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    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    1884
    The first Field Day was held among athletes from several Michigan colleges. This led to the founding of the MIAA four years later.

    Albion and Michigan Agricultural (Michigan State University) met in the first intercollegiate football game in the state of Michigan.
     
    1888
    Delegates from several colleges met on March 17 in Jackson, Michigan, to consider organizing a conference. A week later, Albion, Hillsdale, Michigan Agricultural (MSU), and Olivet became charter members. The MIAA was officially founded on March 24, 1888.

    The first MIAA Field Day was held at East Lansing, Michigan, May 31 to June 2, with the first league championships awarded in baseball (Michigan Agricultural), men's track (Hillsdale), and men's tennis (Olivet).
     
    1889
    Albion and Olivet engaged in an exhibition "football match."  
    1891
    Albion defeated Hillsdale 36-4 in the first football game between MIAA members.  
    1892
    Michigan Normal College, also known as Ypsilanti Normal, and now Eastern Michigan University, was admitted to the MIAA. (See 1926)  
    1894
    Albion was crowned the first MIAA football champion.  
    1896
    Kalamazoo College was admitted to the MIAA.

    Women's tennis became part of the conference tennis championship. Albion, Hillsdale, and Olivet are known to have participated in women's tennis at the 1896 Field Day; other MIAA schools may have participated also. Women continued to compete in the tennis championships until 1925.
     
    1898
    Intercollegiate men's basketball first played among MIAA colleges.  
    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    1900
    On February 12, Albion defeated Hillsdale 36-7 and 8-6 in the first known intercollegiate women's basketball games between two MIAA schools.  
    1902
    Alma College admitted to the MIAA.  
    1907
    A conference committee of faculty members was established to oversee governance of the MIAA. The first eligibility rules were adopted for MIAA student-athletes.

    Michigan Agricultural College (MSU) withdrew from the MIAA. (see 1888)
     
    1908
    Adrian College was admitted to the MIAA. (See 1922 and 1937)  
    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    1911
    Men's basketball became an MIAA championship sports in 1910-11. Albion and Alma were co-champions in the first year.  
    1913
    The MIAA made its first attempt to engage "satisfactory" referees and umpires.  
    1914
    National collegiate track rules were adopted by the MIAA.  
    1917
    Most league championships were suspended in 1917 & 1918 because of World War I.  
    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    1922
    Men's cross country became an MIAA championship sport in the fall of 1922. Kalamazoo was the first champion.

    Dr. Clark L. Herron of Hillsdale College was named the first "arbitrator" (commissioner) of the MIAA. He was also known as the association referee. He served until 1931.

    Adrian College withdrew from the MIAA. (See 1908 and 1937)
     
    1923
    Kalamazoo College set a "world record" for consecutive basketball championships by winning the MIAA title for the tenth time in as many years (1914-23).  
    1926
    Hope College was admitted to the MIAA.

    Michigan Normal College (EMU) withdrew from the MIAA. (See 1892) Following the withdrawal of Michigan Normal, all track and field records established by Michigan Normal and Michigan Agricultural (MSU) were removed from official MIAA records.

    Women were "excused" from further tennis competition in the MIAA prior to the 1926 championships. This was to comply with a "ban" on intercollegiate competitions for women endorsed by the national organization of women's athletic associations.

    1929
    Baseball was dropped as an MIAA championship sport after the 1928-29 season. (See 1948)  
    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    1931
    John Hasselman was appointed MIAA commissioner. He served until 1933.  
    1932
    Men's cross country was dropped as an MIAA championship sport after the 1932 season. (See 1922 and 1946)  
    1933
    DeGay Ernst was appointed MIAA commissioner. He served until 1961.

    The MIAA adopted the use of certificates to recognize all-conference players.

    1934
    The MIAA All-Sports Award was inaugurated, recognizing the member school with the best cumulative finish in all men's sports. Kalamazoo College was the first recipient. (See 1981)

    Golf became an MIAA championship sport in the spring of 1934. Hope was the first champion.

    Junior college athletes were granted permission to participate in MIAA athletics beginning immediately upon enrollment at an MIAA school, provided their scholarship met league requirements.

