by Per Matt Kearney
Assistant Athletic Director, Communications
Cleveland State University
Indianapolis, IN-Cleveland State posted its highest finish in the Horizon League McCafferty Trophy standings in eight years and its fourth consecutive top four finish as the league announced the results of the year-long points race Thursday afternoon. Cleveland State posted a runner-up finish in the overall standings after a successful 2024-25 athletic season which included collecting two regular season championships, one division championship and one tournament championship across the department’s Horizon League sponsored programs.
The trophy, named in honor of the Horizon League’s first commissioner, tracks regular season and postseason competition across all of the league’s sponsored sports among the full-time members of the conference. Cleveland State finished as the runner up in the overall standings for the year coming in with 40.5 points, one-half point shy of Youngstown State who took the top spot.
“I’m incredibly proud of all of our sport programs and student-athletes for their competitive success this season,” said Director of Athletics Kelsie Gory Harkey. “This honor would not be possible without the hard work and dedication to a transformational student-athlete experience that our coaches and staff display on a daily basis. I look forward to continued success next year and beyond.”
Cleveland State tied for first in the women’s standings with 20 total points along with Milwaukee and Robert Morris. Among the highlights were a tournament championship for volleyball, regular season titles in softball and women’s tennis, and women’s basketball placing third in the regular season standings.
The Cleveland State men’s teams finished second in the men’s standings with 20.5 total points. Standout performances on the men’s side included men’s tennis capturing a North Division regular season championship, runner-up finishes for men’s basketball (regular season) and men’s golf (league championship), as well as a third-place finish from swimming and diving at the league championship meet.
Final 2024-25 McCafferty Trophy Standings
- Youngstown State – 41
- Cleveland State – 40.5
- Oakland – 39.5
- Milwaukee – 34.5
- RMU – 34
- Purdue Fort Wayne – 21
7. Wright State – 21
8. Green Bay – 19.5
9. Northern Kentucky – 19
10. IU Indianapolis – 17
11. Detroit Mercy – 3
Men’s All-Sports Totals
- Youngstown State – 24
- Cleveland State – 20.5
3. Oakland – 20.5
4. Milwaukee – 14.5
5. RMU – 14
5. Wright State – 14
7. IU Indianapolis – 13
8. Northern Kentucky – 8.5
9. Green Bay – 4.5
10. Purdue Fort Wayne – 3
11. Detroit Mercy – 0.5
Women’s All-Sports Totals
- Cleveland State – 20
- Milwaukee – 20
- RMU – 20
4. Oakland – 19
5. Purdue Fort Wayne – 18
6. Youngstown State – 17
7. Green Bay – 15
8. Northern Kentucky – 10.5
9. Wright State – 7
10. IU Indianapolis – 4
11. Detroit Mercy – 2.5
