IUS Athletics kept up the pace this year with a second consecutive win in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Commissioner’s Cup for the 2009-10 season.
The department was given the award during the summer, edging out the competition with an average score of 9.71 out of 10. The Grenadiers 2008- 09 average was 9.43.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the win,” Joe Glover, interim athletic director, said. “It shows how hard our student athletes and coaches really work.”
Glover said the win was a huge accomplishment for the teams.
“As the Commissioner’s Cup signifies, we had a pretty successful year,” Glover said.
The KIAC Commissioner’s Cup is awarded based on the entire Athletic Program’s average and is located in the offices of the Activities Building.
“Basically, what they do is, they have a formula based on 10,” Glover said. “They take the way a team finishes a season and base the scores on that.”
IU Southeast won five out of seven regular season sport titles during the 2009-10 season. The five wins are attributed to men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball and women’s tennis. Men’s tennis and volleyball were both regular season runners-up.
Ten KIAC-affiliate teams, which include Brescia University and Asbury College — who came in second and third with average scores of 8.31 and 7.85 — participate in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“It was no surprise to us when IU Southeast did so well with the award,” Bill Melton, KIAC Commissioner and Eastern Kentucky University associate director for regional advancement, said.
Melton said IU Southeast was considered the strongest Athletics Program within the KIAC.
“I know many other opposing schools look forward to competing against IUS this year,” Melton said.
The Commissioner’s Cup began two years ago.
“We all agreed that it would be a good idea to begin the award,” Melton said.
While there is no specific event to celebrate the Commissioner’s Cup win, Glover said it’s most likely a ceremony will take place during a men’s basketball game to recognize the accomplishment.
Students can look forward to a new season beginning this fall with IUS volleyball, as well as women’s tennis.
“All students get in free with their student activities fee,” Glover said. “We try to encourage as many students to come out and just have a good time on campus.”
Students can also become involved in a new intramural fitness program began by Perry Brown, head of the intramural program and fitness center.
IU Southeast was also recently recognized by the National Association of Intercollegiate Colleges for Best NAIA Athletics
website.
By JESSICA MEYER
Sports Editor
jessmeye@umail.iu.edu