Milwaukee claims McCafferty Trophy as Horizon League all-sports champion for fifth time in nine years
OAK BROOK, Ill. --- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has claimed the James J. McCafferty Trophy as the Horizon League's all-sports champion for the fifth time in the last nine years and fourth in the last six. The crystal trophy was presented to the UWM athletics staff Wednesday night at the League's annual Executive Council meeting awards dinner in Oak Brook, Ill.
The Panthers earned 49 points to edge the University of Illinois at Chicago, which placed second with 46 points. Cleveland State University -- last year's winner -- was third with 41 points, followed by Butler University with 39.5.
Milwaukee also claimed its fourth consecutive Women's All-Sports Award -- and eighth in the past nine years -- with 32 points, while UIC won the Men's All-Sports Award for the second time in three years with 28 points.
The McCafferty Trophy is awarded annually by the Horizon League to a member institution compiling the greatest number of performance points, based on their 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. The award is named in honor of James J. McCafferty, who served as the conference's first commissioner from 1979-80.
"The Horizon League is pleased to present this year's McCafferty Trophy and Women's All-Sports Award to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee," said Horizon League Commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone. "This award is a testament to UWM's well-rounded athletics program. Congratulations to the Panther administration, coaches and student-athletes on an outstanding season."
During the 2008-09 academic year, Milwaukee won a League-high five conference championships in women's soccer, volleyball, men's indoor track, women's indoor track and men's outdoor track. The Panthers also claimed regular-season titles in women's soccer and volleyball, plus a second-place finish in baseball.
"UW-Milwaukee goes to great lengths to prepare our student-athletes for excellence in the classroom and their chosen sports," said new UWM Director of Athletics George Koonce. "This award recognizes our student-athletes, coaches and staff for the hard work on and off the field."
Milwaukee claimed its eighth Women's All-Sports Award on the strength of the three League titles. With 32 points, the Panthers easily outdistanced Loyola University Chicago, which placed second with 20 points.
On the men's side, UIC won its first League championship in men's swimming and diving and also earned the maximum points in soccer and baseball by claiming regular-season titles in both sports. The Flames also were runners-up in men's tennis. Butler finished second with 25 points, followed by Cleveland State with 24.
"I would also like to congratulate the UIC athletics family in capturing the Men's All-Sports Award," said LeCrone. "This is UIC's second men's award in three years, and is a well-deserved recognition of their success in the Horizon League."
Said UIC Director of Athletics Jim Schmidt, "This honor is indicative of the great coaches here at UIC. We wouldn't have been able to achieve such balanced success across programs without the outstanding support from our campus. Most importantly, this is a symbol of the distinguished accomplishments of UIC student-athletes and the efforts they put forth everyday."
Eight of the Horizon League's 10 members won at least one championship during the 2008-09 season. Milwaukee led the way with five, followed by Cleveland State with four. UIC, Loyola, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Youngstown State University each claimed two League titles, while Butler and Wright State University had one apiece.
For a detailed breakdown of the standings, click the PDF Link at the top of the page.
