Akron, Kent State, Central Michigan take home Mid-American Conference institutional awards

They say nothing good ever happens in Cleveland, but for the winners of the Mid-American Conference's institutional awards, I'd say they are singing a different tune today. The Akron Zips, the Kent State Golden Flashes, and the Central Michigan Chippewas all walked out of Wednesday's Honors Dinner with some sizable hardware like the Reese Trophy, the Jacoby Trophy, and the Institutional Sportsmanship Award respectively. It's a tremendous honor for all involved, as it is basically the big three of awards that a member institution can win. For the Reese and Jacoby Trophies, points are awarded based on each school's finish, with the overall total divided by the number of sports sponsored by each school.

Akron won the Reese Trophy as the top men's athletic program from the MAC for the second time (2014) in program history. Akron programs won MAC Tournament Championships in men's soccer, along with both indoor and outdoor track and field, and won the program's first ever bowl game.

During the 2015-16 academic year, Akron competed in seven men's sports and the men's basketball program won the MAC East Title and entered the MAC Basketball Tournament as the top seed before falling to Buffalo in the MAC Tournament Championship game. The Zips received an invitation to the NIT Postseason Tournament before falling to Ohio State in the opening round.

Akron men's soccer reached another College Cup, the Final Four of NCAA Division I soccer, before falling to Stanford. The Zips defeated Buffalo for the programs 12th MAC Championship title and the programs 30th NCAA appearance, where Akron defeated Rutgers, SMU and Creighton to reach the College Cup.

Zips football finished the regular season with a 7-5 record and received an invitation to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, its second bowl appearance in program history. Akron defeated Utah State, 23-21, for the programs first ever bowl victory and an 8-5 overall record. Akron also won its sixth Men's Outdoor Track and Field title and fifth overall Indoor Track and Field title, while finishing second in the MAC Men's Cross Country Championship and fifth in the MAC Men's Golf Championship.

The men's trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner David E. Reese. Reese was the first-ever MAC Commissioner and served the conference from its inception in 1946 until 1964.

2015-16 Reese (Men's) Standings

School; Sports; Points; Avg.

Akron; 7; 75.0 points; 10.714

Western Michigan; 5; 42.0 points; 8.4

Kent State; 8; 67.0 points; 8.375

Eastern Michigan; 9; 73.5 points; 8.167

Central Michigan; 7; 51.5 points; 7.357

Ball State; 6; 40.5 points; 6.75

Ohio; 6; 38.5 points; 6.4167

Northern Illinois; 7; 43.75 points; 6.25

Buffalo; 10; 62.0 points; 6.2

Miami; 7; 42.0 points; 6.0

Toledo; 6; 32.0 points; 5.33

Bowling Green; 6; 24.5 points; 4.083

For the ninth time in program history, Kent State University was honored with the Jacoby Trophy, recognized as the top women's program in MAC. The Kent State Golden Flashes compete in 10 women's sports and during the 2015-16 academic year won the MAC women's field hockey and women's golf championships and regular season titles in gymnastics and softball.

Kent State finished second in the East Division in volleyball and were seeded No. 3 in the MAC Volleyball Tournament before falling in the Semifinals to No. 2 seed and eventual MAC Champion Ohio Bobcats. In women's soccer, Kent State finished second in the East and were the No. 4 seed in the MAC Women's Soccer Championship. In gymnastics, the Golden Flashes won the regular season, however finished fifth in the MAC Championship.

Kent State won the East Division in softball and entered the MAC Softball Championship as the No. 1 seed. The Golden Flashes finished third in the Indoor Track and Field Championship and fourth in the Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

For the Reese and Jacoby Trophies, points are awarded based on each school's finish, with the overall total divided by the number of sports sponsored by each school.

The men's trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner David E. Reese. Reese was the first-ever MAC Commissioner and served the conference from its inception in 1946 until 1964.

The women's trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner Fred Jacoby. Jacoby was the MAC Commissioner from 1971-82 and is credited with incorporating women's athletics into the conference structure.

2015-16 Final Jacoby (Women's) Standings

School; Sports; Total Points; Avg.

Kent State; 10; 95.25 points; 9.525

Eastern Michigan; 11; 92.5 points; 8.409

Western Michigan; 10; 80.0 points; 8.0

Miami; 10; 78.5 points; 7.85

Akron; 10; 72.875 points; 7.2875

Ohio; 10; 72.625 points; 7.2625

Northern Illinois; 10; 70.875 points; 7.0875

Central Michigan; 10; 69.0 points; 6.90

Buffalo; 9; 59.5 points; 6.6111

Toledo; 10; 57.75 points; 5.775

Bowling Green; 11; 54.125 points; 4.920

Ball State; 12; 57.5 points; 4.79167

Central Michigan University was the recipient of the 2016 Institutional Sportsmanship Award. This marks the second consecutive year for the Central Michigan Chippewas to receive this honor.

The Institutional Sportsmanship Award evolved from the conference's recent strategic plan as the value of sportsmanship was the center of the conference mission statement and core values. In the voting process, every MAC institution received votes, which further supports that sportsmanship is emphasized and expected from our student-athletes, coaches and administrators across each and every MAC campus.

"The Institutional Sportsmanship Award is a positive reinforcement of one of the values that we as a conference and each of our member institutions all possess as a core value of who we are and how we conduct ourselves in athletic competition," said MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher.