KINGSPORT, Tenn. – A strong spring sports season helped Reinhardt overtake Milligan to win the 2023-24 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy.
Reinhardt won or shared five regular-season championships during the spring season, helping it finish with 421 points. Milligan finished second with 405.17 points.
Reinhardt won the regular-season crowns for men's volleyball, women's lacrosse, men's lacrosse, baseball, and softball and finished with 10 league titles as it won the football championship and the men's volleyball, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, and softball tournament titles.
Rounding out the top five are Tennessee Wesleyan (293 points), Montreat (271.5 points), and Truett McConnell (247 points).
This is the fourth year the current point system has been used. Teams earned points based on their regular-season finish only unless the sport (i.e. cross country, track & field, swimming & diving) only hosted a championship meet. Points are assigned as follows: first place received 30 points, second place 25, third place 20, fourth place 15, fifth 12, sixth 11, seventh 10, eighth 9, ninth: 8, 10th 7, 11th 6, 12th 5, 13th 4, 14th 3, 15th 2, and 16th 1. If teams are tied for a place, the points are shared. For example, if two teams are tied for first place, each will receive 27.5 points (30 points for first plus 25 points for second, divided by two).
To view the updated standings, click here.
During the 2014-15 season, the conference began awarding an all-sports trophy for men's and women's programs. Reinhardt won the men's trophy with 247.5 points, while Milligan claimed the women's trophy with 202 points.
The Appalachian Athletic Conference Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy was established as a way of recognizing member institutions with the most successful all-around sports program for the year. Member colleges compete in 24 sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, volleyball, and wrestling for men; and, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, and volleyball for women.
The trophy was named the Duard Walker Trophy in 2000 in honor of Coach Duard Walker who retired that year after 50 years of service to Milligan College as a teacher, coach, and athletics director. Walker was named the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Athletics Director of the Year for 2001. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2008.