FIRST BANK KANSAS SMOKY HILL SHOWDOWN

*Note: The First Bank Kansas Smoky Hill Showdown was active from 2017-2020.

The Bethany-Kansas Wesleyan rivalry dates back more than 100 years. The two NAIA institutions are founding members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The two institutions committed to highlight the rivalry by developing a rivalry series trophy that was presented to the athletic department that earned the most points in competition during an academic year. First Bank Kansas, which has branches in both Lindsborg and Salina, was the presenting sponsor of the trophy. 

The Smoky Hill Showdown name was selected as part of a fan submission contest. The name reflects the tie between Lindsborg, the home of Bethany College, and Salina, the home of Kansas Wesleyan University, with the Smoky Hill River, which flows through both cities.

The Smoky Hill Showdown name was first submitted by Angela Fuller of Salina, Kan. Fuller is a two-time Kansas Wesleyan graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and her MBA. She currently works as a shift lead in dispatch at the Salina Police Department.

HOW THE SMOKY HILL SHOWDOWN WORKED
In each of the 19 commonly shared sports between Bethany and KWU, two points were awarded based on the winner in the regular season conference meetings between the teams. If no conference regular season competition was scheduled, the team that finished higher at the KCAC Championship earned the two points. As a unique twist that represented the service emphasis as each of the institutions, the athletics programs conducted three community service campaigns during the year, giving two points credit for the school that "won" each of the campaigns, which were be held during the year in conjunction with the rivalry.

2019-20 SMOKY HILL SHOWDOWN SCOREBOARD

2018-19 SMOKY HILL SHOWDOWN SCOREBOARD

2017-18 SMOKY HILL SHOWDOWN SCOREBOARD