West Chester Walks Away With Fifth Dixon Trophy

HARRISBURG, Pa. – For the second consecutive season and the fourth time in the last five years, the Pennsylvania State Athletic conference (PSAC) recognized West Chester University as the best overall athletic program in the league by giving WCU the 2018-19 Dixon Trophy.

This year marks the 24th 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.   

Boasting a school-record seven conference titles in 2018-19, the Golden Rams amassed a conference record 13.48 overall average score in the Dixon Trophy standings to take the top spot over No. 2 Shippensburg. West Chester's 13.48 average in 2018-19 now stands as the second-most ever scored by a conference representative in the rankings. The Golden Rams averaged 13.76 a year ago in winning the trophy. West Chester's women led the league with a 14.25 average while the men paced the league at 12.55.

WCU claimed team titles in football, field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's swimming and women's lacrosse in 2018-19. The Golden Rams appeared in the PSAC title game in men's soccer, falling on penalty kicks in the championship game. As a result, West Chester finished 7-0-1 in conference championship games this past academic season.

Shippensburg University's eight Dixon awards are the most of any school in the PSAC, while Tuesday's award gave West Chester five total trophies, solidifying the Golden Rams in the No. 2 hole on the conference's all-time leader board.
 
DIXON TROPHY WINNERS                 West Chester Place
2018-19               West Chester                     1st
2017-18               West Chester                     1st
2016-17               Shippensburg                     3rd
2015-16               West Chester                    1st
2014-15               West Chester                    1st
2013-14               California (Pa.)                   3rd
2012-13               West Chester                    1st
2011-12               Bloomsburg                        6th
2010-11               Shippensburg                     8th
2009-10               Shippensburg                     5th
2008-09               California (Pa.)                   6th
2007-08               Slippery Rock                     2nd
2006-07               Lock Haven                        2nd
2005-06               Kutztown                            5th
2004-05               Shippensburg                     5th
2003-04               Shippensburg                     7th
2002-03               Shippensburg                     7th
2001-02               Lock Haven                        9th
2000-01               Lock Haven                        9th
1999-2000          Millersville                           8th
1998-99               Shippensburg                     9th
1997-98               Shippensburg                    10th
1996-97               Bloomsburg                        11th
1995-96               Bloomsburg                        11th