    1935
    The MIAA provided a round-robin football schedule for the first time.  
    1936
    Men's indoor track became an MIAA championship sport in 1935-36. Kalamazoo was the first champion. (See 1948)

    Albion College hosted the first "play day" for women of the MIAA on May 10. Play days featured "recreational" sports and emphasized participation rather than competition. This was the beginning of organized women's athletics in the league. Except for three years during World War II, play days were sponsored every year until 1961.

    Albion and Olivet played to a 2-2 tie in the first known intercollegiate field hockey game between two MIAA schools.

    1937
    Adrian College was re-admitted to the MIAA. (See 1922)
    1938
    Kalamazoo College won all six MIAA championships in 1937-38 (basketball, football, golf, indoor track, outdoor track, and tennis) for the only "grandslam" of league-sponsored sports in the history of the conference.

    Kalamazoo College hosted the first women's tennis championship since 1925. The tournament was not sponsored by the MIAA, but rather the forerunner of a parallel women's league.

    Ordell McElhaney of Albion was voted the league's first most valuable player in football.

    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    1940
    Olivet College withdrew from the MIAA. (See 1952)  
    1941
    Female representatives of the MIAA colleges met at Kalamazoo College and founded a separate women's conference. Charter members were Adrian, Albion, Alma, Hillsdale, Hope, Kalamazoo and Olivet. Originally known as the Athletic Federation of Michigan College Women, the name was changed to the Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Association (WMIAA) in 1946. The WMIAA was officially founded on March 20, 1941, almost exactly 53 years after the founding of the MIAA.

    Olivet College withdrew from the WMIAA. (See 1952)

    1943
    Most men's and women's league championships were suspended from 1943 to 1945 because of World War II.

    On May 10, Alma defeated Kalamazoo 15-10 in the first known intercollegiate women's softball game between two MIAA schools.
     
    1946
    Men's cross country was resumed as an MIAA championship sport in the fall of 1946. (See 1922 and 1933)  
    1947
    Russ DeVette of Hope was voted the league's first most valuable player in men's basketball. DeVette went on to coach at Hope, guiding the Flying Dutchmen to a record nine men's basketball titles between 1957-68.
    1948
    Men's indoor track was dropped as an MIAA championship sport after the 1947-48 season. (See 1936)  
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    1952

    Olivet College was re-admitted to the MIAA and WMIAA. (See 1888, 1940, 1941)

    Archery became a WMIAA championship sport in the spring of 1952. Hope was the first champion.


    1953
    Calvin College was admitted to the MIAA and WMIAA.  
    1956
    Albion's Janet Van Wingen was the first recipient of the annual Sue Little Sportsmanship Award in women's tennis.  
    1958
    Albion's Dale Brubaker and Kalamazoo's Les Dodson were the first recipients of the annual Stowe Memorial Award for sportsmanship in men's tennis.
    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    1960
    Hillsdale College withdrew from the MIAA. (See 1888)

    The MIAA banned participation in post-season competition by its member schools.
     
    1961
    Win Schuler was appointed MIAA commissioner. He served until 1965.
    1962
    Adrian's Miriam Benton was the first recipient of the annual Jo Dunn Award for sportsmanship in archery.  
    1963
    Hillsdale College withdrew from the WMIAA. (See 1941)  
    1965
    Kalamazoo's Tom Nicolai was the first athlete from an MIAA college to receive an NCAA post graduate study scholarship.

    John Hoekje was appointed MIAA commissioner. He served until 1971.

    The league instituted most valuable player awards during the 1964-65 school year in five sports. First recipients were: baseball, Jim Pobursky of Olivet; men's cross country, Jim Dow of Albion; golf, Dave Tuls of Calvin; men's tennis, Dick Johnson of Kalamazoo; men's track, Dave Lane of Hope.

    1968
    Field hockey became a WMIAA championship sports in the fall on 1968.  
    1969
    Wrestling became an MIAA championship sports in 1968-69. Adrian was the first champion. Dick Vliem of Calvin was first recipient of the league's most valuable wrestler award.

    Adrian and Kalamazoo met in the first known intercollegiate women's swimming meet between two MIAA schools.

    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    1970
    Men's soccer became an MIAA championship sport in the fall of 1970. Calvin and Hope were co-champions in the first year. Jim Francis of Albion was first recipient of the league's most valuable player award.
    1971
    Albert L. Deal was appointed sixth commissioner of the MIAA.

