Loyola Leads McCafferty Trophy Standings Heading Into Spring Championships

INDIANAPOLIS -- A charter member of the Horizon League, Loyola never has captured the McCafferty Trophy, given to the all-sports champion of the conference. Entering the spring championships, however, Loyola continues to lead the standings after adding two winter sports titles.

With 36 points, Loyola holds a four-point edge on Milwaukee with eight spring championships to be contested.

In its 34 years in the Horizon League, Loyola never has finished better than fourth in the McCafferty Trophy race. The Ramblers will look to hold the lead despite not fielding teams in tennis or baseball.

The Ramblers earned the majority of their winter points at the indoor track and field championships, winning the men’s and women’s titles. Loyola earned additional points with a runner-up finish at the Horizon League women’s basketball championship.

Champions of women’s swimming and diving, Milwaukee moved into a tie with Loyola for the women’s sports lead. The Panthers took runner-up finishes in men’s and women’s indoor track and field and men’s swimming to climb into second place overall.

Boosted by its championship in men’s swimming and diving and a runner-up finish on the women’s side, Cleveland State claimed third overall, sitting in a tie for second with Detroit in the men’s standings.

UIC is just 1.5 points behind the Vikings overall, with Detroit trailing the Flames by the same margin in fifth place.

Its women’s basketball championship lifted Green Bay into sixth place overall, while Youngstown State is a half-point behind in seventh. 2013 men’s basketball champion Valparaiso is eighth, while Wright State rounds out the field.

Named in honor of James J. McCafferty, who served as the conference’s first commissioner from 1979-80, the McCafferty Trophy is awarded annually by the Horizon League to a member institution compiling the greatest number of performance points, based on its finish in the League’s 19 championship sports.

For the sports of men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, softball and baseball, points are awarded based on combined regular-season (60 percent) and championship (40 percent) finishes.  For all other sports, points are based on performance in the League championships.

McCafferty Trophy Standings