West Coast Conference Champs: Saint Mary’s 垒球 won its first-ever WCC Title this season, earned Coach of the Year honors for 索尼娅加内特, and led the way in a remarkable year for women's athletics at SMC. / 托德·菲尔纳摄
Saint Mary’s Ties Best Ever Finish in West Coast Conference Commissioner’s Cup Standings, a Celebration of Overall Athletic Excellence
The second place standing ties for the highest finish ever for the Gaels, in a year marked by conference wins in Men’s 篮球 and 垒球, and a return to prominence by SMC 棒球.
今天, the West Coast Conference announced the 2023–24 Commissioner’s Cup winner, and Saint Mary’s tied the best-ever finish for the College, 赢得一个No. 2名完成积分榜.
The WCC Commissioner's Cup is an all-sports award presented at the end of each academic year to the league's top performing school in conference play and is based on a point system, reflecting the finish of each team in conference play. The institution with the highest point total after combining the men's and women's point totals is honored with the Commissioner's Cup. Stretching back to the 2001-02 school year, the Commissioner's Cup has become an annual tradition celebrating WCC athletic excellence.
Highest Finish Ever for Women’s 体育运动
On the women's side, the Gaels were narrowly edged out by Pepperdine by just half a point. This season included some landmark achievements for women’s athletics at SMC, highlighted by 垒球's first-ever WCC title, as well as top three finishes by 沙滩排球, 越野, 和划船.
The second place finish for the women in the WCC standings is their highest ever. Women's teams tallied 100 total wins over the season.
两个教练马蒂·金赛01年 女子越野赛，以及 索尼娅加内特 for 垒球—were each named WCC 教练 of the Year. The game that won the Gaels the WCC Title in 垒球 was also Garnett's 100th at the helm of the Gaels, and it was part of only the second-ever 30-win season in program history.
That WCC Title in 垒球 also earned the Gaels a spot in the NCAA Tournament—just the second time in program history they have appeared in the tournament.
篮球 Dominance and 棒球 Prominence
On the men's side, the Gaels finished fourth overall. Men's 篮球 continued their dominance in the WCC, winning both the conference regular season and tournament titles. 主教练 兰迪·班尼特 was named WCC Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season.
棒球 also returned to prominence, finishing in third place in the WCC. Men's teams tallied 76 total wins on the year.
“Our goal is always year over year improvement within our athletic department, but this year was one for the history books,” said Saint Mary's Vice President for Intercollegiate 体育运动 迈克Matoso. “Our 176 wins as a department is the most since the COVID shutdown, while our three conference titles were the most since the 2015–16 academic year. I am extremely proud of all of our student-athletes, 教练, and support staff that made this season such an incredible success!"
A second place finish in the final WCC Commissioner's Cup standings ties for the highest finish ever for the Gaels, who also finished in second in the 2015–16 school year.
2023-24 Commissioner's Cup Standings
1. 佩珀代因:81
2. 圣玛丽:78.5
3. 圣克拉拉:78
4. LMU: 75
5. 圣地亚哥:74.5
6. 贡扎加:73.5
7. 波特兰:66
8. 旧金山:54
9. 太平洋:50.5
Men's All-Sports Award Standings
1. 圣地亚哥:40
2. 佩珀代因:32.5
3. 圣克拉拉:32
4. 圣玛丽:31.5
5. LMU: 31
6. 波特兰:29
7. 贡扎加:28.5
8. 旧金山:20.5
9. 太平洋:20.5
Women's All-Sports Award Standings
1. 佩珀代因:46.5
2. 圣玛丽:46
3. 贡扎加:44
4. 圣克拉拉:44
5. LMU: 43.5
6. 波特兰:37
7. 圣地亚哥:33.5
8. 旧金山:33.5
9. 太平洋:30
