West Chester Athletics Takes Home Dixon Trophy
West Chester University was awarded the F. Eugene Dixon Trophy by Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference (PSAC) commissioner Steve Murray during a ceremony and celebration
at Tanglewood, the home of WCU President, Dr. Laurie Bernotsky, Wednesday afternoon.
It marks the sixth time and first since 2018-19 that West Chester has won the conference
crown, given annually to the institution that accumulates the top score based on results
of conference playoffs and/or regular-season records. The trophy is named in honor
of F. Eugene Dixon, Jr., former chairman of the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania's
State System of Higher Education.
"Winning the Dixon Trophy is a reflection of the incredible depth and breadth of what
we've built here at West Chester University," Director of Athletics, Terry Beattie, said. "This isn't about any one team or one season — it's a testament to the collective
excellence of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff across every sport we offer.
The PSAC is one of the most competitive conferences in Division II athletics, and
to be recognized as the top all-around program in this league means a lot to our community.
We talk constantly about "Together, We Are Golden", and this trophy is proof that
our people have bought into that vision. Golden Rams athletics continues to excel,
and we couldn't be prouder."
The award is given to the program which generates the top average point value among
each PSAC Championship sport it sponsors. Each sport champion earns 17 points - based
on the league's membership total - and descending point values are awarded for respective
placement. This is the third Dixon Trophy awarded to West Chester University during
Beattie's tenure as athletics director.
Winners of three conference titles in 2025-26, the Golden Rams amassed a conference-best
12.08 overall average score in the Dixon Trophy standings to take the top spot over
No. 2 Gannon. The Golden Rams won both the men's and women's swimming championship
and the men's golf title this past year.
The Golden Rams appeared in the PSAC title game in baseball while finishing runner-up
in women's golf and women's outdoor track & field. Overall, West Chester posted an
average of 12.38 points in its 12 women's sports while putting up an average of 11.73
in its 10 men's sports.
Shippensburg University's eight Dixon awards are the most of any school in the PSAC,
while Wednesday's award gave West Chester six total trophies, solidifying the Golden
Rams in the No. 2 hole on the conference's all-time leader board. The Dixon Trophy
has been awarded 29 times – every year since 1995-96 for the exception of 2019-20
and 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.