Kutztown University Wins 2005-6 Dixon Trophy
For the first time in the school’s history, Kutztown University is the winner of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s Dixon Trophy. 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.
Kutztown, the runner-up the past two years, totaled 140 points, edging Shippensburg by one and a half points.
“This is the summation of what the term scholar-athlete means,” said KU President Dr. F. Javier Cevallos. “The KU Golden Bears are models of community involvement. Earning the Dixon trophy is clearly the best recognition of their outstanding work. This is truly a crowning achievement: one that rests on a solid academic and altruistic foundation.”
Lock Haven University (135.5) finished just three points behind Shippensburg for third place, while Slippery Rock University (134) and West Chester (132.5) rounded out a tightly bunched top five.
Despite winning only one league crown, Kutztown’s women totaled 74 points for the season, best among women’s programs in the PSAC. An indoor track and field title was aided by a runner-up in soccer, and third-place showings in outdoor track and field and cross country. Other significant efforts came with third-place efforts in basketball, volleyball, softball, tennis and field hockey.
The Kutztown men claimed both of their PSAC crowns during the spring in baseball and tennis. KU also had a third place in outdoor track & field. Kutztown qualified for the PSAC playoffs in basketball and placed third in indoor track and field during the winter.
“This honor is a true reflection of the hard work of many people over a sustained period of time,” said Dr. Chick Woodard, vice president for student services and campus life. “It is not only an award for our current coaches, athletes and staff, but it is an award for everyone who has contributed to Golden Bear Athletics over the years. From the vision of presidents McFarland and Cevallos, to the leadership of athletic directors Clark Yeager and Greg Bamberger, to the efforts of student-athletes, coaches and support staff, this is an award for which the credit can be shared by all.”
KU’s victory caps an 11-year climb to the top of the PSAC athletic programs. In the first year the trophy was presented (1995-96), Kutztown placed ninth.
“Winning the Dixon Trophy is a credit to the support our administration has shown the athletics department at Kutztown University,” Bamberger said. “This award is many years in the making. The groundwork was laid in place by the previous athletic administration, and everyone has worked very hard to keep building upon that foundation to get to this point. I must give special credit to our coaches as well. If not for the tireless efforts of our coaching staff, we would not be in the position to win this award.”
