:Davenport Panthers

Men's lacrosse and wrestling currently compete as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Jeff |title=Davenport to Become GLVC Associate Member in Men's Lacrosse, Wrestling |url=http://glvcsports.com/news/2019/11/12/general-davenport-to-become-glvc-associate-member-in-mens-lacrosse-wrestling.aspx |access-date=25 February 2020 |publisher=GLVC |date=November 12, 2019}} In addition, the university's competitive cheer and Stunt teams compete as members of the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) while the DU competitive dance team competes in the National Dance Association (NDA).{{cite web |title=Athletic Communications Quick Facts |url=https://dupanthers.com/sports/2014/6/9/GEN_0609143716.aspx |publisher=Davenport Panthers Athletics |access-date=12 February 2020}} Davenport added varsity Esports as a member of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) in 2018.{{cite news |title=Davenport University to add Esports for the 2019-20 season |url=https://dupanthers.com/news/2018/12/19/general-davenport-university-to-add-esports-for-the-2019-20-season.aspx |access-date=12 February 2020 |publisher=Davenport Panthers |date=December 19, 2018}}

In addition to NCAA sports, DU also offers additional sports that the NCAA does not currently sponsor championships.{{cite web |title=Athletic Communications NV Quick Facts |url=https://davenportnvsports.com/sports/2016/4/18/quick-facts.aspx |publisher=Davenport Panthers Athletics |access-date=12 February 2020}} Men's rugby competes at the Division I level of USA Rugby's Midwest Rugby Union,{{Cite web|last=VanOchten|first=Brian|work=The Grand Rapids Press |url=http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2010/07/davenport_lacrosse_program_pro.html|title=Davenport rugby program promoted to Division 1 Eastern Conference|date=July 13, 2010|access-date=November 23, 2010}} as well as a JV team at the D-II level. Men's ice hockey competes in the ACHA Division I in the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL),{{Cite web|last=Staff|work=American Collegiate Hockey Association|url=http://achahockey.org/news2.php?news_id=214675&league_id=1066|title=All-Michigan GLCHL League To Debut in 2010–2011|date=November 13, 2010|access-date=November 23, 2010|archive-date=October 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002131034/http://achahockey.org/news2.php?news_id=214675&league_id=1066|url-status=dead}} as well as a JV team at the ACHA DIII level.

Davenport competes in 21 intercollegiate varsity sports and 21 non-varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and volleyball. Non-varsity men's sports include bowling, eSports, ice hockey (ACHA DI, DII & DIII), marching band, pep band, rugby and volleyball; while non-varsity women's sports include bowling, cheerleading (NCA & sideline), dance, eSports, ice hockey (ACHA DI), marching band, pep band, pompon, rugby, stunt and wrestling. Men's and women's varsity teams in ultimate will be added in 2023–24.{{cite press release|url=https://dupanthers.com/news/2022/7/27/ultimate-frisbee-davenport-university-to-add-ultimate-frisbee-for-the-2023-24-season.aspx |title=Davenport University to add ultimate frisbee for the 2023-24 season |publisher=Davenport Panthers |date=July 27, 2022 |access-date=December 22, 2022}}

The men's basketball team plays its games at 1,500-seat DU Student Center.{{cite web|publisher=Davenport University|url=http://www.davenport.edu/student-center/indoor-facilities/main-arena|title=Main Arena|access-date=March 14, 2012|date=2011-03-22|archive-date=2012-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129091838/http://www.davenport.edu/student-center/indoor-facilities/main-arena|url-status=dead}} The Panthers won their first WHAC conference champions in 2012.{{cite news|last=Hodge|first=Taylor|publisher=The Grand Rapids Press|url=http://blog.mlive.com/panther_trax/2012/02/davenport_wins_whac_tournament.html|title=Davenport Wins WHAC Tournament Championship|date=February 27, 2012|access-date=March 14, 2012}} The team appeared three NAIA Men's Division II Basketball Championships tournaments 2010, 2011, and 2012.{{cite web|publisher=Davenport University|url=http://issuu.com/duathletics/docs/2011-12_davenport_mens_basketball_guide?mode=window&pageNumber=1|title=2011–12 Davenport Men's Basketball Media Guide|date=November 2011|access-date=March 14, 2012}} The team reached the quarterfinal round in 2011 and in 2012, the Panthers reached the NAIA DII Final Four for the first time in the program's history.{{cite news|last=VanOchten|first=Brian|publisher=The Grand Rapids Press |url=http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2012/03/davenport_mens_basketball_team_7.html|title=Davenport men's basketball team makes Final Four for first time|date=March 10, 2012|access-date=March 14, 2012}} In their first NAIA Final Four appearance, the third-ranked Panthers lost to the second-ranked and eventual 2012 Champions, Oregon Tech 50–55.{{cite news|last=Amorose|first=Steve|publisher=WXMI Fox 17|url=http://www.fox17online.com/sports/fox17-davenport-falls-in-naia-semifinals-20120312,0,6054703.story|title=Davenport Falls in NAIA Semifinals|date=March 13, 2012|access-date=March 14, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:DavpthkyvsLwood92510.jpg