    Men's swimming became an MIAA championship sport in 1970-71. Albion was the first champion. Jim Everett of Albion was first recipient of the league's most valuable swimmer award.
     
    1972
    Golf was a spring sport in the MIAA until 1972. That year, the MIAA sponsored championships in golf in both the spring and fall. Since 1972, golf has been a fall sport in the MIAA.

    Volleyball became a WMIAA championship sport in the fall of 1972.

    1973
    Women's basketball became a WMIAA championship sport in 1972-73.  
    1976
    The Kalamazoo College men's tennis team won the NCAA Division III national title -- the first national team championship for an MIAA college.

    The league's ban on post-season competition was lifted

    1977
    Women's swimming and softball became WMIAA championship sports in 1976-77. Kalamazoo won the first swimming championship.

    The presidents of the MIAA colleges approved a resolution favoring the combined governance of men's and women's sports.
     
    1978
    Kalamazoo's Chris Bussert won the men's tennis singles title and Bussert and Jim Hosner won the doubles title at the NCAA Division III national championships, the first athletes from an MIAA college to win national titles.

    The MIAA and WMIAA were combined to form a unified men's and women's league. The first year of combined governance was 1978-79.

    Basketball standout Mark Veenstra of Calvin was the first athlete in MIAA history to be voted the league's most valuable player four years in-a-row (1975 through 1978). Only one other athlete has duplicated the feat -- swimmer Don Knoechel of Kalamazoo from 1976 through 1980.

    1979
    Women's track became an MIAA championship sport in the spring of 1979. Calvin was the first champion.

    Calvin won first MIAA softball championship.
     
    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    1981
    Archery was dropped as an MIAA championship sport after the 1981 season. (See 1952)

    Women's cross country became an MIAA championship sport in the fall of 1981. Albion and Alma were co-champions in the first year.

    1982
    For the first time, the MIAA All-Sports Award was determined on the basis of both men's and women's sports. Hope was the first recipient under the new criteria (1981- 82).

    The first all-conference and most valuable recognitions were given in women's sports. First MVP recipients were: basketball, Sharon Boeve of Calvin; cross country, Lisa Thocher of Alma; field hockey, Mary Lou Ireland of Hope; softball, Sharon Boeve of Calvin; swimming, Cathy Bousson of Albion; tennis, Linda Topolsky of Kalamazoo; track, Lisa Thocher of Alma; and volleyball, Deb Verhill of Calvin.

    Hope's Sarah Stanwood won the 400-yard individual medley at the AIAW swimming and diving championships, the first female athlete from an MIAA college to win a national title.

    1984
    Wrestling was dropped as an MIAA championship sport after the 1983-84 season. (See 1969)

    Albion's Sue Leiby won the 1,650-yard freestyle at the NCAA Division III swimming and diving championships -- the first female athlete from an MIAA college to win an NCAA national title.

    1985
    Kalamazoo's Lynn Achterberg was the first woman from an MIAA college to receive an NCAA post-graduate study scholarship.
    1987
    The MIAA had its most successful year (1986-87) in NCAA Division III competition to this point. Kalamazoo wins its fourth men's tennis title since 1976. The MIAA also has five individual national champions: Shelly Russell of Hope in swimming (500 and 1,650 yard freestyle); Rob Peel of Hope in swimming (50 yard freestyle); Jim Burda and Alex Palladino of Kalamazoo in tennis (doubles); and Dan Pekrul of Albion in track (javelin).  
    1988
    The MIAA celebrated its anniversary as America's oldest collegiate conference by commemorating its l00th year of continuous operation.

    A ninth consecutive All-Sports Award by Hope College was the longest streak by a member college since it was first presented in 1934-35.

    1989
    Hope's Shelly Russell was voted the NCAA Division III female swimmer of the year for the second consecutive year. Russell was an NCAA champion seven times in her career -- the most successful MIAA athlete in history at a national level.

    Women's soccer became an MIAA championship sport in the fall of 1989. Kalamazoo was the first champion.

    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    1990
    Kalamazoo College men's tennis coach George Acker was elected the college tennis Coach of the Decade. The most successful coach in MIAA history, Acker has guided the Hornets to 32 consecutive league championships. In 1990 while George Acker's Hornets were winning the men's MIAA title, the women's tennis team coached by his daughter Sherry were MIAA co-champions.

