Stonehill Repeats as NE-10 Presidents’ Cup Champions

June 08, 2011

For the second straight year Stonehill has captured the Northeast-10 Conference Presidents' Cup, which is awarded to the institution that compiles the most points based on the placement of its athletic teams* at the conclusion of the regular season.

The winning of the Presidents' Cup caps another successful year across Stonehill's athletic department, which saw 14 its 19 NE-10 programs earn postseason berths, including six NCAA Tournament bids, with the women's cross country team capturing an NE-10 Championship and five others placing second in their NE-10 postseason events. Sixteen student-athletes earned All-America status in their respective sports as well.

The Skyhawks have now won three Presidents' Cups overall as they earned their first Cup back in 2005-06. This also marks the seventh-straight year they have finished in the top three in the final standings.

"This is the third time Stonehill has won the Presidents' Cup and it is yet another outstanding endorsement of our athletic program, which is so central to our mission," said Stonehill President Rev. Mark Cregan C.S.C. 

 "At the College, we educate 'the whole person so that each Stonehill graduate thinks, acts and leads with courage.' Our student-athletes are leaders on and off the field, and their successes demonstrate our fulfillment of that mission. We are proud of how they comport themselves and of what they have achieved. All of us - students, faculty, coaches, administrators and alumni - take great satisfaction in being the recipient of this honor," Cregan concluded.

Stonehill accumulated 177 points during the academic year to edge rival Bentley University (173 points) for the second-straight year by four points. Southern Connecticut State University finished third (161) and Adelphi University placed fourth (154.5), while American International College rounded out the top five (149.5).

 Julie Ruppert, commissioner of the Northeast-10, presented the Cup to Stonehill at the Conference's end of the year awards banquet in Providence, RI.

"In a 16-team Conference as deep and competitive as the Northeast-10, the success necessary to earn this honor requires tremendous dedication and commitment from the entire campus community and all of Stonehill should share in the celebration of this accomplishment. Stonehill is clearly living up to the ideals of Division II by providing high-level athletics competition, and balancing that with notable academic achievements in the classroom," said Ruppert.

Some of those academic achievements included 22 student-athletes earning NE-10 Academic All-Conference honors (through the winter sports program), including senior women's basketball honorable mention All-American Emily Rousseau and junior men's cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field All-Region honoree Stephen Polito, who both received NE-10 Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence honors.

Stonehill also placed 11 on the Capital One Academic All-District teams and 53-percent of Stonehill student-athletes have achieved a 3.20 cumulative grade point average.

For more on this prestigious honor for the Skyhawks, visit here. 

 *Points for men's and women's cross country, men's and women's swimming & diving, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field and men's golf are awarded based on placement in their respective conference championships.

Contact

For more information, contact Communications and Media Relations at 508-565-1321.