Owls Win 9th Straight Commissioner’s Cup
From Stuart Kaufman, Sports Information: _Keene State College has won its ninth-straight Little East Commissioner’s Cup. The Owls averaged 6.552 points to win the trophy in each of the nine years it has been awarded. Eastern Connecticut State University finished second for the fourth-consecutive campaign (5.897).
The Commissioner’s Cup measures an institution’s overall performance in the 19 sports sponsored by the Little East Conference. For sports in which the conference conducts in-season play (baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball), point totals are determined by the order of finish in the final regular-season standings with bonus points awarded to the champion of the ensuing postseason conference championship tournament. For sports that do not conduct in-season play (cross country, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and swimming and diving), points are awarded based on the order of finish in the conference championship meet.
“I would like to once again congratulate Keene State College on continuing its run on Little East Commissioner’s Cup trophies,” said Commissioner Jonathan C. Harper. “It is remarkable, in a league so balanced and steeped in tradition, that one institution can claim the conference’s top overall honor nine years running. I congratulate President Dr. Helen Giles-Gee, Director of Athletics John Ratliff, his administrative staff, coaches, and – most importantly – the student-athletes for their commitment to the program as an integral part of their overall academic experience.”
Keene State consistently finished in the top tier of the final regular-season standings in 14 of the 17 (.824) championship sports they competed in. The Owls used a sensational fall season to take command of the eight-team standings, winning four of the six championships to average 7.317 points. Keene State captured the conference tournament crown in field hockey and volleyball, while also winning the men’s and women’s cross country championships. The Owls continued to pad their lead in the winter by finishing in the top-three of the regular-season standings in four of five sponsored sports, including winning the women’s swimming and diving championship. Keene State captured the program’s first women’s lacrosse championship in the spring and finished second in men’s lacrosse, men’s outdoor track and field, and softball.
“Winning the Commissioner’s Cup is an outstanding achievement,” said Ratliff. “The program’s ability to sustain this high level of accomplishment over an extended period is a tribute to our coaches and student athletes.”
