Shippensburg Leads Dixon Trophy Race
Full Standings (pdf)
Following the winter sports season, Shippensburg University has increased its lead atop the standings for the 2009-10 Dixon Trophy. The trophy is given annually to the most successful institution in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference based on league playoffs and/or regular-season finish.
The award is named in honor of F. Eugene Dixon, Jr., former chairman of Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors. Presented for the first time following the 1995-96 academic year, the trophy is now in its 15th year of existence. In the final tabulations following the spring season, only an institution’s top 12 sport finishes – six men’s and six women’s - count toward its total.
With 15 championships contested to date, Shippensburg has totaled 138 points, 14 points ahead of second-place California University and 15 points ahead of Bloomsburg University. The Red Raider program led by a four-point margin following the league’s eight fall championships.
Shippensburg jumped out to its lead in the fall with PSAC titles in football and women’s cross country, and strong finishes in women’s field hockey (2nd), women’s volleyball (tie 3rd) and men’s cross country (3rd). Highlights in the winter included a championship crown in women’s indoor track and field, as well as third-place showings in women’s swimming and men’s indoor track and field.
California, defending champion of the award, moved up one spot following the fall calculations. A runner-up finish in women’s basketball added to the Vulcans strong fall, which included a women’s volleyball championship and runner-up in football. Bloomsburg slid from the second spot despite a second-place effort at the PSAC Wrestling Championships and its first postseason berth in women’s basketball since the 2004-05 season.
Rounding out the top five is West Chester University (121.5 points) and Kutztown University (115), both moving up three spots from the fall. West Chester improved its standing after winning titles in men’s and women’s swimming, and reaching the semifinals of the women’s basketball championship. Kutztown accumulated valuable points via a runner-up in men’s basketball, third-place in women’s basketball and a fourth-place effort in women’s swimming.
Also notable is the climb of the Clarion program (109.5 points) from 13th to seventh, marking the highest ascension of any PSAC school. In the 2009-10 season Clarion has registered runner-up totals in men’s and women’s swimming, and third-point point equivalents in football, wrestling, men’s basketball and women’s volleyball.
Seven different institutions have won the Dixon Trophy, led by Shippensburg University with five. The other schools are: Lock Haven University (3), Bloomsburg (2), California (1), Kutztown University (1) Millersville (1) and Slippery Rock University (1).
The final eight league championships will take place this spring, including those in men’s and women’s tennis and outdoor track and field, baseball, softball and women’s lacrosse. Also being contested is the women’s golf championship, which was postponed from the fall season due to poor weather conditions. The announcement of the 2009-10 Dixon Trophy winner is scheduled for May 18 at the PSAC Award Luncheon in Harrisburg.
2009-10 Standings Through Winter Season
1. Shippensburg 138
2. California 124
3. Bloomsburg 123
4. West Chester 121.5
5. Kutztown 115
6. IUP 114
7. Clarion 109.5
8. East Stroudsburg 108
9. Edinboro 101
10. Lock Haven 95
11. Slippery Rock 91.5
12. Gannon 84.5
13. Millersville 84
14. Mercyhurst 77
15. Mansfield 47
16. Cheyney 26.5