LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Gannon University Golden Knights repeated as Dixon Trophy winners and were awarded the honor as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s most successful institution in 2022-23, the league announced Thursday afternoon.
It is the second time Gannon has won the trophy since first joining the league in 2008, tying California (Pa.) for the most Dixon Trophies awarded to Western Division institutions. The Golden Knights also become the only Western Division institution to win the trophy in back-to-back years.
This year marks the 26th occasion the PSAC has recognized a Dixon Trophy recipient, awarded 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.
Gannon topped the rest of PSAC competition with an average point total of 12.66.
West Chester University was a close runner-up with a 12.34 average, while Slippery Rock University was third with an average of 11.79.
Placing fourth and fifth were Shippensburg University (11.35) and California (Pa.) (11.28), respectively.
Gannon earned key point accumulations from its 2022-23 PSAC champion women’s golf and volleyball programs, as well as PSAC runner-up finishes in women’s soccer and women’s basketball. Gannon’s average of women’s sports programs was a PSAC-leading 13.56, while IUP led the men’s average with a 12.75.
All-time, Shippensburg leads all PSAC institutions with eight Dixon Trophies while West Chester has received five. Bloomsburg and Lock Haven have three apiece, while California (Pa.) joins Gannon as a two-time winner. Kutztown, Millersville and Slippery Rock have all won a single Dixon Trophy.
Find a complete list of past Dixon Trophy winners below.
2021-22: Gannon
2020-21: Not awarded due to COVID-19
2019-20: Not awarded due to COVID-19
2018-19: West Chester
2017-18: West Chester
2016-17: Shippensburg
2015-16: West Chester
2014-15: West Chester
2013-14: California (Pa.)
2012-13: West Chester
2011-12: Bloomsburg
2010-11: Shippensburg
2009-10: Shippensburg
2008-09: California (Pa.)
2007-08: Slippery Rock
2006-07: Lock Haven
2005-06: Kutztown
2004-05: Shippensburg
2003-04: Shippensburg
2002-03: Shippensburg
2001-02: Lock Haven
2000-01: Lock Haven
1999-00: Millersville
1998-99: Shippensburg
1997-98: Shippensburg
1996-97: Bloomsburg
1995-96: Bloomsburg