Bucknell Captures 14th Patriot League Presidents' Cup
May 19, 2008 LEWISBURG, Pa. - For the third consecutive year, and the 10th time in the last 11 years, Bucknell has claimed the Patriot League Presidents' Cup. The Bison have now won the Cup, which signifies the Patriot League's all-sports champion, 14 times in the 18-year history of the conference. Bucknell totaled 120.25 points, nearly 12 points ahead of runner-up Navy (108.5). Bucknell's 120.25 points were the fourth-most in Patriot League history, and it is the second-highest total for the Bison, trailing only last year's 126.25. Army, which is the only other team to win a Presidents' Cup, is the only other institution to accumulate at least 120 points in one year. Behind Bucknell and Navy, Colgate (95 points), Army (94), Lehigh (79.75), American (72.25), Lafayette (69.25) and Holy Cross (60.5) rounded out the overall standings. In addition to the overall Presidents' Cup, the Patriot League awards all-sports trophies for both men and women, and Bucknell won the women's trophy for the 14th time. The Bison were second to Navy in the men's trophy standings. Bucknell has now claimed the women's trophy 11 consecutive years and 14 times overall. The Bison women totaled 62.75 points, while second-place Colgate had 48.5. The men were eight points ahead of third-place Army with 57.5 points, but Navy (61 points) won its first men's trophy since tying Bucknell in 2004. "Congratulations to all the Bison student-athletes and coaches for winning the Presidents' Cup for the 14th time in 18 years," said Bucknell president Dr. Brian C. Mitchell. "This significant accomplishment is reflective of our hard-working student-athletes who excel in both academics and athletics. They have continued a remarkable tradition of success in the competitive Patriot League, and all of us at Bucknell are proud of them." "Earning the Presidents' Cup once again is a remarkable accomplishment for Bucknell's student-athletes, coaches and staff," said Bucknell director of athletics and recreation John Hardt. "It is extremely satisfying knowing our programs can continue to excel at a high level in such a competitive conference and do so with true scholar-athletes." In 2007-08, Bucknell captured five Patriot League titles: women's cross country, women's indoor track & field, women's basketball, women's rowing and baseball. Additionally, the women's soccer squad won its second consecutive regular-season crown. Three of the five teams that earned titles this past year were repeat winners. The women's cross country and women's rowing teams each won their third consecutive championships, while the women's indoor track & field program claimed its seventh straight title. The women's basketball squad won its second Patriot League trophy, while the baseball team won its fourth Patriot League title this past weekend. Bucknell has now won 70 championships since the Patriot League's inception in 1990-91. In addition to the five championship teams, plenty of other Bison teams contributed to the Presidents' Cup victory with outstanding 2007-08 campaigns. Women's tennis, women's soccer and men's lacrosse advanced to league championship contests before settling for runner-up trophies. Men's basketball, men's soccer and men's tennis were all Patriot League Tournament semifinalists, while men's golf, men's swimming and diving, men's indoor track and field and women's outdoor track and field had strong second-place finishes at their championship events. Softball, women's swimming & diving and men's outdoor track & field each posted third-place showings in their postseason appearances. Bucknell in 2007-08 also had four teams that do not compete in the Patriot League perform well. The wrestling team, with a roster full of freshmen and sophomores, posted nine victories and sent three student-athletes to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year. The women's golf squad had a fourth-place showing at the Big South Championship, the best finish in program history. The women's water polo team had its best season in the 10-year history of the program, going 26-10 and rising as high as No. 19 in the national rankings. The men's water polo program registered its first 20-win campaign since 2001, going 20-13. The team finished the year ranked No. 19 in the country and placed fifth at the Eastern Championship. Presidents' Cup points are awarded based on a team's performance in the regular-season and postseason PL standings. In cross country, football, golf, swimming & diving, track & field and women's rowing, the points are awarded based on the final team standings. In team sports with postseason tournaments, such as basketball, field hockey, soccer, lacrosse and volleyball, points are awarded base on the average of the league championship tournament and regular-season standings. Bucknell is a highly selective, privately endowed liberal arts institution with an enrollment of approximately 3,400 undergraduate students. Recently, 17 Bison programs earned NCAA Public Recognition for having Academic Performance Rates in the top 10 percent nationally in their respective sport. In addition, Bucknell ranks fifth in Division I in the total number of CoSIDA Academic All-America selections, with 114 national Academic All-Americans since 1970. 2007-08 Patriot League Final Presidents' Cup Standings Overall Standings Men's Standings Women's Standings |