The Davenport men's ice hockey program started in 2002 through the 2009–2010 season the program competed in at the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division II level in the Great Midwest Hockey League (GMHL). Since the 2008–2009 season, DU has also fielded a second/JV team participating at the ACHA Division III level in the Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference (MCHC).

Davenport hockey captured three straight Division II National Championships in 2008, 2009, and 2010.{{Cite web|last=Nagengast|first=Kate |work=The Grand Rapids Press|title=Davenport men's hockey club seals third ACHA Division II title in a row with 12–4 win |url=https://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/2010/03/davenport_mens_hockey_club_sea.html |date=March 21, 2010}} As of the conclusion of the 2009–10 season the Panthers had a record of 325–75–13 (.803).{{Cite web|work=Davenport University |url=http://www.dupanthers.com/documents/2010/9/29/Hockey_Miscellaneous_Records.pdf|title=Hockey Records|access-date=November 23, 2010}}

In the 2010–11 season, the program moved to the ACHA Division I level in the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League. The team finished their first season at the ACHA DI level with an overall record of 36–10–0 and 15–4–0 in the GLCHL. On March 9, 2011, Davenport won the ACHA Men's Division I National Championship 3–2 in overtime against two-time defending champions Lindenwood.{{cite web|work=Davenport University |url=http://www.dupanthers.com/news/2011/3/9/MHOCKEY_0309111848.aspx|title=2010–2011 ACHA D1 National Champions! Panthers Defeat Lindenwood 3–2|date=March 9, 2011|access-date=March 9, 2011}} The team finished the 2011–12 regular season with an overall record of 21–21–0 and 15–5–0 in the GLCHL.{{cite web|work=Davenport University |url=http://www.dupanthers.com/schedule.aspx?path=mhockey|title=2011–2012 Men's Ice Hockey (DI) Schedule|date=March 4, 2012|access-date=March 14, 2012}} Despite losing in the GLCHL playoffs, the Panthers received an at-large bid to the 2012 ACHA Men's Division I National Championship, ranked 14th.{{cite web|publisher=ACHA|url=http://achahockey.org/page.php?page_id=36888&league_id=1059|title=2012 M1 National Tournament|date=March 2012|access-date=March 14, 2012|archive-date=April 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404061139/http://achahockey.org/page.php?page_id=36888&league_id=1059|url-status=dead}} In the opening round, the team defeated Drexel 4–1 before the team lost 1–3 to Delaware,{{cite news|last=Backer|first=Joe|publisher=Dover Post|url=http://www.doverpost.com/newsnow/x1785608558/Late-goals-key-Delaware-s-3-1-tournament-victory-over-Davenport|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731180352/http://www.doverpost.com/newsnow/x1785608558/Late-goals-key-Delaware-s-3-1-tournament-victory-over-Davenport|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2012|title=Late goals key Delaware's 3–1 tournament victory over Davenport|date=March 4, 2012|access-date=March 14, 2012}} the eventual 2012 ACHA DI Champions.

