May 13, 2003

MOUNT VERNON, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Wartburg College has won the inaugural IIAC All-Sports Championship Trophy as determined by the school’s finish in the Elmer Hertel Men’s Sports Championship Trophy and Marjorie Giles Women’s Sports Championship Trophy standings. Wartburg won its second straight Marjorie Giles Trophy and sixth straight Elmer Hertel Trophy.

“We are honored to have earned the All-Sports Trophies recognizing the achievement of our student-athletes and coaching staff. The awards are reflective of a well-rounded intercollegiate athletics program for both men and women,” Wartburg College Director of Athletics Gary Grace said. “We are proud of our association, and enjoy quality competition with the other nine schools in the IIAC. Institutions in our league are committed to providing a positive environment for competition with integrity and sportsmanship as the highest ideals.”

The Iowa Conference All-Sports Championship is determined by awarding points to each school’s finish in the Marjorie Giles Women’s Sports Championship Trophy and Elmer Hertel Men’s Sports Championship Trophy standings with schools receiving 10 points for a first place finish, nine points for a second place finish, etc. Wartburg’s first place finish in both Sports Trophies gave the school 20 points. Loras College finished second in the All-Sports Trophy with 18 points followed by Luther College in third place (16 points) and Central College and Simpson College tied for fourth (13 points).

On the women’s side, Wartburg won the Conference cross country (second straight), indoor track and outdoor track (fourth straight) Championships, tied for the volleyball and basketball title and finished second in golf and softball. The Knights finished with 66.5 points in the Marjorie Giles Women’s Sports Championship standings, four points ahead of Loras (62.5 points) and 10.7 points ahead of third-place Luther (51.8 points). Wartburg is the first outright repeat winner of the Marjorie Giles Trophy since Luther won back-to-back outright Trophies in 1994-95 and 1995-96.

On the men’s side, the Knights won their 11th straight wrestling Championship, seventh straight baseball Championship, fifth straight cross country Championship and second straight outdoor track Championship. Additionally, they won the first annual IIAC indoor track Championship, tied for the Conference football title and finished second in basketball and soccer. Wartburg finished with 79.0 points, 14.7 points ahead of second-place Loras (64.3 points) and 19 points ahead of third-place Luther (60.0 points). Wartburg has tied Central for most consecutive Elmer Hertel Trophy titles. Central won six straight Elmer Hertel Trophies from 1989-90 through 1994-95. Wartburg has tied Luther with nine Men’s Sports Championship Trophies and trails only Central which has won 15 Men’s Sports Championship Trophies since its inception in 1970-71.

Final standings for the IIAC All-Sports, Marjorie Giles Women’s Sports and Elmer Hertel Men’s Sports Championship Trophies are here. Previous winners of the Marjorie Giles and Elmer Hertel Trophies are here.

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