ago, SXU's Valorant team won the Great Lakes Esports Conference (GLEC) regular season title with a 9-0 regular season mark. SXU is coached by Lemar Daniels

"SXU Athletics couldn't be more excited to join the WHAC as an affiliate member for Esports," said Saint Xavier Athletics Director, Ken Alston. "Coach Daniels and our team await the challenge as this provides more competitions in a variety of titles for them. We are grateful to Commissioner Ward and the institutions of the WHAC for this opportunity."

Bethel will compete in Rocket League and Valorant with intentions to also take part in the League of Legends and Overwatch 2 seasons. The Pilots are coached by newly appointed head coach Jacob Rendall. Esports is the third WHAC sport for Bethel who also competes in Women's Lacrosse and Men's Volleyball. 

"We are very excited for our Esports program to be a part of the vision of the WHAC, said Bethel Athletic Director Tony Natali. "We've had a great experience with the other couple of sports that we have as affiliate members in this conference and what it represents. It's a great fit for what we try to accomplish with all our athletic teams at Bethel."

With the addition of full-member Defiance and its Esports program, the WHAC will have 12 members for the fall Rocket League season.

WHAC Commissioner Eric Ward concurred stating, "We are excited to welcome Saint Xavier into the WHAC as an affiliate member in Esports. We're equally excited for current affiliate member Bethel to begin competing in Esports. The addition of their well-established programs provides our current members with additional high-level playing opportunities across the four titles we offer. It is a perfect fit and we are thrilled to have them both."

WHAC Esports Members 2024-25:

Aquinas
Bethel
Cleary
Concordia
Cornerstone (Rocket League only)
Defiance College
Indiana Tech
Lawrence Tech
Lourdes
Rochester Christian
Saint Xavier
Siena Heights