Davenport's football program debuted in the 2016 season, finishing 6–5 in the NAIA under coach Lou Esposito. Esposito resigned at season's end to take a position with Western Michigan.{{cite news |last1=Wallner |first1=Peter J. |title=Davenport football coach Lou Esposito resigns |url=https://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/2017/01/davenport_football_coach_lou_e.html |access-date=30 April 2023 |work=MLive.com |date=17 January 2017 |language=en}} Davenport hired Ferris State assistant Sparky McEwen to replace him as the team moved up to the NCAA's Division II.{{cite news |last1=Wallner |first1=Peter J. |title=Source: Ferris State's Sparky McEwen to be next Davenport football coach |url=http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2017/02/source_ferris_states_sparky_mc.html |access-date=30 April 2023 |work=MLive.com |date=15 Feb 2017 |archive-date=15 February 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170215195742/http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2017/02/source_ferris_states_sparky_mc.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}

In 2022, Davenport had the best season in program history, finishing the regular season at 8–2 and qualifying for the Division II playoffs for the first time. It also ranked as high as No. 13 in national polls.{{cite web |title=Davenport Football Makes It Into NCAA Division II Playoffs for the First Time |url=https://dupanthers.com/news/2022/11/13/davenport-football-makes-it-into-ncaa-division-ii-playoffs-for-the-first-time.aspx |website=Davenport University Athletics |access-date=30 April 2023 |language=en}} Davenport's two regular season losses were to Grand Valley State and Ferris State, each of which spent part of the season as the No. 1 ranked team in the country.{{cite web |title=Bulldogs end DU’s undefeated season |url=https://dupanthers.com/news/2022/11/5/football-bulldogs-end-dus-undefeated-season.aspx |website=Davenport University Athletics |access-date=30 April 2023 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=DU closes regular season with loss to No. 1 Grand Valley State |url=https://dupanthers.com/news/2022/11/12/football-du-closes-regular-season-with-loss-to-no-1-grand-valley-state.aspx |website=Davenport University Athletics |access-date=30 April 2023 |language=en}}

In its first playoff appearance, Davenport again faced the eventual national champion Ferris State, losing 41–7.{{cite web |title=Panthers fall at Ferris State in first NCAA playoff game |url=https://dupanthers.com/news/2022/11/19/football-panthers-fall-at-ferris-state-in-first-ncaa-playoff-game.aspx |website=Davenport University Athletics |access-date=30 April 2023 |language=en}}

After the 2023 NFL draft, Davenport wide receiver Sy Barnett was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent, making him the first player in program history to receive an NFL contract.{{cite web |title=New Orleans Saints agree to terms with 11 undrafted free agents |url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-roster-undrafted-free-agents-2023-nfl-draft |website=www.neworleanssaints.com |access-date=30 April 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Davenport Panthers |title=BREAKING NEWS Sy Barnett has signed with the @Saints on a UDFA agreement following the NFL Draft! He's the first Panther to sign with an NFL team! Good luck chasing your dream. #DUWork #ProPanther |url=https://twitter.com/DUAthletics/status/1652473680398630914 |website=Twitter |language=en}}

Men's lacrosse program began in 2008 and joined the NCAA ranks in the 2019–20 academic year.{{cite news|last=Hanson|first=Tim|work=MLive.com |url=http://blog.mlive.com/panther_trax/2011/05/season_in_review_davenport_lac.html|title=Davenport Lacrosse Wins MCLA National Championship|date=May 31, 2011|access-date=May 31, 2011}} Prior to NCAA competition, the Panthers competed as a member of the MCLA Division I in the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association;{{Cite web|last=Staff|work=laxpower.com|url=http://www.laxpower.com/laxnews/news.php?story=19936|title=Davenport Edges Grove City in CCLA Quarterfinals|date=May 1, 2010|access-date=November 23, 2010|archive-date=January 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103060322/http://www.laxpower.com/laxnews/news.php?story=19936|url-status=dead}} In 2011, the Panthers defeated the two-time defending champion, St. Thomas 14–9 in the MCLA Division II National Championship game to win the school's first lacrosse championship. The win concluded a program best record of 18–5. In addition to the 2011 Championship, the Panthers have received bids to the MCLA Division II Tournament three straight seasons in 2009, 2010, and 2011. The 2013 season was their 1st season as a MLCA Division I program. In addition to MCLA competition, DU won the first NAIA men's lacrosse national invitational tournament with a 13–10 win on May 7, 2016.{{cite news |last1=Staff |title=2016 Lacrosse National Invitational |url=https://www.naia.org/sports/mlax/2015-16/releases/20160508kphpu |access-date=12 February 2020 |publisher=NAIA |date=May 8, 2016}} DU elevated the program from MCLA to NCAA status in 2019 and after playing the 2020 season as an independent, announced the team will join the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in 2020–21.

