LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

Since I am new to the GRLC-area and am learning the teams and divisions, I was wondering if those out there in this forum could tell me What are the up-and-coming programs and which programs are headed for decline?

Going by the standings, it looks like Lindenwood is the tops in Division-A and Western Illinois, Creighton and Harding in Division-B. Are these the dominate teams, year in, year out? Is there parity up and down the ladder or is it a case of the "haves-and-the-have-nots?" What small schools are the most competitive and what schools are able to just field a team?

I am far more familiar with Division A, so I won't even try to describe Division B. Before this year, it was usually a 3 way fight for the league championship, with Illinois, Wash U, and Mizzou. There was always a lot of parity with those three teams, and it was basically a rock, paper, scissors situation where for example, Wash U would beat Mizzou, Mizzou would beat Illinois, and Illinois would beat Wash U. Not necessarily always like that, but there usually wasn't one dominant or undefeated team. (And you could count on Wash U beating Mizzou by 1 in a fourth quarter comeback like clockwork for quite a few years there) I think Mizzou went undefeated in conference last year, like Lindenwood did this. From here on out, I expect those three to stay competitive with Lindenwood (who should be very good for many years). The up and coming teams, in my opinion, are Illinois State and SMS (who will become Missouri State University next year to further confuse everyone). Illinois State has had a very solid program for a few years and getting into the upper echelon of teams. This is SMS's first year in Division A, and they lost a lot of talent for myriad reasons (like Mizzou) this year, but they have stayed highly competitive. They have a solid crop of freshman, as it seems all GRLC teams do, but I believe they will be losing a few of their instrumental seniors. And I'm pretty sure Division B is even more confusing, so whoever takes that on should have fun.