    The first women's NCAA championship by an MIAA team was captured by Hope College in women's basketball. Hope coach Sue Wise is voted the Division III national coach of the year.

    The MIAA announced its first Honor Roll of Athletes. A total of 281 students are recognized for achieving a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average during the 1989-90 school year.

    Kevin O'Shaughnessey of Alma was the first recipient of the Lawrence Green Scholarship in men's tennis.

    The MIAA sponsored field hockey as a league sport for the final year.




    1991
    The 100th Track and Field championships were held at Alma College.

    Albert L. Deal retired as commissioner of the MIAA.

    Women's golf became an MIAA championship sports in the fall of 1991. Hope was the first champion.

    Three MIAA coaches were voted Division III national coaches of the year in their respective sport -- Pete Kowall of Kalamazoo in women's soccer, John Patnott of Hope in men's swimming, and George Acker in men's tennis.

    The MIAA had its most successful year to date at the NCAA Division III outdoor track and field championships, winning two national championships while turning in 18 All-American performances. It culminated a record year for MIAA athletes in NCAA competition. In addition to a record fifth Division III national championship by the Kalamazoo men's tennis team, there were four individual national champions -- the Hope men's 800-yard freestyle relay team (Jon Hescott, Phil Sotok, Jeff Bannink and Brad Genson), Lewis Miller of Kalamazoo in men's tennis (singles), Rick Lubbers of Calvin in the pole vault, and Steve Gilbert of Albion in the javelin.

    Sheila Wallace-Kovachick was appointed the seventh commissioner of the MIAA effective July 1, 1991.



    1992
    The MIAA instituted a post-season tournament to determine the league's qualifier in the NCAA Division III men's basketball playoffs. Calvin was the first champion.

    The MIAA had three NCAA Division III national champions - Calvin in men's basketball, Alma in women's basketball and Kalamazoo for a record sixth time in men's tennis. Individual national champions included Hope swimmer Dawn Hoving in the 200-yard butterfly and Lewis Miller of Kalamazoo for a second year in men's tennis (singles).

    Calvin men's basketball coach Ed Douma was voted the Division III national coach of the year.

    The Joint Archives of Holland became the repository of MIAA historical materials.

    1993
    The first post-season women's basketball tournament was held to determine the league's qualifier to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Calvin was the first champion.

    Kalamazoo won a record seventh NCAA Division III national championship in men's tennis. George Acker, the winningest coach in MIAA history, retired from Kalamazoo College.

    The MIAA crowned six individual national champions, including the first in women's track. Steve Gilbert of Albion became the first MIAA athlete to defend a men's track national championship (javelin in 1991 & 1993). In track, the MIAA had a record 20 All-American performances.

    Four MIAA athletes were awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships - Jeff Bannink of Hope, Steve Honderd of Calvin, Jennifer Kennedy of Albion, and Lewis Miller of Kalamazoo.

    Renea Bluekamp of Calvin won the women's NCAA Division III cross country championship. She became the first MIAA athlete -- male or female -- to win the gold medal in a national cross country meet.

    Albion College graduate Cedric Dempsey was appointed executive director of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Dr. Dempsey was an five-time All-MIAA athlete in basketball and baseball (1952-54). He was honored as the 1994 MIAA Field Day Honorary Referee.

    Albion posted the MIAA's first victory in the NCAA football playoffs.

    Kalamazoo won the first conference volleyball playoff to determine the MIAA representative to the NCAA Division III playoffs, defeating Calvin on a neutral court (Hope).

    1994
    Tennis player Jackie Aurelia of Kalamazoo College became the first female athlete to be the most valuable player in an MIAA sport four consecutive years.

    The MIAA has a record eight individual national champions during the 1993-94 academic year. The best finishes by MIAA teams in NCAA competition included Hope second in women's swimming and Calvin third in women's track.

    Lisa Stover of Hope was MIAA's first All-American in women's golf.

    Albion won NCAA Division III national championship in football.


    1995
    Hope won all four winter sports championships, an MIAA first.

    Three MIAA teams - Alma, Calvin and Hope - qualified for the NCAA Division III softball playoffs.
     
