LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – On the strength of an overall successful winter season, IUP moved up three spots in the latest 2014-15 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Dixon Trophy standings, which were released on Friday.
 
The Crimson Hawks owned the best climb of any PSAC school, moving from 11th in the fall to eighth after the completion of conference's winter championships.
 
The winner of the Dixon Trophy is the school which compiles the top average score for all PSAC Championship sports the school sponsors. Equal to its total membership, each conference sport champion is awarded 18 points and a descending point value is given for respective place finishes. The second-through last-place values vary depending on the number of teams that sponsor the sport. 
 
IUP's overall average is 10.73 heading into the spring, including a 12.92 average for the men and 8.86 for the women.
 
The main highlights of the winter season for IUP came from the men's and women's basketball and men's and women's swimming teams. The Crimson Hawks' men's basketball team advanced to the PSAC tournament championship game, garnering 17 points, while the women made the semifinals, which was good for 15.5 points. Men's swimming picked up 14 points by finishing second of seven teams at the PSAC championships while the women received 15 points by finishing third of 13 teams.
 
The Dixon Trophy, now in its 20th year of existence, is named in honor of F. Eugene Dixon, Jr., former chairman of Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's Board of Governors.  West Chester is seeking its second Dixon title, trying to repeat its performance from the 2012-13 season. California, the defending champion, is hoping to claim the trophy for a third time. Shippensburg has won the most all-sports crowns with seven, followed by Bloomsburg and Lock Haven with three apiece. In addition to West Chester, Slippery Rock, Kutztown and Millersville each have one title.   

Seven PSAC Championships remain for the 2014-15 campaign: men and women's outdoor track and field, men's and women's tennis, baseball, softball, and women's lacrosse. The winner of the 2014-15 Dixon Trophy will be released following the completion of the spring championships in early May.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk.