When the Indiana University men's soccer team and both the men's and women's swimming and diving teams become Big Ten Champs all in the same year, it's time to celebrate.
IU President Michael A. McRobbie and First Lady Laurie Burns McRobbie had the opportunity to congratulate the athletes and coaches in person when they recently hosted dinners in honor of the teams' achievements.
Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie and First Lady Laurie Burns McRobbie greet members of the IU men's soccer team during a dinner held in their honor at Bryan House; Todd Yeagley, head coach of the IU men's soccer team speaks at the event; the championship team gathers for a photo with the president and first lady. Photos provided by Indiana University Athletics
Led by Head Coach Todd Yeagley, IU men's soccer won both the Big Ten regular season and conference tournament championships this season. It was the 15th regular season championship win in program history, and the 13th time IU has won the Big Ten tournament championship, an accomplishment IU has achieved far more than any other school in the conference.
It was also the first time since 2006 that the men's soccer team has won both the regular season championship and the conference tournament in the same season, and the first time since Penn State in 2005 for a team to go undefeated in Big Ten play.
"By any measure, the Indiana University men's soccer program is one of the greatest collegiate soccer programs in the history of the sport," McRobbie said. "Your recent achievements maintain the very high standards for men's soccer that we have come to expect from the long and distinguished history of this program."
IU President McRobbie congratulates members of the men's and women's swimming and diving teams during a dinner held in the Indiana Memorial Union; the women's team poses for a photo with the president and first lady; and the men's team takes a photo with the McRobbies. Photos by Alex Kumar, Indiana University
For the first time both IU men's and women's swimming and diving teams won both the men's and women's Big Ten swimming and diving championships in the same year. The last time any Big Ten school could claim the same success was 22 years ago, when Michigan won both the men's and women's titles.
For the men, this season was the 27th Big Ten championship in program history, the third consecutive conference championship, and their first time winning three times straight since the mid-1980s.
For the women, this year's Big Ten championship was the sixth in program history.
"Given the program's recent success, it is clear that IU swimming and diving has once again become one of the nation's elite programs," McRobbie told members of the men's and women's swim and dive teams gathered for the dinner. "This is due to your talent and dedication and to the work of your outstanding coaches, Ray Looze and Drew Johansen."
