KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY WINS 2005-06 PSAC DIXON TROPHY 

KUTZTOWN, PA –   For the first time in school history, Kutztown University is the winner of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s Dixon Trophy for the 2005-06 academic year.  The trophy is given on an annual basis to the league’s most successful all-around program. 

Pictured are the members of Kutztown University’s staff who were on hand to accept the 2006 Dixon Trophy at the PSAC meeting in Harrisburg on Wednesday, May 24.  From left to right: Dr. Robert Ziegenfus, faculty athletic representative; Greg Bamberger, director of athletics; Chris Blum, head baseball coach; John Gump, interim associate athletics director/head volleyball coach, Dr. Chick Woodard, vice president for student services and campus life; Josh Leiboff, coordinator of sports information; and Dr. F. Javier Cevallos, president.

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, runner-up in each of the last two years, used an outstanding spring to vault its way to the top spot.  The Golden Bears totaled 140 points, edging second-place Shippensburg by just 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 through their off-campus volunteer activities; they are often leaders in the classroom, with grade-point averages higher than their classmates; and earning the Dixon trophy is clearly the best recognition of their outstanding work.  My congratulations to them, their professors and all our coaches.  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, and also had a third-place in outdoor track and field during that span.  Kutztown also qualified for the PSAC playoffs in basketball and placed third in indoor track and field during the winter.

Kutztown was joined by Edinboro, Slippery Rock and Shippensburg as the leaders with three PSAC titles.  Edinboro also had a division title in football. 

With the win this year, Kutztown becomes the fifth league school to win the Dixon Trophy.  Shippensburg’s run of three-straight titles was snapped with Kutztown’s win this year.  The Raiders also won in 1997-98 and 1998-99 to own a league-best five trophies.  Bloomsburg University (1995-96, 1996-97) and Lock Haven (2000-01, 2001-02) both have two, while Millersville (1999-2000) owns one.      

“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 (David) 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.” 

Kutztown’s Dixon Trophy victory caps an 11-year climb to the top of the PSAC athletic programs.  In the first year the trophy was presented, Kutztown was ninth (1995-96).  KU was ninth again in 1996-97 before climbing to fifth and fourth the following two years.  After falling to seventh in 1999-2000, Kutztown jumped to third in 2000-01 and 2001-02.  A fourth place finish in 2002-03 was followed by runner-up efforts in 2003-04 and 2004-05.   

“Winning the Dixon Trophy is a credit to the support our administration has shown the athletics department at Kutztown University,” Director of Athletics Greg 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.”