HILLSBORO, Ore. – Whitworth University has retained the Northwest Conference McIlroy-Lewis All-Sports trophy following the 2024-25 athletic year, according to the standings released by the conference office today.
The Pirates held off George Fox University by seven points (253-246) in the final tally, the closest margin since Puget Sound defeated Whitworth by only three points in 2005-06. The win is Whitworth's 15th overall, tying Pacific Lutheran for the most in NWC history.
The Pirates earned the maximum 18 points for NWC titles in four sports this year: volleyball, men's swimming, women's swimming and men's basketball. The Bucs claimed runner-up points (16) in men's cross country, football, men's track and field, women's track and field and baseball.
The Northwest Conference All-Sports Trophy recognizes athletic excellence among Northwest Conference institutions across all fields of competition. It is named in honor of John Lewis, the baseball coach (1947-72), basketball coach (1947-67) and athletics director (1952- 72) at Willamette University; and Jane McIlroy, Linfield College's women's athletics director and physical education professor from 1950-82 who also coached field hockey (1952-81), basketball, volleyball, softball and tennis. It has been awarded annually since the 1985-86 school year.
Pacific Lutheran won 15 of the first 17 trophies. Whitworth won its first trophy in 2005 and then in 2008 began a string of 12 straight victories. The Pirates returned to the top of the standings in 2023-24 and held on again in 2024-25.
