Posted: Jun 09, 2023
USJ Men Claim Commissioner's Cup Crown as GNAC Unveils Final Standings
WINTHROP, Mass. - The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) won its first-ever Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Commissioner's Cup title in school history as its six varsity men's programs combined to earn 22 of a possible 30 points (73.3 percent) throughout the 2022-23 academic year to take home the trophy on the men's side. USJ's nine women's programs totaled 16 out of a possible 45 points (35.6 percent) to register an 11th-place finish in the women's standings, according to the conference front office as it unveiled the final round of standings on Friday.
The GNAC Commissioner's Cup annually recognizes the men's and women's member institution achieving the highest level of athletic success throughout the academic year. It is based upon a point system and standings are determined by percentages in order to reflect the number of GNAC sports that each member sponsors.
Schools receive five points for winning a GNAC Championship, four points for advancing to a conference title game, three points for competing in a GNAC Semifinal, two points for qualifying for a GNAC Tournament, or one point for sponsoring the sport.
The USJ men's 73.3 percent of points cleared them over second-place Johnson & Wales (R.I.) by a comfortable 8.3 percent, as the Wildcats, who have claimed the GNAC Commissioner's Cup crown 10 times in total on the men's side, finished runner-up after earning 13 of a possible 20 points for 65.0 percent. Two-time defending GNAC Commissioner's Cup winners Saint Joseph's College of Maine finished third, collecting 29 of a possible 45 points for 64.4 percent.
All six of USJ's men's varsity programs qualified and competed in the postseason during 2022-23. The Blue Jays claimed their first-ever GNAC Championship in men's soccer to highlight the year, while basketball, swimming & diving, and lacrosse each finished runner-up. Tennis contested in the GNAC Semifinals in its inaugural season of varsity competition and cross country placed fifth out of eight teams at the annual GNAC Championship meet.
Defending GNAC Commissioner's Cup champion, and now six-time winners, Johnson & Wales (R.I.) claimed the top spot on the women's side. The Wildcats garnered 24 of a possible 30 points for 80.0 percent to repeat as victors. They finished ahead of Simmons, who grabbed 26 of a possible 40 points for 65.0 percent, and Emmanuel, who tallied 24 of a possible 40 points for 60.0 percent, to round out the women's podium.
Seven of USJ's nine women's varsity programs qualified and competed in the postseason during 2022-23. Field hockey, soccer, and basketball all contested in the GNAC Quarterfinals and tennis and softball played in their GNAC First Round games during the postseason. Cross country finished sixth out of nine teams and swimming & diving placed fourth out of eight teams at its annual GNAC Championship meets, respectively.
For the complete team standings, please see below.
MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1) Saint Joseph (Conn.) - 22/30: 73.3%
2) Johnson & Wales (R.I.) - 13/20: 65.0%
3) Saint Joseph's (Maine) - 29/45: 64.4%
4) Emmanuel - 21/40: 52.5%
5) Albertus Magnus - 13/25: 52.0%
T6) Lasell - 19/40: 47.5%
T6) Norwich - 19/40: 47.5%
T8) Regis - 18/40: 45.0%
T8) Anna Maria - 9/20: 45.0%
10) Colby-Sawyer - 19/45: 42.2%
11) Rivier - 10/30: 33.3%
12) Dean - 11/35: 31.4%
13) Elms - 9/30: 30.0%
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1) Johnson & Wales (R.I.) - 24/30: 80.0%
2) Simmons - 26/40: 65.0%
3) Emmanuel - 24/40: 60.0%
4) Colby-Sawyer - 26/50: 52.0%
5) Regis - 28/55: 50.9%
6) Saint Joseph's (Maine) - 25/50: 50.0%
7) Lasell - 22/45: 48.9%
T8) Norwich - 14/35: 40.0%
T8) Rivier - 14/35: 40.0%
10) Albertus Magnus - 15/40: 37.5%
11) Saint Joseph (Conn.) - 16/45: 35.6%
12) Elms - 11/40: 27.5%
13) Dean - 9/35: 25.7%
14) Anna Maria - 7/30: 23.3%
About The GNAC
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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