    1996
    Kalamazoo had two GTE basketball All-Americans, Jeremy Cole and Sara Musser.

    Amy Kuiper of Calvin became the first female student-athlete to achieve All-MIAA honors eight times in her career.

    Defiance College of Ohio and Saint Mary's College of Indiana were admitted to membership effective with the 1997-98 school year.

    Betsy Haverkamp of Calvin became the first MIAA female athlete to acheive NCAA All-America honors four consecutive years in cross country.
     
    1997
    A new NCAA Division III men's basketball attendance record was established when 11,442 fans watch Calvin play Hope at the VanAndel Arena in Grand Rapids.

    David Lefere of Albion (football and baseball) and Betsy Haverkamp of Calvin (cross country and track) became the first MIAA student-athletes to be named a GTE Academic All-American in two sports. Lefere received the honor in football in 1995 and 1996 and baseball in 1997. A record 19 MIAA student-athletes achieved GTE Academic All-American status during the 1996-97 school year, raising the league's honor roll to 105.

    The MIAA commemorated its 100th year of conference football competition.

    For the first time, the MIAA qualified two teams for the NCAA Championships in both men's soccer and women's soccer.
     
    1998
    Olivet's seventh place finish in the NCAA men's golf championship is the best for an MIAA team.  
    Marvin Zuidema, long time men's soccer coach at Calvin College, was awarded the Bill Jeffrey Award by the National Soccer Coaches Associaton. The Jeffrey award is named after Bill Jeffrey legendary Penn State University coach. The award is annually presented to one person selected for long time dedication and contribution to men's or women's college soccer.  
    1999
    Alma's Jon Cullen was the first recipient of the annual Dr. Marvin A. Zuidema Men's Soccer Award.  
    Beginning in 1998-99, the MIAA presents separate awards for the leading men's and women's sports performances in a school year, in addition to continuing the All-Sports Award.

    For the first time, the MIAA qualified three teams for the NCAA women's soccer tournament -- Calvin, Kalamazoo, and Olivet.

    Calvin won the Division III women's cross country championship.

    Olivet was chosen to host the NCAA Division III men's golf championships in 2000.

    For the first time, the MIAA qualified three teams for the NCAA women's basketball tournament -- Calvin, Defiance, and Hope.

    For the first time, an MIAA male swimmer was a double winner at the NCAA Championships. Josh Boss of Hope won the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke, both in national record times.

    The MIAA Faculty Athletic Representatives award the first team GPA awards for outstanding academic accomplishment. Thirty-two teams achieved the distinction for the 1998-99 school year.
     
    1800s | 00s | 10s | 20s | 30s | 40s | 50s | 60s | 70s | 80s | 90s | 2000s
    2000
    Defiance, an MIAA member since 1997-98, withdraws after 1999-00 winter season to join the Heartland Conference.

    Calvin becomes the first MIAA college to win two NCAA Division III National team championships in a school year -- women's cross country and men's basketball.

    Kalamazoo diver Jeffrey Gorton wins the NCAA Division III National championship on both the one-meter and three-meter boards.
     
    2001
    The Calvin women's track 1,600 meter relay wins the NCAA Division III national championship for a third consecutive year. Members of the relay were Lindsay Mulder, Megan Pierce, Sara Veltkamp and Mindy Worst.

    For the second time in three years, a Hope golfer is the National Freshman of the Year. Lacey Wicksall was presented the award two years after Eric Wohlfield recieved it.

    Saint Mary's wins its first MIAA championship, capturing the women's tennis crown.
     
    2002
    For the first time in history, the MIAA had three teams finish in the top ten at the NCAA Division III men's swimming and diving championships. The cumulative total (628.5 points) of Hope (5th place), Kalamazoo (6th place) and Calvin (9th place) was also a league mark at the national meet.

    Hope senior Josh Boss became just the sixth swimmer in NCAA Division III history to win a national championship in the same event four consecutive years -- the 200-yard breaststroke (1999-02). He also won the national title in the 100-yard breaststroke three of his four years (1999, 2001, 2002) to become the MIAA's most decorated swimmer/diver with seven national championships in his career.

    Commissioner Sheila Wallace-Kovalchik resigned effective with the end of the 2001-02 school year.

