Appalachian State, Samford Win SoCon All-Sports Cups
Mountaineers Claim 30th, Bulldogs First Awards
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. ? Appalachian State University’s men and Samford University’s women have claimed the Southern Conference all-sports championships for the 2009-10 athletic season, it was announced on Tuesday. Appalachian State earned the league’s Commissioner’s Cup for excellence in men’s athletics while Samford was awarded the Germann Cup for the best overall women’s athletics program.
Both schools will be recognized Tuesday evening at the Southern Conference Honors Dinner presented by Carolina Ford Dealers in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
The Mountaineers were awarded the Commissioner’s Cup for the 30th time in program history. ASU has now claimed the Cup five consecutive seasons and 17 of the last 18 years. In the 10 SoCon-sponsored men’s sports, Appalachian State won four overall titles and a division championship in men’s basketball. ASU started the year strong with football and cross country championships in the fall, followed by wins in both indoor and outdoor track and field. ASU’s 94 total points placed it 18.5 points clear of second-place UNC Greensboro.
UNC Greensboro (75.5 points) was a consistent performer throughout the season with tournament championships in wrestling and tennis, along with third-place showings in cross country and golf.
Men’s golf champion and tennis regular season runner-up Furman placed third with 65.5 and was followed by Davidson with 60. The Wildcats’ top finish in 2009-10 was second at the cross country championship.
Elon (58.5) was fifth while The Citadel (58) vaulted to sixth after winning the regular season and tournament championships in baseball.
Wofford (57.5), Chattanooga (57), Western Carolina (56) and College of Charleston (55) were all separated by 2.5 points in positions seven through 10 while Samford (46) and Georgia Southern (40) rounded out the rankings.
In just its second year as a member of the Southern Conference, Samford claimed an eight-point victory in the race for the Germann Cup. The Bulldogs were the model of consistency, finishing fourth or better in eight of nine SoCon-sponsored sports, including the cross country title and the North Division championship in volleyball. Samford also recorded second-place showings in soccer, basketball and tennis.
College of Charleston, the winner of the Germann Cup in 2008-09, was second this season with 79 points. The Cougars’ top showings were in tennis, where it won the regular season and tournament titles, and volleyball, where it claimed the tournament championship. CofC also finished second in golf and tied for second in soccer.
Elon (75.5) trailed Charleston by just 3.5 points after winning the softball tournament. The Phoenix was followed by Appalachian State with 73 points and Chattanooga with 66.5.
Furman (62), UNC Greensboro (56.5) and Western Carolina (55) finished in the sixth, seventh and eighth spots, respectively, followed by Georgia Southern (53.5), Davidson (45.5), Wofford (23) and The Citadel (18.5).
The Commissioner’s and Germann Cups are awarded annually to the Southern Conference schools fielding the league’s best all-around men’s and women’s sports programs. Schools earn points based upon its regular season finish, with two bonus points going to the team that wins the conference tournament.
The Commissioner’s Cup was inaugurated in 1970 and the Germann Cup was first awarded in 1987. The latter is named after former SoCon Commissioner, Ken Germann, who served as commissioner of the Southern Conference from 1974-86 and spearheaded the effort to introduce women’s athletics to the league.
Appalachian State has won the Commissioner’s Cup 30 times since entering the SoCon in 1971, earning 17 of the last 18 trophies. Chattanooga won the award in 2004-05.
By winning the Germann Cup, Samford is now one of just five schools to ever win the trophy, joining Appalachian State, College of Charleston, Furman and Chattanooga.
2009-10 Commissioner’s Cup
1. Appalachian State 94
2. UNC Greensboro 75.5
3. Furman 65.5
4. Davidson 60
5. Elon 58.5
6. The Citadel 58
7. Wofford 57.5
8. Chattanooga 57
9. Western Carolina 56
10. College of Charleston 55
11. Samford 46
12. Georgia Southern 40
2009-10 Germann Cup
1. Samford 87
2. College of Charleston 79
3. Elon 75.5
4. Appalachian State 73
5. Chattanooga 66.5
6. Furman 62
7. UNC Greensboro 56.5
8. Western Carolina 55
9. Georgia Southern 53.5
10. Davidson 45.5
11. Wofford 23
12. The Citadel 18.5