Oakland Captures First McCafferty Trophy

2015 McCafferty Trophy Standings (Final)

INDIANAPOLIS -- In just its second season in the Horizon League, Oakland University dominated the McCafferty Trophy standings, collecting both the men’s and women’s titles en route to 56 points and the overall all-sports title.

The Golden Grizzlies captured five Horizon League titles, beginning the year with both regular season and postseason titles in men’s soccer and volleyball. Oakland’s success continued into the winter season, as the Golden Grizzlies collected championships in men’s and women’s swimming and diving. Oakland capped the year with its first softball championship.

Oakland’s 56 overall points were the most scored by a Horizon League institution since the 2010-11 season.

Milwaukee, on the strength of titles in both men’s indoor and outdoor track and field, took second place in both the McCafferty Trophy standings and men’s sports title.

Youngstown State captured five postseason titles, equaling the number won by Oakland, taking third overall and second on the women’s side. All five of the Penguins titles came on the women’s side, beginning with the women’s cross country title in the fall. YSU took championships in both women’s indoor and outdoor track and field ahead of titles in women’s tennis and golf in the spring.

Finishing fourth, Valparaiso earned its best-ever finish in the McCafferty standings with 30.5 points. The Crusaders earned League championships in men’s basketball and women’s soccer.

Green Bay took home the women’s basketball and men’s tennis titles, fueling a fifth-place finish. Detroit, Wright State and Cleveland State were separated in the standings by just 1.5 points, while UIC rounded out the overall standings.

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
1. Oakland -- 56 points
2. Milwaukee -- 40.5
3. Youngstown State -- 36.5
4. Valparaiso -- 30.5
5. Green Bay -- 29.5
6. Detroit -- 26
7. Wright State -- 25
8. Cleveland State -- 24.5
9. UIC -- 21

Men’s Sports Totals
1. Oakland -- 24
2. Milwaukee -- 20.5
3. Valparaiso -- 18.5
4. Wright State -- 16
5. Cleveland State -- 15
6. Green Bay -- 14
7. Detroit -- 12
8. Youngstown State -- 11
9. UIC -- 9

Women’s Sports Totals
1. Oakland -- 32
2. Youngstown State -- 25.5
3. Milwaukee -- 20
4. Green Bay -- 15.5
5. Detroit -- 14
t-6. UIC -- 12
t-6. Valparaiso -- 12
8. Cleveland State -- 9.5
9. Wright State -- 9