West Chester Wins Third Dixon Trophy in Four Years
All-Time Standings
2015-16 Final Standings
HARRISBURG, Pa. – West Chester University has claimed the honor as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's top program by winning the 2015-16 Dixon Trophy. For West Chester, it marks the third time in four years that the school has won the award, having earned the distinction for the first time in school history in 2012-13 and again in 2014-15.
This year marks the 21st time the PSAC has recognized a Dixon Trophy recipient, given annually to the institution that accumulates the top score based on results of conference playoffs and/or regular-season records. The trophy is named in honor of F. Eugene Dixon, Jr., former chairman of the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education.
The award is given to the program which generates the top average point value among each PSAC Championship sport it sponsors. Each sport champion earns 18 points - based on the league's membership total - and descending point values are awarded for respective placement.
West Chester established an overall average of 12.36 points, beating out Shippensburg, California, Slippery Rock, and IUP.
West Chester won three conference titles this year, earning first place trophies in baseball, men’s swimming, and women’s swimming. The WCU men’s swimming team has now won the PSAC Championship in 18 straight seasons, while the women’s squad has now won 10 straight titles. The Golden Rams were second place in football, men’s basketball, and women’s lacrosse.
Shippensburg is in second place with an 11.88 average. The Raiders’ four conference championships this season were the most among any institution. Shippensburg continued its run of dominance in track and field, winning the men’s indoor title and the top spot in both men’s and women’s outdoor. SU also won the volleyball championship this year, the first volleyball championship for the Raiders in school history.
California is the only school to win the Dixon Trophy in the past four years outside of West Chester and again had a strong showing, placing third. The Vulcans finished with an overall average of 11.5. Their 13.45 average for the women’s sports was the highest in the conference. Cal garnered conference championships in women’s tennis and women’s basketball. It was the 10th straight title for the women’s tennis team, while the women’s basketball team repeated as conference champions one year after winning a national title.
Slippery Rock boasts the highest average on the men’s side, finishing with a 13.14 average, highlighted by conference titles in both football and men’s soccer. It was the second straight football championship for The Rock. The Slippery Rock women won top honors in indoor track and field and took second place in outdoor track and field, while the men’s track and field squad took second at both events.
IUP rounds out the top five, finishing with an average of 11.21. The Crimson Hawks were unable to claim a conference crown this season, but were strong across the board. The IUP men’s basketball team earned the PSAC West Championship, while the women’s basketball team was the runner-up in the conference tournament. Additionally, football and women’s tennis advanced into the NCAA Tournament.
By winning the all-sports award for the third time, West Chester becomes the fourth school to win the Dixon Trophy at least three times. Shippensburg owns the most titles with seven. Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and now WCU have all won three apiece, while California is a two-time winner. Kutztown, Millersville and Slippery Rock have all won one Dixon Trophy.