Since its inception in 1981, the Great Lakes Valley Conference All Sports Trophy has been awarded to schools that have the best results for their athletic departments as a whole.
The place that a team finished in at the conference championship for their specific sport gives them a certain number of points. The points received from all sports are tallied up and the school with the largest number wins the trophy.
USI has won the trophy 3 times (’82-’83, ’93-’94, ’03-’04) and is currently second in the running for the All Sports Trophy this year.
“Its really for bragging rights for the school,” Jim Naumovich, the GLVC sports commissioner said. “It’s symbolic of the institution and their successful athletic season for all their teams involved.”
Points are calculated differently depending on the sport. For instance with track, which is a spring and fall sport, the score is figured by taking the two finishing positions of an athlete at conference and dividing by two.
John Mark Hall, head athletic director at the University of Southern Indiana, said that the trophy is a great way to foster friendly competition among schools in the conference.
“I think the idea is great,” Hall said. “It’s a way for all of the teams to work together and the school to be proud of the athletic department as a whole.”
Currently the University of Southern Indiana sits second in the point standings to Lewis University, 120-123, respectively.
Hall said he felt as though USI had a good shot at beating Lewis as long as the remaining sports can finish well at the conference championships.
“In women’s softball Lewis is kind of out there but we have a shot to compete with them,” Hall said.
He went on to say that men’s Baseball is about even with Lewis and there is very little room for error if USI wants to win the trophy.
In the 30-year history of the All Sports Trophy, Lewis has won more than any other school in the conference, with 11 wins. The last time Lewis won was in the ’98-’99 season.
Men’s baseball and women’s softball as well as track and field still have conference championships left to play. The trophy won’t be decided until after the men’s baseball final May 15.
