State Farm sponsors MSSU-PSU trophy series From staff reports Joplin Globe There’s a new sponsor — State Farm Insurance — for the competition between Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State this school year. “State Farm and our local State Farm agents are proud to be the title sponsor of the MSSU/Pitt State Trophy Series,” Jared Pyatt, agency leader with State Farm, said in a release. “This is a special opportunity for our agency force in Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas to express our support of the universities and student-athletes alike. We are looking forward to the partnership and a great year of competition.” The two schools earn points based on head-to-head competitions in the 12 sports that both schools have programs. Starting in 2009, Missouri Southern won the first three years, and Pittsburg State has won the last two years. This year’s competition began Tuesday night at PSU with the first of two volleyball matches. Other fall points are awarded in football and men’s and women’s cross country. The winter competition consists of basketball and indoor track and field for men and women. The final four points are awarded in the spring — baseball, softball and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field. “It’s awesome that we can partner with such a great organization like State Farm to keep this trophy series going,” said Jared Bruggeman, MSSU athletics director. “We have had some intense matchups over the long history of our two programs, but to put a trophy behind it makes each matchup that much more exciting.” “We are excited that State Farm and our regional State Farm agents have embraced this opportunity to sponsor the Trophy Series between Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern,” said PSU athletics director Jim Johnson. “We look forward to another exciting year of competition between the Gorillas and the Lions in all of our sports.”