End-of-year honors handed out

The Southern University Department of Athletics has captured its fifth consecutive SWAC Commissioner's Cup (named the Dr. James Frank Award) for overall excellence among its sponsored sports. Southern's men captured the C.D. Henry Award for the top program among men's sports and Jackson State's women grabbed the Barbara Jacket/Sadie Magee Award signifying the top SWAC women's sports program.

The Jackson State women edged Southern (84 to 83.5 pts.) for the women's trophy. The Lady Tigers captured the golf title, tied with Southern for the basketball title, and finished in the top five of ten SWAC women's championships. For Southern, after tying for the basketball title the Jaguars finished second in three of ten sports. Texas Southern and Grambling State tied for third place (69.5), just ahead of Alabama State (68) and Prairie View A&M. Mississippi Valley State and Alabama A&M tied for eighth (60.5) followed Alcorn State and Ark.-Pine Bluff.

Southern's men placed in the top five in seven of eight sports for 70-point total. Grambling State finished second (65 pts.) after capturing two championships (football & outdoor track), finishing second in basketball and among the top three in two other sports (indoor track, cross-country and tennis). Prairie View A&M (62.5) edged out Jackson State for third place (60.5), followed by Alabama A&M (54.5), Alabama State (48.5), Alcorn State (48). Texas Southern (47.5), Mississippi Valley State (40.5) and Ark.-Pine Bluff (24).

CIAA
St. Augustine's men and NC Central's women earn top status

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association presented North Carolina Central University with the Loretta Taylor Women's All-Sports Trophy and Saint Augustine's College with the C.H. Williams Men's All-Sports Trophy at last week's Annual Coach of the Year Awards Luncheon.

NCCU was awarded the women's honor after winning three championships in softball, cross country and volleyball, while coming in third in women's indoor and outdoor track and field.

St. Augustine's also dominated in championship titles this year with top finishes in men's cross country and outdoor and indoor track and field. Its three championships, along with exceptional finishes in football and baseball gave it a winning margin.

Trophy winners are determined by a point system established to award an institution for achievement in each of their women's and men's programs. The champion is the institution with the most combined total points for all sponsored sports based on their conference finish and the number of CIAA sponsored events.

Kyle Serba, Sports Information Director at NCCU was awarded the John Holley Sports Information Director Award. Serba served as host SID for a second-round game in the 2005 NCAA Division II football playoffs, is the coordinator and occasional announcer for football and basketball game internet broadcasts on the Eagle Sports Network and serves as President of the NCCSIA (North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association).

William "Bill" Hayes of NCCU and Tonia Walker of Winston-Salem State University respectively won awards as the top athletic director and senior women's administrator. This year's Jeanette A. Lee Athletic Administration Award was presented to Al Carter of Shaw University for providing extraordinary leadership for the Bears' athletic department. NCCU's Ingrid Wicker-McCree was honored for her two-year service as president of the CIAA Executive Board and as volleyball coach of the year.

MEAC
Hampton women and Norfolk State men get titles, $25,000 checks

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference awarded Hampton University its fifth consecutive Mary McLeod Bethune Women's All-Sports Award and Norfolk State University its second consecutive and third overall Talmadge Layman Hill Men's Award last week. Hampton totaled 60.5 points of the possible 96 points, while NSU tallied 67.5 of a possible 84 points.

Each institution was presented with a $25,000 check at the MEAC Spring Delegate Assembly and Committee Meetings in Virginia Beach, Va., on May 25.

Hampton has won seven overall all-sports trophies since joining the MEAC in 1996, winning three men's trophies, including back-to-back victories in 2003 and 2004, and four women's awards. Norfolk State won its first men's trophy in 2001.

In the women's race, Hampton edged out second place finisher Florida A&M by 3.5 points. The Lady Pirates won both the indoor and outdoor track and field titles, was tied for second in softball, and finished third in cross country and tennis.

The Lady Rattlers, who also finished second to the Lady Pirates last year, had 56 total points. They also had two championship titles, winning volleyball and softball. Howard was a close third with 55.5 points. The Lady Bison captured the cross country title to open the 2005-06 season. Delaware State was fourth (55) and Morgan State fifth (53.5).

On the men's side, Norfolk State completed the triple crown in track and field, winning cross country, indoor and outdoor titles. The Spartans also finished second in tennis and baseball to outscore their closest competitor, Florida A&M, by 12 points. Hampton finished third (52), followed by Bethune-Cookman (45.5) and Delaware State (43.5).

Points are awarded on a descending basis beginning with 12 points for a championship or first-place finish. The second place team receives ten pts. Tied teams split the point total.

© 2006 Azeez Communications, Inc.

Return to Front Page