MIAA Commissioner's Cup Standings End in Tie

For the first time in the eight-decade-long history of the MIAA
Commissioner's Cup (All-Sports) standings, there is a tie for first
place. Hope and Calvin each accumulated 202 points in the compilation.

The MIAA Commissioner's Cup award is based on the cumulative
performance of each member school in the league's 18 sports for men
and women.

The Commissioner's Cup (MIAA All-Sports Award) has been presented
since 1934-35. The standings have been based on men's and women's
sports standings since 1981-82. The closest finish before this tie
occurred in 1999-2000 when Calvin edged Hope 178-176. Hope won the
Commissioner's Cup the next seven years (2000-01 thru 2006-07).

This year's "race" came down to the final MIAA athletic of the school
year. By winnning its final baseball game, Calvin clinched the MIAA
championship and garnered enough all-sports points to cause the tie.

Hope topped Calvin in the Men's All-Sports standings by seven points (97-90) while Calvin led the Women's All-Sports standings by a similar seven points (112-105).

Commissioner's Cup Standings: 1. Calvin 202. 1. Hope 202, 3. Albion
153, 4. Olivet 110, 5. Alma 103, 6. Tri-State 102, 7. Adrian 89, 8.
Kalamazoo 79

Men's All-Sports Standings: 1. Hope 97, 2. Calvin 90, 3. Albion 68, 4.
Olivet 60, 5. Tri-State 51, 6. Alma 45, 7. Kalamazoo 42, 8. Adrian 36.

Women's All-Sports Standings: 1. Calvin 112, 2. Hope 105, 3. Albion
85, 4. Saint Mary's 75, 5. Alma 58, 6. Adrian 53, 7. Tri-State 51, 8.
Olivet 50, 9. Kalamazoo 37.

The final Commissioner's Cup standings are determined on the basis of
each college's standings in eight of nine sports for men and eight of
nine sports for women.

Hope competes in all 18 MIAA-sponsored sports while Calvin competes in 17 (no football).  Had all 18 sports been counted, Hope would have won the Commissioner's Cup outright by 12 points.

Hope crowned five league champions during 2007-08 -- men's golf, football, men's and women's basketball and men's swimming/diving.

No Hope team finished lower than in fourth place.  The finishes of other Hope teams were: men's soccer, volleyball, women's swimming/diving, and men's & women's track & field, 2nd place; men's & women's cross country, women's soccer, softball, and women's tennis, 3rd place; women's golf, baseball and men's tennis, 4th place.

Hope has won the Commissioner's Cup (All-Sports trophy) a league
record 30 times.

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