Women's lacrosse joined the NAIA independent National Women's Lacrosse League (NWLL) starting in the 2011–12 academic year. The NWLL served as the governing body during emerging sport status for NAIA women's lacrosse. Following creation of a national invitational tournament, DU won the inaugural NAIA title.{{cite news |last1=Staff |title=Davenport Wins Inaugural Women's Lacrosse Invitational Title |url=https://www.naia.org/sports/wlax/2015-16/releases/20160507e9hrw |access-date=12 February 2020 |publisher=NAIA |date=May 7, 2016}} The program began in 2008 as a member of the WDIA Division II in the Women's Collegiate Lacrosse League.{{cite web|publisher=Women's Collegiate Lacrosse League |url=http://hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=WCLL&t=c&s=lacrosse&p=locations|title=WCLL Locations|access-date=May 20, 2012}} In the first four seasons the team compiled a record of 27–35–1 at the WDIA club level and a record of 10–9 in its first season of NAIA competition with a 4–6 NWLL record in 2011–12.{{cite web|publisher=Davenport University |url=http://www.dupanthers.com/schedule.aspx?path=wlax&schedule=337|title=2012 Women's Lacrosse Schedule|year=2012|access-date=May 20, 2012}}

Davenport Rugby competes in the Division 1-A of college rugby. The team plays its home games at DU Turf Field. College rugby is governed by USA Rugby as the sport is not governed by the NAIA or NCAA.{{cite web|work=Davenport University |url=http://www.dupanthers.com/news/2009/6/12/061209aaa_688.aspx?path=mrugby|title=Varsity Rugby Team Accepted into Midwest Rugby League|date=June 12, 2009 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}

Men's rugby is one of the newest varsity sport offerings by Davenport University, first played in 2009. Davenport began its rugby program, in part due to the growth of rugby in Grand Rapids and throughout western Michigan. Davenport began its rugby program with big ambitions, stating their goal of becoming a premier rugby program in the midwest and advancing to the USA Rugby national championship playoffs.

Davenport played its inaugural 2009–2010 season in Division II. The team opened its season in September 2009 with a 100–0 shutout win over Wayne State.{{cite web |work=Davenport University|url=http://www.dupanthers.com/news/2009/9/5/090509aaa_571.aspx?path=mrugby|title=Ruggers Dominate Wayne State for Program Opening Victory|date=September 5, 2009|access-date=September 13, 2011}} The Panthers finished the 2009–2010 season with a record of 11–3, went 8–0 in conference play, and notched an impressive non-conference 27–5 win over DI-AA program Michigan State.{{cite web|work=Davenport University|url=http://www.dupanthers.com/schedule.aspx?path=mrugby&schedule=239|title=2009–10 Men's Rugby Schedule|access-date=September 13, 2011}}

The Panthers first-year success led the Panthers to compete in Division I-AA in the 2010–2011 season. Despite stepping up to a higher level of competition, the Panthers had another strong season, going 3–1 in conference play, and notching impressive non-conference wins against College Premier Division (DI-A) opponents Notre Dame and Ohio State, as well as DI-AA powerhouses Michigan State and Wisconsin.{{cite web|work=Davenport University |url=http://www.dupanthers.com/schedule.aspx?path=mrugby&schedule=297|title=2010–11 Men's Rugby (DI) Schedule|access-date=September 13, 2011}} A come-from-behind 29–27 win over Indiana in the fall of 2010 meant that Davenport qualified for the spring 2011 USA Rugby Division 1 National Championship tournament.{{cite web |work=Davenport University|url=http://www.dupanthers.com/news/2010/11/6/MRUGBY_1106101426.aspx?path=mrugby|title=Ruggers Earn National Tournament Berth with 29–27 Win over Indiana|date=November 6, 2010|access-date=September 13, 2011}} In the university's first appearance in the tournament, Davenport entered the 16-team tournament as the 16th seed and only at-large bid.{{cite web|last=Clifton|first=Pat|work=Rugby Magazine|url=http://www.rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=849:davenport-wins-di-national-title&catid=48:mens-di-college&Itemid=208|title=Davenport Wins DI National Title|date=May 14, 2011|access-date=September 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013184821/http://rugbymag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=849:davenport-wins-di-national-title&catid=48:mens-di-college&Itemid=208|archive-date=October 13, 2011|url-status=dead}} Davenport first shutout Minnesota 27–0 in the round of 16, before defeating Kansas State 46–5 in the quarterfinals to earn a spot in the USA Rugby semifinals, held in Stanford, California.{{cite web |work=Davenport University|url=http://www.dupanthers.com/news/2011/5/1/MRUGBY_0501112834.aspx?path=mrugby|title=D1 Rugby Advances to Final Four with 46–5 Win over Kansas State |date=May 1, 2011|access-date=September 13, 2011}} Davenport defeated Harvard 62–21 in the D1 National Semifinals to clinch a berth in the championship. In the championship game Davenport defeated UC-Santa Barbara 38–19 to win the USA Rugby Men's Division I Rugby Championship, in only the program's second season of play and the program's first season in Division 1.{{cite news|last=Chaney|first=Jeff|work=Mlive.com|publisher=The Grand Rapids Press |url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/05/davenport_rugby_team_beats_uni.html|title=Davenport rugby team beats University of California-Santa Barbara for national title |date=May 14, 2011|access-date=September 13, 2011}} Davenport's freshman flyhalf JP Eloff was named the tournament MVP, scoring 22 points in the semifinal and 25 points in the final. Davenport finished the championship season with a record of 15–2 and outscored opponents by a combined score of 595 to 255.

