Milligan Extends Lead in Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy Standings

WALESKA, Ga. - Boosted by top-three finishes in all six winter sports it competes in, Milligan extended its lead in the 2024-25 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy standings following the fall sports season with Reinhardt sitting in second.

Milligan collected first-place finishes in men's swimming, women's swimming, and men's indoor track & field while sharing first place in women's basketball. The Buffaloes also tied for second in men's basketball and were third in women's indoor track & field. Milligan tallied 157.5 during the winter season to give it 280 total points.

Reinhardt has 184 points to land second.

Pikeville (159 points), Union Commonwealth (151.5 points), and Montreat (142 points) round out the top five.

This is the fifth 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. Currently, Milligan is leading the chase for the men's trophy with 135 points and the women's race with 145 points.

Last year, Reinhardt won the Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy as well as the men's title. Milligan won the women's trophy.

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 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.

For more on the All-Sports Trophy, click here.