Athletics News
    USC Wins Fifth Consecutive Crosstown Gauntlet
    Trojans clinch annual all-sports competition over crosstown rival UCLA.
    The Crosstown Gauntlet Trophy
    The Crosstown Gauntlet Trophy

    April 30, 2012

    With victories over UCLA this past weekend in women's rowing, women's track and men's tennis and higher finishes over the Bruins at the Pac-12 men's and women's golf championships, USC has secured enough points to clinch the 2011-12 version of the Crosstown Gauntlet.

    It is an unprecedented fifth consecutive win for USC in the head-to-head all-sports competition with crosstown rival UCLA.

    USC now has 62.5 points in the year-long competition to UCLA's 45, with only the outcome of 3 regular season baseball games May 25-27 to be decided for the 2.5 points still outstanding in the 2011-12 competition (UCLA already beat USC once in baseball earlier this season).

    There is the possibility that 2.5 already-awarded USC points could be won back by the Bruins if the men's tennis teams meet in the NCAA post-season and UCLA prevails. But UCLA cannot score enough points to prevent the Gauntlet Trophy from remaining on display in USC's Heritage Hall for a fifth straight year.

    Before USC's current 5-year run, the winner of the Crosstown Gauntlet Trophy had alternated every year. After USC captured the inaugural trophy in 2001-02, UCLA won it in 2002-03, USC recaptured it in 2003-04, UCLA won it back in 2004-05, USC claimed it in 2005-06 and then UCLA won it in 2006-07.

    Points are awarded to the winner of each Trojan-Bruin contest throughout the year and the Gauntlet Trophy is presented to the school with the most points at year's end. A minimum of 57.5 points is required to win the trophy outright.