Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Caps Record-Setting Year with 12th Patriot League Presidents' Cup
5/16/2006 8:00:00 AM | General
May 16, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Buoyed by a school-record eight Patriot League championships in 2005-06, Bucknell has captured the Patriot League Presidents' Cup for the 12th time in the 16-year history of the conference. The Bison compiled 115.75 points in the Cup standings, the most ever for Bucknell and the third-most in league history.
Army, which is the only other institution to have won the Presidents' Cup, was runner-up with 108 points, followed by Lehigh (97.25), Navy (92), Colgate (83.75), American (80.25), Lafayette (74.75) and Holy Cross (50).
In addition, the Patriot League awards all-sports trophies for both men and women, and Bucknell won the women's trophy for the 12th time. The Bison women set records for points earned (70) and margin of victory (15.75 over runner-up Army). Lehigh won the men's trophy by two points over Army, while Bucknell's men finished fourth. Bucknell has won the men's trophy five times previously.
 The men's basketball squad took home the PL title for the second straight year.  |
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"Congratulations to all of the Bison student-athletes and coaches on this terrific honor," said Bucknell president Dr. Brian C. Mitchell. "To win the Presidents' Cup 12 times in 16 years is a significant accomplishment, and it is reflective of the brand of hard-working student-athlete that comes to Bucknell. We have driven, focused young women and men who take great pride in both excelling academically and in winning championships."
"Winning the Presidents' Cup is an accomplishment in which we continually take great pride," said director of athletics and recreation John Hardt. "Capped off by a number of remarkable performances this spring, the 2005-06 year has been extremely satisfying. Bucknell Athletics will always strive to win championships and do so with true scholar-athletes. To win an unprecedented eight titles in such a competitive conference is an achievement that all Bucknellians should be proud of."
In 2005-06, Bucknell captured Patriot League titles in women's soccer, women's cross country, women's indoor and outdoor track and field, women's swimming and diving, men's basketball, men's golf and women's rowing.
Two Bison programs - men's golf and women's rowing - won Patriot League titles for the first time, while others continued dynasties. The women's swimming and diving team won its fourth straight league title. Women's indoor track and field won its fifth championship in a row and 10th overall, while the women's outdoor track and field squad won for the third straight year and eighth time overall.
Men's basketball won its second straight Patriot League title, becoming the first team in league history to go unbeaten in league play at 14-0. The Bison, who won a school-record 27 games this season, also won an NCAA Tournament game for the second straight year and finished the season ranked No. 25 in the ESPN/USA TODAY Coaches' Poll.
Bucknell has now won 59 championships since the Patriot League's inception in 1990-91. Army is the only other league school to have won more than 36.
 The Bison women earned the coveted "Triple Crown" in 2005-06, sweeping the cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field titles. |
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The eight championships bettered the previous school record of six, set in 2001-02. Bucknell claimed five league championship teams five times. Army is the only school to have won more than eight championships in a year. The Black Knights hold the league record with 12 titles in 1993-94.
In addition to the eight championship programs, plenty of other Bison teams contributed to the Presidents' Cup victory with outstanding 2005-06 seasons. Women's tennis and baseball advanced to league championship contests before settling for runner-up trophies. Field hockey, volleyball, women's lacrosse and women's basketball were all Patriot League Tournament semifinalists, while men's swimming and diving had a strong third-place finish at the 2006 league championships.
Bucknell in 2005-06 also had three varsity programs that do not compete in the Patriot League perform very well. The women's golf team set a school record with a round of 314 in the final round of the Big South Championship, and the Bison's fifth-place finish in that competitive league matched an all-time high. In the fall, the men's water polo team was ranked in the top 20 for most of the season, and its fourth-place finish at the Eastern Championships was its best since 1998. In the spring, women's water polo reached a new high-water mark with a fourth-place showing at the Eastern Championships, and the Bison tied their school victory record with a final record of 23-9.
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 post-season tournaments, such as basketball, field hockey, soccer, lacrosse and volleyball, points are awarded based on the average of the league championship tournament and regular-season standings.
Bucknell currently sponsors 27 intercollegiate sports, 14 for women and 13 for men, at the Division I level (1-AA in football). It is a charter member of the Patriot League and annually ranks among the national leaders in student-athlete graduation rates. Bucknell ranks fourth in Division I in producing Academic All-Americans, with 110 since 1970.
