Illinois State finishes 3rd in MVC All-Sport standings

Posted on May 23, 2016
Illinois State MVC track
The Illinois State women’s track was the only school’s MVC winner this season. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By ISU Sports Information

ST. LOUIS – Illinois State continued its streak by finishing in the top three of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports standings, as the Redbirds placed third behind Wichita State and Southern Illinois in the final ranking announced Monday by the league office.

After missing the Top 5 in the standings for the first time in three decades last year, Illinois State catapulted back into the Top 3, finishing third this year with an aggregate score of 4.32. ISU, which has 12 all-sports crowns, has finished first, second, or third in 24 of the past 26 years. The Redbirds’ finish was highlighted by a conference title for the women’s indoor track team and second-place finishes from men’s cross country and basketball.

Either Illinois State, Missouri State or Wichita State, meanwhile, has earned the league’s all-sports championship trophy every year since 1995. Illinois State won five of six all sports championships from 1996-2001, while Missouri State claimed the league’s trophy in 2001-02, 2002-03 and in 2011-12.

Wichita State set a record with nine team titles, and the Shockers finished in the Top 3 in 13 of the 15 sports it sponsors. WSU claimed league championships in volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s golf, men’s indoor track & field, men’s outdoor track & field, women’s outdoor track & field, softball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis.

Despite Wichita State’s championship dominance, eight different institutions won at least one league title this year; Southern Illinois claimed three team titles and Bradley had two. Counting Wichita State this year, only five times since 1992-93 (merger of MVC men’s and women’s sports) has an institution had more than five team titles.

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 one point for first, two for second, three for third, etc., and the total accumulated points are divided by the number of sports in which a particular school competes. Finishes in baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball are based on regular-season competition. All other sports are determined by finish at the championship tournament or championship meet.

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