    For the first time in league history, the MIAA accepts an associate member. Wisconsin Lutheran College of Milwaukee is accepted to compete as a league member in football effective with the 2002 season. The purpose is to give the MIAA enough football-playing members to gain an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III championships effective with the 2003 season.

    Calvin's four All-America performances in the men's 5,000 meters marked the first time in NCAA III Track & Field Championships history that four runners from the same school achieved All-America distinction in the event. Joel Klooster, 2nd; Hendrik Kok, 3rd; Justin Pfruender, 6th; Dan Hoekstra, 7th.

    David L. Neilson was appointed interim commissioner for the 2002-03 school year.

    The fall season of the 2002-03 school year saw seven conference schools win or share the eight fall championships.

    Kalamazoo's Anthony Holt wins NCAA Division III national diving championship on the one-meter and three-meter boards.

    Albion graduate ('54) and All-MIAA basketball and baseball honoree Cedric Dempsey served as President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from 1993-2002.


    2003
    Saint Mary's first NCAA Division III national champion is Stefanie Simmerman who is the medalist at the 2003 golf championships.

    David Neilson was appointed commissioner after serving on an interim basis in the 2002-03 school year.

    Kalamazoo suffers its first MIAA men's tennis dual match loss since 1962, bowing to Hope 7-2. The loss snaps Kalamazoo's string of consecutive league dual match victories at 241. Kalamazoo and Hope end as seasonal co-champions after the Hornets won the conference tournament.

    Tri-State University is accepted as a conditional NCAA Division III member effective with the 2004-05 school year at which time the Indiana school will become a member of the MIAA.

    Calvin captured the NCAA Division III men's cross country championship with the second best team score (48 points) in the history of the national meet. Calvin became the first team in Division III cross country history to have six runners achieve All-America distinction -- David Haagsma, Hendrik Kok, Tim Avery, Tim Finnegan, Kris Koster and Matt Edwards.

    By winning its first-ever MIAA women's soccer championship, Hope became the first conference member to win a league title in every men's and women's sport.
     
    2004
    Three of the nation's top four female pole vaulters hail from the MIAA. Adrian's Amanda Haines, who earlier in the 2003-04 school year won the gold medal at the national indoor meet, repeated the fete at the outdoor championships. Hope's Jennifer VanderMeer won the silver medal and Calvin's Missy Smith tied for fourth.  
    2005
    All nine MIAA women's cross country teams received the league's Team GPA Award for academic achievement.

    Wisconsin Lutheran notified the league it would end its associate membership after the 2007 football season to join another conference.

    For the second time in league history (1998, 2005), the MIAA qualified two teams for both the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments. In each tournament both Albion and Calvin advanced to the Sectional round where in an All-MIAA matchup Calvin prevailed.

    For the second time in four years, officials from the MIAA officiated the NCAA Division III championship football game (The Stagg Bowl).
     
    2006
    The MIAA has both a team and individual NCAA national champion during the 2005-06 school year. Hope won its second women's basketball crown while Calvin senior Christine Hendricks is the heptathlon gold medal winner in track and field.

    Longtime MIAA Supervisor of Officials Joe Cooper is named Assistant to the Commissioner on Officiating for the MIAA, ending 35 years of active involvement as the supervisor of officials in several sports. Cooper officiated his first MIAA game in 1960 and started as supervisor of officials in 1971.

    The MIAA commemorates its 100th year of conference baseball competition.
     
    2007
    The MIAA becomes the first collegiate conference in the nation to provide anti-microbial towels to its member institutions. The program was implemented to lessen the risk of the transmission of skin and soft tissue infections among athletes.

    Despite lacking an automatic qualifying berth, three MIAA teams -- Albion, Calvin and Kalamazoo -- qualify for the NCAA Division III men's tennis championships, a conference first.

    Tri-State wins its first conference championship as an MIAA member, winning the 2007 softball crown. Still a provisional member of the NCAA, The Thunder is unable to advance to the Division III playoffs as the MIAA's automatic qualifier. Instead, league runnerup Alma gains the berth.

    Two MIAA athletes were named the Division III national players of the year in their sport during the 2006-07 school year, Josh Brehm of Alma in football and Lisa Winkle of Calvin in women's basketball.

    Tri-State University becomes a full member of the NCAA, effective September 1, 2007, and is eligible to compete in NCAA championship play.
     
         
         
         

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