March 26, 2010

ELMHURST, Ill. - Oakland University has taken over the lead in the race for The Summit League Commissioner's Cup with 68.0 points, 8.5 points in front of second place South Dakota State (59.5). The Golden Grizzlies continue to lead the Dr. William Steinbrecher Men's All Sports Award with 33.0 points, 10 ahead of Oral Roberts (23.0) and rank third in the Dr. Helen Smiley Women's All Sports Award standings with 35.0 points, 7.0 shy of North Dakota State (42.0).

"What a tremendous winter season we had at Oakland University," said Director of Athletics Tracy Huth. "Our student-athletes continue to work very hard in and out of the classroom and we hope to use this momentum as we continue with our spring seasons."

The standings are for the 2009-10 academic calendar through fall and winter seasons. OU captured Summit League Swimming and Diving Championships in both men and women, along with winning the men's basketball title. Points are only awarded for regular season play, not tournament action. Oakland also captured the men's soccer crown during the fall to push its total to four for this calendar season.

The Commissioner's Cup is given annually to the member institution that collects the most combined points in relationship to placement in league-sponsored sports between its men's and women's athletic programs, while the All Sports Awards are given to the institutions that accumulate the most points in men's sports and women's sports. The men's award is named for former Valparaiso Director of Athletics Dr. William Steinbrecher, who guided the Crusaders from 1979-2004, while the women's award is named for former Western Illinois Director of Athletics Dr. Helen Smiley, who headed WIU's athletic program from 1994-2001.

Commissioner's Cup Standings

Dr. William Steinbrecher Men's
All Sports Award Standings School Points

Dr. Helen Smiley Women's
All Sports Award Standings School Points

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