--- title: Dordt Athletics named runner-up for 2023-24 GPAC All Sports Trophy date: 2024-05-15T13:22:00-05:00 author: Sarah Moss canonical_url: "https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-athletics-named-runner-up-for-2023-24-gpac-all-sports-trophy" section: News --- [ View Dordt News](https://www.dordt.edu/news) [Athletics](https://www.dordt.edu/news?category=athletics) May 15, 2024 # Dordt Athletics named runner-up for 2023-24 GPAC All Sports Trophy In the 2023-24 academic year, Dordt University Athletics secured the runner-up position in the GPAC All-Sports Trophy standings, with four conference championships, 12 top-four finishes in the final GPAC standings, and notable national success in women's basketball. ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2023-24/2024-03-26_002735.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=66&h=57&f=webp&c=263938bc&v=9f7ff198b2c8122a115aad86325d5772d277caa310acf29b2fe330e6812849c4) ![]()Dordt University was named runner-up in the overall standings for the 2023-24 Great Plains Athletic (GPAC) All-Sports Trophy, according to [a GPAC announcement](https://gpacsports.com/general/2023-24/files/20232024GPACAllSportsTrophyFinal.pdf) made earlier this week. Dordt University Athletics claimed four total conference championships, placing 12 teams in the top four in the final GPAC standings for their respective seasons. Men's cross country, women's cross country, women's basketball and men's outdoor track & field also won conference championships this year. ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2023-24/2024-03-26_002749.jpg?mode=fit&pos=center-center&w=57&h=65&c=ff4808e3&v=fece3cd78f93ab5d302c872654045ac714f0525a64cf3b57d31f239d4417de5c) The Defenders saw national success when the women’s basketball team [claimed the program’s first-ever NAIA National Championship. ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-defenders-claim-historic-naia-womens-basketball-championship) The women’s basketball team [spent 11 weeks of the season ranked first in the NAIA Coaches’ poll](https://godordt.com/news/2024/3/26/womens-basketball-defenders-win-the-national-championship.aspx); they finished the season with a nine-game win streak and ended with a program-best 35-2 record. In addition, four Dordt coaches were named GPAC Coach of the Year: - Nate Wolf: Women's Cross Country/Men's Cross Country - Craig Heynen: Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Bill Harmsen: Women's Basketball - Mel Knobloch: Dance The GPAC all-sports standings are also broken down between women's and men's offerings. Dordt ranked second in the GPAC in women's sports and fifth in the men's standings. This is the third year in row that Dordt has been in the top-three of the league standings. The Defenders won the All-Sports Trophy in 2023 and finished third in 2022. Dordt teams that placed fourth or better during 2023-24 include: - Men's Cross Country: 1st - Women's Cross Country: 1st - Women's Basketball: 1st - Men's Outdoor Track & Field: 1st - Women's Indoor Track & Field: 3rd - Men's Indoor Track & Field: 2nd - Football: 3rd - Women's Outdoor Track & Field: 3rd - Softball: 3rd - Cheer: 4th - Dance: 4th - Women's Soccer: 4th To learn more, visit [godordt.com](https://godordt.com/news/2024/5/14/defenders-claim-runner-up-honors-in-gpac-all-sports-trophy-standings.aspx)for more information. **About Dordt University** As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review. --- [Previous Article ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2023-24/2024-03-15_002092.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=352544ad&v=239afa7d812ff272cd873e017299e1eb6847fd128cc3fc1aa61d9416e340e25c) Academics May 20, 2024 ## Dordt outpaces other schools in enrolling out-of-state students Dordt University distinguishes itself from comparable institutions by attracting 66.1% of its freshman class from out-of-state, fostering an engaged community that aligns with the university's Christ-centered mission. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/dordt-outpaces-other-schools-in-enrolling-out-of-state-students) [Next Article ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2023-24/KyleDieleman.cropped.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=56&h=33&f=webp&c=f51dc48f&v=25ccee4b5b5db5c670414cda430cec12c6715b42bc674f7742064bdb771ae613) Events May 15, 2024 ## Theology professor to present in Pella, Iowa about Dutch Reformed tradition Dr. Kyle Dieleman will present on May 30 at Faith Christian Reformed Church in Pella, exploring faith formation insights from the Dutch Reformed tradition in the 1500-1600s and their relevance to contemporary contexts. Read More ](https://www.dordt.edu/news/theology-professor-to-present-in-pella-iowa-about-dutch-reformed-tradition) [ ![]() ## View All Dordt News View News ](https://www.dordt.edu/news) Aug 20 General #### [International Student Orientation ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/international-student-orientation-2026-08-20) Aug 20 Athletics Men's Soccer #### [8/20 8:00 PM Dordt University Men's Soccer at Carroll - Nelson Stadium ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/8-22-100-pm-dordt-university-mens-soccer-at-carroll) Aug 21 Athletics Women's Soccer #### [8/21 Dordt University Women's Soccer at Bethel - Thresher Stadium ](https://www.dordt.edu/events/8-21-dordt-university-womens-soccer-at-bethel) ![A picture of campus behind yellow prairie flowers](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/2021-22/Buildings-and-Campus/2021-09-23_001574-1.jpg?mode=crop&pos=center-center&w=50&h=50&f=webp&c=3d670641&v=d2bdb7cbdc83e5be46d3a10afe8a1214a0e770536697eb0ddbe29e017d2e9577) <![CDATA[YII-BLOCK-BODY-END]]>