WASHINGTON, Pa. – On Friday night, Ryan Whitnable, creator and director of the Great Lakes Invitational, announced Ohio Wesleyan University as the host institution for the 2026 Great Lakes Invitational.

"The ninth Great Lakes Invitational continues the tradition of bringing together Division III's best programs to one of the level's best venues," said Whitnable. "Hosting this event at Ohio Wesleyan, one of the Great Lakes' most successful programs, is perfectly fitting for this crown jewel event of the Division III basketball calendar."

The ninth edition of the Great Lakes Invitational will be held on November 20th and 21st, 2026 at Branch Rickey Arena and will feature an eight-team field of Ohio Wesleyan, Berry, Denison, Johns Hopkins, Illinois Wesleyan, Marietta, Redlands, and Saint Joseph's (Maine). Pairings are to be announced in the spring of 2026.

"We are thrilled to host the 2026 Great Lakes Invitational next year," said Ohio Wesleyan head coach Mike DeWitt. "Ryan Whitnable has done a remarkable job in making this tournament one of the premier events in Division III men's basketball and we are excited to welcome some of the best programs in the nation to our campus."

Ohio Wesleyan is the fourth North Coast Athletic Conference institution to host the Great Lakes Invitational, joining Wabash, Wittenberg, and Wooster. This is also OWU's second appearance in the GLI, having faced York (Pa.) and Salisbury in the 2019 edition.

QUOTES FROM PARTICIPATING COACHES
"Our program is thrilled to be part of the 2026 Great Lakes Invitational. It is another fantastic field, and our student-athletes and coaches can't wait to compete against some of the best programs in the country. I was fortunate enough to be part of this event in the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach, and made it a priority then to try to get any program I was associated with involved in the GLI if the opportunity arose. Ryan and his team run a first class event and we can't wait to get the chance to represent Berry on such a special stage up in Delaware, Ohio next year!" - Matthew Richter, Berry

"We're honored and excited to be invited to compete in next year's Great Lakes Invitational. It's one of the premier Division III events in the country and features some of the best programs in our region. To have Denison included in that field is a testament to the work our players have put in and the growth of our program. It's a tremendous opportunity for our guys to compete, represent Denison on a big stage, and continue building on the momentum we've created." - Chris Sullivan, Denison

"Johns Hopkins is proud to return to such a first class event featuring some of the top programs, coaches, and student athletes in the country. The tournament is the premier event in DIII men's basketball and we are thrilled to test ourselves early in the season against two great teams." - Ryan Cain, Johns Hopkins

"Being invited back to a tournament of this caliber is something we're grateful for. The Great Lakes Invitational is run in a truly first class manner from start to finish.  It creates an environment where your team must compete at a high level and provides an opportunity to experience elite DIII competition.  We are honored to be included again and look forward to the challenge." - Ron Rose, Illinois Wesleyan

"My relationship with Ryan started during his time as a student at Marietta College. It's remarkable what he has accomplished with the GLI. We've always supported Ryan and his vision for promoting the Great Lakes region and DIII basketball, dating back to his days when he had a podcast. We are honored to continually participate in this prestigious event, DIII's version of the Maui Invitational and other marquee events you see every year in November at the Division I level. Our players and coaches are excited to compete against and alongside some of the nation's best teams at Ohio Wesleyan next year!" - Andy Bucheit, Marietta

"We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Ryan for the invitation to participate in the Great Lakes Invitational. The event stands as the premier Division III basketball tournament, and it is a true honor for our program to be included. We look forward to the opportunity to compete against some of the top programs in the country." - Tyler Ackley, St. Joseph's (Maine)