Bryant repeats as Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup Champs
Bryant's rapid rise as a Northeast Conference (NEC) power has given way to a popular "Titletown" moniker on it's Smithfield, RI campus. It's a well-deserved designation for a program that has now repeated as Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup champion. Bryant also captured its second consecutive NEC Men's Commissioner's Cup, while Sacred Heart won its eighth NEC Women's Commissioner Cup.
Bryant amassed 205.53 points over the course of the 2014-15 academic year, finishing well ahead of runner-up Sacred Heart (184.58) and third place Saint Francis U (175.34). The Bulldogs won four NEC championships - all in the spring - in men's and women's lacrosse, and men's and women's tennis. Bryant also won the baseball regular season title and shared the women's basketball regular season crown. The Bulldogs finished in the top-three of the NEC regular season standings in seven of the ten round-robin sports the school offers.
Bryant dominated on the men's side with 109.43 points. Wagner, which finished sixth in the men's standings a year ago, jumped all the way to second with 77.17 points. Sacred Heart took third, racking up 76.94 points. Bryant posted top-three regular season finishes in all five of their men's round-robin sports and at three NEC championships in which all teams qualify.
"We are so proud of all our student-athletes and coaches for the hard work, dedication and success that has led us to our second Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup in two years," said Bill Smith, Bryant Director of Athletics. "Our Bulldogs work hard both in season and out of season to prepare and compete at the highest level. They continue to build on each year's triumphs, and this great honor is no exception. Our men's programs have once again enjoyed incredible successes in 2014-15, with eight of our teams earning top-three finishes and three of our programs winning NEC titles. We are proud of what they have accomplished."
Sacred Heart's eight Joan Martin Commissioner's Cups are a league record. The Pioneers won six straight Cups on the women's side from 2006-12 prior to a two-year run for the Saint Francis U women's program. With 107.64 points, the Pioneers just edged out LIU Brooklyn (105.81) and Central Connecticut (105.48).
Following Bryant (205.53 points), Sacred Heart (184.58) and Saint Francis U (175.34) in the standings was Central Connecticut (170.63). A close race for fifth saw LIU Brooklyn (162.28) just edge out Fairleigh Dickinson (159.47) and Wagner (158.98). Robert Morris (126.07), Mount St. Mary's (116.44) and St. Francis Brooklyn (97.82) rounded out the pack.
"Congratulations to Bryant University for another tremendous year, winning their second consecutive Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup and the NEC Men's Commissioner's Cup," said Noreen Morris, NEC Commissioner. "Their success is a tribute to the leadership of President Ron Machtley and Athletic Director Bill Smith, and the hard work and dedication of their coaches and student-athletes. In addition, congratulations to Sacred Heart University women's student-athletes for recapturing the Joan Martin Women's Commissioner's Cup; they earned their way to the top with an impressive three championships this year."
Weare, who passed away in June, 2009, made a lasting impact in her three years as Commissioner of the NEC. In that time, she introduced a number of new programs aimed at upgrading the caliber of the league's championship sports and enhancing the opportunities and experiences for the more than 4,000 student-athletes that compete in the conference. In addition to securing Bryant as an NEC full-time member, Weare was instrumental in the NEC gaining automatic access to the NCAA Division I Football Championship beginning in 2010, spearheading the conference's Strategic Plan and implementing a new leaguewide sportsmanship policy. The Commissioner's Cup was renamed in her honor in May, 2009.
Joan Martin played an integral part in Monmouth athletics for 33 years, serving as an Associate Athletics Director, Assistant Athletics Director, Senior Woman Administrator and Compliance Director, as well as a coach during her time in West Long Branch. Martin joined the Monmouth staff in as a coach in 1969 and continued until 1982, when she joined the athletic administration. Martin was the women's basketball coach for 13 years, and mentored the softball (11 years) and field hockey (eight years) programs as well. Along with the NEC Women's Commissioner Cup bearing her name, she was inducted into the Monmouth University Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
About the Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup
The NEC Commissioner's Cup was instituted during the 1986-87 season with LIU Brooklyn winning the inaugural award. Fairleigh Dickinson leads all current NEC schools with six Cups to its credit. Cup points are awarded in each NEC sponsored sport. For men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, football, women's bowling, softball, men's and women's lacrosse, and baseball, the final regular season standings are used to determine Cup points. Starting with the 2012-13 season, the Conference began awarding three bonus points to the NEC Tournament champion in those sports. In all other sports, points are awarded based on the finish at NEC Championship events.
2014-15 Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup
Overall Standings
1. Bryant 205.53
2. Sacred Heart 184.58
3. Saint Francis U 175.34
4. Central Connecticut 170.63
5. LIU Brooklyn 162.28
6. Fairleigh Dickinson 159.47
7. Wagner 158.98
8. Robert Morris 126.07
9. Mount St. Mary's 116.44
10. St. Francis Brooklyn 97.82
2014-15 Joan Martin Commissioner's Cup
Women's Standings
1. Sacred Heart 107.64
2. LIU Brooklyn 105.81
3. Central Connecticut 105.48
4. Saint Francis U 99.74
5. Fairleigh Dickinson 97.68
6. Bryant 96.10
7. Wagner 81.81
8. Robert Morris 79.38
9. Mount St. Mary's 53.21
10. St. Francis Brooklyn 51.56
2014-15 NEC Commissioner's Cup
Men's Standings
1. Bryant 109.43
2. Wagner 77.17
3. Sacred Heart 76.94
4. Saint Francis U 75.60
5. Central Connecticut 65.15
6. Fairleigh Dickinson 61.79
7. LIU Brooklyn 56.47
8. Mount St. Mary's 53.21
9. Robert Morris 46.69
10. St. Francis Brooklyn 46.26
Brenda Weare Commissioner's Cup Champions
2014-15 Bryant
2013-14 Bryant
2012-13 Monmouth
2011-12 Sacred Heart
2010-11 Sacred Heart
2009-10 Sacred Heart
2008-09 Sacred Heart
2007-08 Sacred Heart
2006-07 Monmouth
2005-06 Monmouth
2004-05 Monmouth
2003-04 Monmouth
2002-03 UMBC
2001-02 UMBC
2000-01 UMBC
1999-00 UMBC
1998-99 UMBC
1997-98 Monmouth
1996-97 Mount St. Mary's
1995-96 Mount St. Mary's
1994-95 Mount St. Mary's
1993-94 Fairleigh Dickinson
1992-93 Fairleigh Dickinson
1991-92 Fairleigh Dickinson
1990-91 Monmouth
1989-90 Fairleigh Dickinson
1988-89 Fairleigh Dickinson
1987-88 Fairleigh Dickinson
1986-87 LIU Brooklyn