June 4, 2004

MILWAUKEE - For the second time in the last four years, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has won the McCafferty Trophy, given to the Horizon League's all-sports champion.

UWM also won the league's women's all-sports award for the fourth-straight year.

The Panthers claimed the crowns, in part, by collecting six Horizon League championships this past season, including a first-ever men's basketball regular season crown and regular season titles in men's soccer, women's soccer and women's volleyball. The stellar performance of UWM's men's track and field team, which won both the indoor and outdoor crowns, then put the Panthers over the top.

"This is a tremendous way to cap off another great year in Panther athletics," UWM Athletic Director Bud Haidet said. "It shows the hard work and dedication our coaches, staff and student-athletes have put forward, not only in this season but in past seasons and during the off-season. Our department continues to excel at the highest levels thanks to the support of our administration, campus and community. The success of our athletic program is something everyone associated with UWM can be proud of. We look forward to continuing our growth and success in the coming years."

UWM also won the McCafferty trophy following the 2000-2001 school year and has finished second in each of the last two years. UWM joins Butler as the only current League institutions to win the award more than once.

This year, UWM compiled 48 points, including 25 on the women's side. Butler finished second with 44 points while winning the men's all-sports award.

The McCafferty Trophy is awarded annually by the Horizon League to the member institution compiling the greatest number of performance points in league championships. The trophy is presented in honor of James J. McCafferty, the former Xavier University men's basketball coach and director of athletics who served as the league's first commissioner in 1979-80.

Schools earn performance points based on their finish in all 18 championship sports offered by the Horizon League. For the sports of men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, softball and baseball, points are awarded based on the combined regular season and championship finish. In the sports of men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's golf, and men's and women's tennis, points are awarded based on the finish in the league championship. Each school then counts five men's and five women's sports toward its championship total.