Toms sweep MIAC all-sport title for second year in row

1st of 12
MIAC All-Sport, May 13, 2009

St. Thomas had one of its most consistent athletic years ever on the conference scene in 2008-09 and swept the MIAC all-sport crowns for men and women for the second year in a row.

UST topped Gustavus by 10 points on the women's side and beat St. Olaf on the men's side by 12.5 points. It's the first time a school swept the men and women by double-digit margins since the 1990-91 Tommies accomplished the feat.

The Tommies had top-three conference team finishes in 18 of the 22 sports contested, including nine regular-season championships.

UST also qualified for MIAC postseason play in all 11 sports that hold playoffs, and won with three tournament titles.

"We're elated at the results for 2008-09," said St. Thomas athletics director Steve Fritz. "We take pride in how we measure up in what's a very competitive Division III conference. Anything we accomplish on the national scene beyond the MIAC is certainly satisfying, but our first focus is on MIAC competition."

Tradition

After winning the men's all-sport title just two of the first 17 years it was contested from 1962-1979, St. Thomas has now won 21 of the last 30 years. On the women's side, UST 18 of the 26 all-sport races since it debuted in 1983-84.

On the men's side, St. Thomas has now won all 25 indoor track crowns; seven consecutive MIAC baseball titles; and four consecutive MIAC men's basketball titles. On the women's side, UST has won 10 consecutive MIAC indoor and five MIAC outdoor titles in a row.

The Tommies won or shared both men's and women's titles 11 consecutive years from 1985-96 and again in 1998 but hadn't accomplished it again until 2007-08, when the Tommies won 11 of 22 regular-season championships and five of 11 postseason team titles for men and women. The 11 titles were one off the MIAC school-year record of 12 team championships set by St. Thomas in 1990-91. The Toms also won 11 in 1991-92 and 1999-2000.

In the last 30 years, St. Thomas has 118 men’s titles and 113 women’s titles in MIAC regular-season play.

Since the MIAC was formed in 1920, St. Thomas has now captured a conference-best 369 team championships all-time (334 regular-season, 32 playoff). Gustavus is second among conference institutions with 239. 

Click here for MIAC news release:

http://www.miac-online.org/News/MIAC/2009/5/12/allsport0809.asp?path=miac

Click here to see 2008-09 All-Sport scoring breakdown:

http://www.miac-online.org/Sports/MIAC/2008/allsports0809.asp?nl=8

---

Current Consecutive MIAC Team Championships

(won or shared)

(Minimum 3)

25, St. Thomas Men's Indoor Track, 1985-present

21, Gustavus Men's Tennis, 19, 1989-present
18, Gustavus Women's Tennis, 17, 1992-present
10, St. Thomas Women's Indoor Track, 8, 2000-present
7, St. Thomas Baseball, 2003-present
5, Gustavus Women's Hockey, 2004-present

5, St. Thomas Softball, 2004-2008
5, St. Thomas Women's Outdoor Track, 2005-presest
4, St. Thomas Men's Basketball, 2005-present
4, St. Ben's Women's Basketball, 2005-present

3, St. Thomas Women's Cross Country, 2006-present

---

All-Time MIAC Team Consecutive Titles

(**-still active)

(Minimum 7)

25, **St. Thomas Men's Indoor Track, 1985-present
21, **Gustavus Men's Tennis, 1989-present
20, St. Olaf Men's Swim, 1980-99
18, **Gustavus Women's Tennis, 1992-present
17, Augsburg Wrestling, 1987-2003
14, St. Thomas Men's Outdoor Track, 1983-96
14, St. Thomas Women's Outdoor Track, 1985-98
13, Gustavus Men's Golf, 1982-94

11, St. Olaf Women's Swimming, 1987-97
11, Augsburg Wrestling, 1975-85
11, Macalester Men's Outdoor Track, 1959-69
10, St. Thomas Men's Cross Country, 1984-93
10, **St. Thomas Women's Indoor Track, 2000-present

9, St. Thomas Women's Indoor Track, 1989-97
9, St. Thomas Women's Cross Country, 1981-89
9, Hamline Men's Outdoor Track, 1974-82
9, Minn.-Duluth Men's Hockey, 1953-61
8, Gustavus Men's Tennis, 1977-84
8, Gustavus Men's Hockey, 1966-73

7, St. Thomas Baseball, 2003-present
7, St. Thomas Women's Golf, 2001-2007
7, St. Thomas Men's Hockey, 1989-95
7, Gustavus Men's Tennis, 1969-75