MARCO ISLAND, Fla. --- For the first time in school history, Cleveland State University has claimed the James J. McCafferty Trophy as the Horizon League's all-sports champion. The crystal trophy was presented to CSU Director of Athletics Lee Reed Wednesday night at the League's annual Executive Council meeting awards dinner in Marco Island, Fla.
The Vikings earned 46 points to edge Butler University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which tied for second place with 43 points apiece.
Cleveland State also earned its first Men's All-Sports Award with 25 points, while Milwaukee captured its third consecutive Women's All-Sports Award -- and seventh in the past eight years --with 27. The University of Illinois at Chicago was the runner-up for the men's (22 points) and Butler for the women's (23).
The McCafferty Trophy is awarded annually by the Horizon League to a member institution compiling the greatest number of performance points, based on their 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 and championship finishes. For all other sports, points are based on performance in the League championships. The award is named in honor of James J. McCafferty, who served as the conference's first commissioner from 1979-80.
"The Horizon League is pleased to present this year's McCafferty Trophy and Men's All-Sports Award to Cleveland State University," said Horizon League Commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone. "The improvement in CSU's program during the past few years has been noteworthy and is a testament to the hard work and dedication of their administration, coaches and student-athletes. We congratulate Cleveland State on an outstanding season."
During the 2007-08 academic year, the Vikings claimed their first Horizon League championships in volleyball, women's basketball and men's tennis and their third in men's golf, while earning their first regular-season title in softball. In addition, Cleveland State's men's basketball team placed second in the regular-season standings and was runner-up at the League championship, and men's swimming and diving finished second at the conference meet.
Cleveland State's performance was even more remarkable considering the Vikings had never ranked in the upper half of the McCafferty Trophy standings since joining the League for the 1994-95 season and had finished last seven times in that 14-year span. Their previous best finish was a tie for fifth in an eight-team conference in 1998-99. Last season, Cleveland State placed seventh when Butler and UIC shared the all-sports title in the first tie in League history. In addition, the Vikings' four League titles this season were twice as many as they had won total since 1999 (men's golf and men's swimming and diving in 2005-06).
"I couldn't be more proud to be a Viking than I am today," Reed said. "For six years, everybody connected with Cleveland State athletics has talked about building a program that would eventually be good enough to win the McCafferty Trophy. To reach this goal is a tribute to the commitment that the university administration, coaches, staff and student-athletes have made to Cleveland State.
"Three years ago we were last in the McCafferty standings. Last year, we were seventh. I can't help feeling that this year we only scratched the surface toward meeting our true potential."
Milwaukee claimed its seventh Women's All-Sports Award in the past eight years and third in a row despite not winning a single Horizon League women's championship in 2007-08. But the Panthers won regular-season titles in women's soccer and volleyball, tied for second in women's basketball and also placed second at the League championships in women's cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field to continue their string of success.
"Milwaukee continues to set the bar high for all-sports success, and winning a seventh women's award in eight years illustrates the university's commitment to a quality all-around program," said LeCrone. "Congratulations go out to everyone associated with the UWM athletics program on a very successful year."
Eight of the Horizon League's ten members won at least one championship during the 2007-08 season. Butler and Cleveland State led the way with four apiece, followed by UIC with three and Milwaukee, Wright State University and Youngstown State University with two. Loyola University Chicago and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay each claimed one League title.
2007-08 McCafferty Trophy Standings
Rank School Championships Points
1. Cleveland State 4 46
2. Butler 4 43
Milwaukee 2 43
4. UIC 3 33
Wright State 2 33
6. Loyola 1 26
Youngstown State 2 26
8. Green Bay 1 19
9. Valparaiso 0 15
10. Detroit 0 14
2007-08 Men's All-Sports Standings
Rank School Championships Points
1. Cleveland State 2 25
2. UIC 2 22
3. Butler 2 20
4. Milwaukee 2 16
5. Wright State 1 15
6. Loyola 0 14.5
7. Youngstown State 0 13
8. Detroit 0 7.5
9. Green Bay 0 5
10. Valparaiso 0 3.5
2007-08 Women's All-Sports Standings
Rank School Championships Points
1. Milwaukee 0 27
2. Butler 2 23
3. Cleveland State 2 21
4. Wright State 1 18
5. Green Bay 1 14
6. Youngstown State 2 13
7. Loyola 1 11.5
Valparaiso 0 11.5
9. UIC 1 11
10. Detroit 0 6.5
2007-08 Horizon League Champions
Sport Champion
Men's Cross Country Butler
Women's Cross Country Butler
Women's Soccer Loyola
Men's Soccer UIC
Volleyball Cleveland State
Men's Swimming & Diving Wright State
Women's Swimming & Diving Green Bay
Men's Indoor Track & Field Milwaukee
Women's Indoor Track & Field Youngstown State
Men's Basketball Butler
Women's Basketball Cleveland State
Men's Tennis Cleveland State
Women's Tennis UIC
Women's Golf Butler
Men's Golf Cleveland State
Men's Outdoor Track & Field Milwaukee
Women's Outdoor Track & Field Youngstown State
Softball Wright State
Baseball UIC
2007-08 Regular-season champions: Women's soccer (Milwaukee), men's soccer (Loyola), volleyball (Milwaukee), men's basketball (Butler), women's basketball (Green Bay), softball (Cleveland State), baseball (UIC).
