Oakland Repeats as McCafferty Trophy Champion

INDIANAPOLIS -- In its third season in the Horizon League, Oakland University once again dominated the McCafferty Trophy standings for the second straight year, collecting both the men’s and women’s titles en route to 62 points and the overall all-sports title.

The Golden Grizzlies captured eight Horizon League titles, beginning the year by almost sweeping the fall championships via titles in men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s soccer. Oakland’s success continued into the winter season, as the Golden Grizzlies collected championships in men’s and women’s swimming and diving, along with women’s indoor track and field. Oakland capped the year with a title in women’s golf.

Oakland’s 62 overall points were the most scored by a Horizon League institution in the current scoring format and most since Notre Dame had 99 in the 1994-95 season.

Wright State, behind a second-place finish for the men’s sports trophy and a third-place result on the women’s side, took second with 39.5 points, its best finish since 1998-99. The Raiders captured the Horizon League baseball title last week.

Milwaukee edged Youngstown State for third in the standings. With 34 total points to the Penguins’ 32, the Panthers finished in the top three of the McCafferty standings for the 17th consecutive year.

Cleveland State was fifth in the standings, as its men’s golf championship helped the Vikings hold off UIC by a point as the Flames finished the year with 29 points.

Valparaiso took seventh in the final standings, ahead of League newcomer Northern Kentucky, who finished eighth with 18.5 points. Green Bay, champions of women’s basketball, trailed the Norse by a half-point, while Detroit 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 - 62 points
2. Wright State - 39.5
3. Milwaukee - 34
4. Youngstown State - 32
5. Cleveland State - 30
6. UIC - 29
7. Valparaiso - 26
8. Northern Kentucky - 18.5
9. Green Bay - 18
10. Detroit - 4

Men’s Sports Totals
1. Oakland - 29
2. Wright State - 20.5
3. Valparaiso - 19
t-4. Cleveland State - 14
t-4. Milwaukee - 14
t-4. Youngstown State - 14
7. UIC - 13
8. Green Bay - 8
9. Northern Kentucky - 5.5
10. Detroit - 2

Women’s Sports Totals
1. Oakland - 33
2. Milwaukee - 20
3. Wright State - 19
4. Youngstown State - 18
t-5. Cleveland State - 16
t-5. UIC - 16
7. Northern Kentucky - 13
8. Green Bay  - 10
9. Valparaiso - 7
10. Detroit - 2