General | 5/23/2019 2:03:58 PM

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Pittsburg State University claimed the 2018-19 Commissioner’s Cup presented by McCownGordon Construction. The Gorillas finished with 133 points and had an average of 11.08 points.

PSU scored conference championships during the 2018-19 season in women’s cross country, women’s indoor track and field, and women’s outdoor track and field. The Gorillas also had a runner-up finish in men’s outdoor track and field with top-five finishes in baseball, football, men’s indoor track and field, softball and women's basketball.

“This is a tremendous honor for Pittsburg State to win the 2018-19 Commissioner’s Cup,” PSU director of intercollegiate athletics Jim Johnson said. “There are so many tremendous coaches and student-athletes throughout the conference and a high level of parity among very successful programs in all sports in the MIAA. I think this award speaks to the type of consistent success the Gorillas enjoyed across the board in men’s and women’s athletics this past academic year.”

Central Missouri was second in the standings with an average of 10.14 points. UCM had titles in baseball, men’s indoor track and field, and men’s outdoor track and field. Third place went to Central Oklahoma with 8.89 points. The Bronchos had conference regular-season titles in softball and women’s soccer. Fourth place went to Northwest Missouri with 8.57 points and fifth was Washburn at 8.40 points.

Sixth place was Missouri Southern as Nebraska Kearney trailed them in seventh. Fort Hays State was slotted eighth, Northeastern State finished in ninth and Emporia State rounded out the top 10. Lindenwood, Southwest Baptist, Lincoln and Missouri Western finished in the 11th through 14th positions respectively.

“The MIAA is one of the most competitive conferences in the NCAA.  This year, 11 different conference schools won or tied for the regular season or conference tournament championship in at least one of the Association's 20 sports,” said MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy.  “We are fortunate that an industry leader like McCownGordon Construction has partnered with us to be the presenting sponsor of the MIAA Commissioner's Cup. This award reflects a season of hard work, commitment, and dedication by all the student-athletes, coaches, staff, and administrators, and we are pleased that McCownGordon continues to help us celebrate this outstanding achievement.”

McCownGordon Construction became the official Presenting Sponsor of the Commissioner’s Cup last year.  McCownGordon has significant experience in a variety of market sectors including planning, servicing and completing higher education and sports projects and is recognized as one of the region’s largest construction managers with offices in both Missouri and Kansas.  More information about McCownGordon is available here.

“McCownGordon is proud to partner with the MIAA to present the Commissioner’s Cup to Pittsburg State University.  This trophy awards competitive excellence and embodies the true spirit of teamwork and collaboration. We are proud to continue our association with the MIAA, its member institutions, and each student-athlete being honored for this great achievement.” stated Ramin Cherafat, McCownGordon Construction CEO.

The MIAA Commissioner’s Cup presented by McCownGordon Construction will be presented to Pittsburg State University at the annual MIAA Awards Ceremony presented by Husch Blackwell, on Monday, June 3 at the Truman Forum Auditorium located in the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library. To learn more information about the Commissioner’s Cup, click here.

2018-19 Final MIAA Commissioner’s Cup Standings
    1. Pittsburg State - 11.083 points
    2. Central Missouri - 10.147 points
    3. Central Oklahoma - 8.892 points
    4. Northwest Missouri - 8.575 points
    5. Washburn - 8.406 points
    6. Missouri Southern - 8.400 points
    7. Nebraska Kearney - 8.250 points
    8. Fort Hays State - 7.944 points
    9. Northeastern State - 7.870 points
    10. Emporia State - 6.900 points
    11. Lindenwood - 6.894 points
    12. Southwest Baptist - 6.217 points
    13. Lincoln - 6.090 points
    14. Missouri Western - 5.750 points