Slippery Rock Wins 2007-08 Dixon Trophy
Slippery Rock University is the winner of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s Dixon Trophy for the 2007-08 academic year. The trophy is given on an annual basis to the league’s most successful all-around program.
The Dixon Trophy is named after F. Eugene Dixon, Jr., former chairman of the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. It is awarded annually to the PSAC member institution that accumulates the most points based on results of conference playoffs and/or regular-season records. Each institution's point total is calculated by adding its top six men's finishes and top six women's finishes in 21 conference sports.
Slippery Rock representatives Dr. Constance Foley (Vice President for Student Life), Bob McComas (Sports Information Director), Paul Lueken (Athletics Director) and President Dr. Robert M. Smith accept the 2007-08 Dixon Trophy at the Dixon Center in Harrisburg.
This year marks the first time in the 13-year existence of the award that Slippery Rock has triumphed over the rest of the league. Its previous best finish was third place in 2006-07 and 2002-03.
In winning this year's title, Slippery Rock swept the indoor and outdoor track and field titles as both the men's and women's squads claimed first place in each respective championship. The four track and field titles were supplemented by second place finishes in men's cross country, women's soccer and women's tennis. Women's cross country and football also bolstered The Rock's point total.
For the second year in a row West Chester finished just shy of its first Dixon Trophy, claiming second place with 130.5 points, just two points shy of Slippery Rock's 132.5 points.
Also for the second year in a row, the Golden Rams captured five league titles. West Chester brought home trophies in football, men's and women's swimming, women's soccer and lacrosse. The Golden Rams also finished second in baseball. Three other teams qualified for PSAC playoffs, including men's soccer, women's basketball and women's volleyball.
California finished third in the final standings with 125.5 points, its best finish to date in the history of the award. The Vulcans brought home titles in football, men's basketball, women's volleyball and women's tennis. Women's basketball, as well as women's golf, also added to California's point total with their second place finishes.
Kutztown claimed fourth with 125.0 points, marking the eighth consecutive year that the Golden Bears have finished in the award's top five standings. Kutztown earned just one league title in baseball, but made the PSAC playoffs in men's basketball, field hockey, women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis and softball. The track and field teams also posted strong showings as both the men's and women's squads recorded top five finishes in both indoor and outdoor track and field.
IUP rounds out the top five with 123.5 points. The Crimson Hawks enjoyed titles in men's golf, field hockey and women's basketball. On the women's side, IUP finished second in cross country, third in swimming and added playoff appearances in women's soccer and softball. For the men, football, basketball, baseball and outdoor track and field contributed points.
Final 2007-08 Standings
1. Slippery Rock 132.5 8. Lock Haven 119.0
2. West Chester 130.5 9. Edinboro 113.5
3. California 125.5 10. East Stroudsburg 112.5
4. Kutztown 125.0 11. Millersville 101.0
5. IUP 123.5 12. Clarion 97.0
6. Shippensburg 122.0 13. Mansfield 44.5
7. Bloomsburg 120.0 14. Cheyney 42.0