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PARK CITY, Utah - For the first time in the award’s five-year history the University of Montana has captured the Sterling Savings Bank Big Sky Conference Presidents Cup, which combines athletics and academic achievement.

It is the first major all-around league award for Montana since 1970-71 when the Grizzlies claimed the men’s all-sports trophy.

Montana is the fourth different winner since the award started in 2002-03. The 2005-06 winner, Northern Arizona, was second, while Weber State, winner of the first two Presidents Cups, was third.

“It’s a real accomplishment for our entire university,’’ said Montana athletics director Jim O’Day. “It’s a credit to what our coaches, administrators and all of the people in Main Hall have been striving for for many years.”

Montana excelled both on the field and in the classroom.

The Grizzlies averaged 10.5 points per sport, a close second to Northern Arizona at 10.6. Montana captured the football championship while the Lady Griz captured the women’s regular-season basketball title. Montana’s women’s cross country team took second and the soccer team tied for second. The men’s tennis team also took second.

Montana finished with a cumulative grade point average of 3.11. Thirty student-athletes who received all-conference honors earned a GPA of at least 3.0.

The UM women’s tennis team and the women’s cross country team tied for the best GPA at 3.39. The golf team was a close third at 3.35 followed by the women’s indoor and outdoor track teams, both posting 3.42 GPAs. The volleyball team and the women’s basketball team posted 3.19 GPAs. The soccer team finished at 3.17.

“This award is shared with all across campus,” O’Day said.

It was another banner year for Big Sky student-athletes in the classroom.

Of the 109 teams eligible for the cup 70 finished with an average GPA of at least 3.0. Six of the eight institutions compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.

Northern Colorado, which joined the league this past season, was not eligible for this year’s cup.

A total of 220 All-Conference performers posted a GPA of 3.0 or better. Northern Arizona’s women’s tennis team had the highest overall GPA at 3.59. NAU’s men’s tennis team was second at 3.53.

“We congratulate Montana, as well as all of our member institutions,” said Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton. “In five years, we’ve had four different winners.”

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