INDIANAPOLIS -- Capturing seven Horizon League postseason championships, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has won the James J. McCafferty Trophy as the Horizon League’s all-sports champion for the first time since 2008-09 and the sixth time overall.
The seven titles allowed Milwaukee to cruise to the 2011-12 title by a 5.5-point margin over runner-up Cleveland State. The Panthers started the year with regular season and postseason titles in both women’s soccer and volleyball, opening an early lead and carrying Milwaukee to the women’s sports title.
In the winter, the Panthers dominated on the track and in the pool, sweeping both the swimming and diving and indoor track and field championships.
Milwaukee grabbed its seventh title at the outdoor track and field championships, finishing with 45.5 points.
Cleveland State took second place, its best finish since winning the McCafferty Trophy in 2007-08. The Vikings were runners-up for five different League titles.
On the strength of men’s and women’s cross country and women’s golf titles, Butler finished third. Winners of men’s soccer and men’s golf titles, Loyola took fourth, its best showing since 2005-06, when the Ramblers finished in the same spot.
Valparaiso claimed the maximum seven points in men’s soccer, men’s basketball and baseball to grab the men’s sports title. With its first two Horizon League titles the Crusaders finished directly behind Loyola in fifth. Previously, Valparaiso had not finished better than ninth in four years.
One point separated Wright State, Green Bay and UIC, in sixth, seventh and eighth place, respectively. The Raiders posted 25 points, with the Phoenix - winners of women’s basketball and men’s tennis - a half-point behind. The Flames captured their 16th straight women’s tennis crown en route to 24 points.
Men’s basketball champions Detroit and women’s outdoor track and field winners Youngstown State closed the overall standings with 23 and 22.5 points, respectively.
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 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.
McCafferty Trophy Standings
School Points (Titles)
1. Milwaukee 45.5 (7)
2. Cleveland State 39 (0)
3. Butler 37.5 (3)
4. Loyola 33 (2)
5. Valparaiso 32 (2)
6. Wright State 25 (0)
7. Green Bay 24.5 (2)
8. UIC 24 (1)
9. Detroit 23 (1)
10. Youngstown State 22.5 (1)
Men’s Sports Totals
School Points (Titles)
1. Valparaiso 21 (1)
2. Milwaukee 19 (3)
Cleveland State 19 (0)
4. Loyola 18 (2)
5. Wright State 16.5 (0)
6. Green Bay 14 (1)
7. Butler 13.5 (1)
8. UIC 10 (0)
9. Detroit 6.5 (1)
Youngstown State 6.5 (0)
Women’s Sports Totals
School Points (Titles)
1. Milwaukee 26.5 (4)
2. Butler 24 (2)
3. Cleveland State 20 (0)
4. Detroit 16.5 (0)
5. Youngstown State 16 (1)
6. UIC 14 (1)
7. Loyola 15 (0)
8. Valparaiso 11 (1)
9. Green Bay 10.5 (1)
10. Wright State 8.5 (0)