Milligan Repeats as Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy Champion

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Milligan went wire-to-wire to repeat as the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy winner.

Milligan outpaced the field by 91 points, amassing 442.5 total points. Milligan fueled its All-Sports Trophy chase by winning 10 championships, claiming the titles in men's cross country, women's cross country, men's indoor track & field, women's indoor track & field, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, women's basketball, men's outdoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field, and baseball. 

This is Milligan's 12th All-Sports Trophy.

Reinhardt finished second with 351.5 points, and rounding out the top five are Tennessee Wesleyan (270 points), Montreat (254.5 points), and Pikeville (250 points).

This is the fifth year the current point system has been used. Teams earned points based on their regular-season finish only unless the sport (i.e. cross country, track & field, swimming & diving) only hosted a championship meet. Points are assigned as follows: first place received 30 points, second place 25, third place 20, fourth place 15, fifth 12, sixth 11, seventh 10, eighth 9, ninth 8, 10th 7, 11th 6, 12th 5, 13th 4, 14th 3, 15th 2, and 16th 1. If teams are tied for a place, the points are shared. For example, if two teams are tied for first place, each will receive 27.5 points (30 points for first plus 25 points for second, divided by two).

To view the updated standings, click here.

During the 2014-15 season, the conference began awarding an all-sports trophy for men's and women's programs. Milligan won the men's trophy with 226.5 points and claimed the women's trophy with 216 points. This is only the second time an institution has swept all three trophies. Tennessee Wesleyan first accomplished the feat in 2016-17.

The Appalachian Athletic Conference Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy was established as a way of recognizing member institutions with the most successful all-around sports program for the year. Member colleges compete in 24 sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, volleyball, and wrestling for men; and, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, and volleyball for women.

The trophy was named the Duard Walker Trophy in 2000 in honor of Coach Duard Walker, who retired that year after 50 years of service to Milligan College as a teacher, coach, and athletics director. Walker was named the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Athletics Director of the Year for 2001.  He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2008.