In its third season, the Panthers began the 2011–2012 season ranked #1 in preseason polls.{{cite web|last=Staff|publisher=Rugby Magazine|url=http://www.rugbymag.com/men-di-college/1971-preseason-di-top-25.html|title=Preseason D1 Top 25|date=September 15, 2011|access-date=May 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727203439/http://www.rugbymag.com/men-di-college/1971-preseason-di-top-25.html|archive-date=July 27, 2013|url-status=dead}} The 2011–2012 season was another successful campaign for the Panthers, going 6–0 in conference play, and finishing the regular season ranked #1 in D1-AA.{{cite web|last=Staff|publisher=Rugby Magazine|url=http://www.rugbymag.com/men-di-college/4098-mens-di-aa-college-top-25-april-9-2012.html|title=Men's D1-AA College Top 25, April 9, 2012|date=April 9, 2012|access-date=May 18, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701202454/http://www.rugbymag.com/men-di-college/4098-mens-di-aa-college-top-25-april-9-2012.html|archive-date=July 1, 2013}} The strong play of flyhalf J.P. Eloff, the leading scorer in D1-AA,Ganline.us, Davenport 39 San Diego State 0, May 20, 2012, http://www.gainline.us/gainline/ led to Eloff being selected to participate in trials for the US national team. In the playoffs, Davenport beat Texas 87–0 in the round of 16, defeated Wisconsin 34–11 in the quarterfinals, and defeated Dartmouth 35–18 in the semifinals.{{cite web|work=Davenport University|url=http://www.dupanthers.com/schedule.aspx?path=mrugby&|title=2011–12 Men's Rugby (DI) Schedule |year=2011–2012|access-date=May 18, 2012}} The win over Dartmouth placed the Panthers in the championship for the second consecutive season. In the 2012 championship game, Davenport shutout San Diego State 39–0 to win 2012 USA Rugby Division I-AA National Championship.{{cite web|last=Staff|publisher=Grand Rapids Press|work=MLive.com|url=http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2012/05/davenport_claims_second_club_r.html|title=Davenport claims second consecutive club rugby title in a rout|date=May 20, 2012|access-date=May 20, 2012}} The Panthers 2011–12 season was marked by the Panthers going undefeated in collegiate competition. The team had a loss to Utah in the semifinal round of Qualifier Tournament for the 2012 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship and exhibition losses against the Chicago Griffins and Chicago Lions, both of the Rugby Super League.{{cite web|publisher=Rugby Magazine|url=http://www.rugbymag.com/tournaments-special/stations-casinos-2012-lvi/3339-2012-lvi-scores-crc-qualifier.html|title=2012 LVI Scores – CRC Qualifier|date=February 12, 2012|access-date=May 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124053330/http://rugbymag.com/tournaments-special/stations-casinos-2012-lvi/3339-2012-lvi-scores-crc-qualifier.html|archive-date=January 24, 2013|url-status=dead}}

For the 2012–13 season, Davenport moved up to play in Division 1-A.

i. Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC):

ii. American Heartland Conference Champions

iii. Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL):

2011

iv. Great Midwest Hockey League (GMHL):

2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

v. Great Lakes Intercollegiate Hockey Association (GLIHA):

2004

vi. Midwest Rugby Eastern Conference (MREC):

2011

{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

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• {{Official website}}

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