May 13, 2009

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Wartburg College swept the league’s All-Sports Championship Awards, capturing its seventh consecutive Iowa Conference All-Sports Championship Trophy, its 12th straight Elmer Hertel Men’s Sports Championship Trophy, and its sixth Marjorie Giles Women’s Sports Championship Trophy in eight years.

The IIAC All-Sports Championship Trophy is determined by each school’s finish in the Giles and Hertel Trophy standings. Schools earn points in the Giles and Hertel Trophy standings based on its finish in each of the Conference’s nine women’s sports and 10 men’s sports, receiving nine points for a first-place finish, eight points for a second-place finish, etc.

Wartburg has captured the Iowa Conference All-Sports Championship Trophy each year since its inception in 2002-03. By finishing first in both the Giles and Hertel Trophy races, Wartburg posted a total of 18 points. Luther finished second in the IIAC All-Sports Championship Trophy standings with 15 points, two points ahead of third-place Loras, and three points clear of fourth-place Central.

Behind three Conference titles (football, wrestling, and indoor track & field) and three third-place finishes (soccer, golf, and outdoor track & field), Wartburg totaled 62.6 points. The Knights also finished fourth in basketball, tennis, and baseball, and fifth in cross country. The institution has now won 15 Elmer Hertel Men’s Sports Championship trophies, tying the Conference record of 15 held by Central.

Loras (58.7) won or shared two titles (soccer, baseball) and posted two second-place finishes (cross country, outdoor track & field) on the way to a runner-up finish. Luther (56.7) took third behind three titles (cross country, tennis, baseball) and a pair of second-place finishes (wrestling, golf). 2009 IIAC golf and outdoor track & field champion Central (49.2) was fourth, just ahead of Coe (47.05). 2008-09 IIAC basketball champion Buena Vista (38.2) finished sixth.

Wartburg won the Giles Women’s Sports Championship Trophy for the seventh time since the inception of the award in 1982-83. Behind five Iowa Conference titles (golf, cross country, soccer, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field), the Knights totaled 60.5 points. Wartburg also posted second-place finishes in softball and basketball (tie), tied for fourth in volleyball and placed sixth in tennis.

Luther (52.9 points) took second behind top-four finishes in seven of nine sports, including runner-up finishes in golf (tied with Central), tennis, and cross country. Simpson (50.1), Central (48.9), and Loras (46.6) finished tightly bunched in third, fourth, and fifth places, each picking up a title in 2008-09. The Storm won the basketball crown, Central captured the softball trophy, and Loras finished atop the standings in volleyball. 2008 IIAC tennis champion Coe (35.5) was sixth.

Final standings for the IIAC All-Sports, Elmer Hertel Men’s Sports and Marjorie Giles Women’s Sports Championship Trophies can be found here.

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