University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Regains "Border Battle" Trophy
5/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
With nine sports collecting the maximum point total, Minnesota regained the “Border Battle” trophy from Wisconsin in the rivals’ annual all-sports competition.
The Gophers hold an insurmountable 455-345 lead entering this weekend’s Big Ten outdoor track and field championships. It marks the second time Minnesota has won the Border Battle in its five-year existence. Wisconsin had won the previous two years since the Gophers’ victory in 2005-06.
The two schools compete in 22 different sports and each sport is worth 40 points in the standings. Regular season results are used for sports in which the schools compete head-to-head. In sports based on a conference championship meet, the school finishing higher receives all 40 points.
Minnesota gained all 40 points with sweeps in men’s basketball and volleyball and single victories in women’s soccer and men’s tennis. The Gophers also picked up 40 points by finishing higher at the conference meet in women’s cross country, men’s and women’s swimming and diving and men’s and women’s indoor track and field.
Splits in softball and women’s hockey gave each school 20 points, while Minnesota’s men’s hockey team gained 15 points for its win and tie in Madison in October.
If Minnesota finishes higher than the Badgers in both the outdoor track and field competitions this weekend, the Gophers would post the highest victory margin in the Border Battle’s short history. Minnesota’s previous win came by a 530-350 score.
