ST. LOUIS – For the sixth time in the last seven seasons and for the second-straight year, Illinois State has won the Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Championship as announced by the Conference office Thursday. Notably, Illinois State has won 18 all-sports crowns and has finished first, second, or third in 32 of the past 35 years.
"I'm incredibly proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for winning a second-straight Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Trophy," Illinois State Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs said. "Winning the MVC All-Sports trophy is the perfect ending to one of the most memorable years ever for the Redbirds, with three championships and multiple postseason runs that gave ISU a spotlight on the national stage. To win this award for the sixth time in seven years is a tremendous accomplishment by everyone associated with Redbird Athletics. We hope all of our alumni, supporters, and fans are just as proud of this honor as we are."
Illinois State had an aggregate score of 8.857 this year to take the all-sports crown and earned team titles this year in men's golf, men's outdoor track & field, and a tournament championship in women's tennis. The Redbirds also had top five finishes in baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's indoor track & field, women's soccer, softball, women's tennis, volleyball, and both women's indoor and outdoor track & field.
Murray State, which joined the MVC for the 2022-23 season, finished in second place behind the Redbirds in the all-sports trophy standings (its all-time best). Indiana State, UNI and Drake rounded out the top five in this year's standings. Prior to Drake's MVC All-Sports crown in 2024, Illinois State, Missouri State or Wichita State had earned the league's all-sports championship trophy every year since 1995.Â
Nine different institutions claimed at least one regular-season or post-season league title this past season. UIC and UNI led the league with four total championships each. Four other league schools produced three championship crowns: Belmont, Illinois State, Indiana State, and Murray State.
Points -- Team (Championships*)
8.857 -- Illinois State (3)
8.814 -- Murray State (3)
7.719 -- Indiana State (3)
7.252 -- UNI (4)
7.101 -- Drake (2)
*combined regular-season and tournament championships
The All-Sports Trophy is based on a school's average finish in each of the sponsored championships by the Missouri Valley Conference. Teams are awarded 12 points for first, 11 for second, 10 for third, etc., and the total accumulated points are divided by the number of sports in which a particular school competes. For sports not sponsored by every MVC school, the points decrease by number of competing schools (i.e., in a sport where 10 teams compete, 12/10 = 1.20, so point totals decrease by 1.20; 1st = 12, 2nd = 10.8, 3rd = 9.6, etc.)
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Finishes in baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball are based on regular-season competition. However, institutions receive three bonus points for each league post-season championship earned in those aforementioned sports. Â All other sports are determined by finish at the championship tournament or championship meet.
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