Catholic Claims 2020-21 Presidents’ Trophy
TOWSON, Md. – The Landmark Conference released its final 2020-21 Presidents' Trophy standings. The standings reflect 14 of the 22 conference championships due to the cancellation of the 2020 fall season.
Following the 2020-21 winter and spring seasons, Catholic University secured the trophy for the third time in the conference's 14-year history. The Cardinals collected a total of 151 points for an average of 10.79.
The University of Scranton finished second with 127.5 total points (9.11 averaged), followed by Moravian College (90/8.18), Susquehanna University (71/7.10), Drew University (81/6.75), Elizabethtown College (49/5.44), Goucher College (21.5/4.30), and Juniata College (51/3.92).
Of the 14 championships played this season, Catholic won six and claimed one runner-up finish (women's basketball). The Cardinals kicked off the winter by sweeping the Men's & Women's Virtual Swimming & Diving championships. The men earned their fifth straight title while the women took home their second straight.
"Despite the many difficulties presented by the pandemic, earning this conference honor is testament to the creativity, patience, and team-first approach exhibited by every member of our department," said Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Sullivan. "Whether a particular team was able to complete a full Landmark schedule, or just the equivalent of a handful of out-of-season contests, every varsity program committed itself to working with one another to first discover, and then follow, a path to productive participation for all."
The spring season was a bright spot for Catholic, taking home four of its six titles. The women's golf program earned the programs first-ever conference championship after shooting a team-total 352 (+64). A week later, the men's team captured the programs first-ever Landmark Men's Golf title after shooting a team-total 299 (+11).
Women's Lacrosse claimed the Cardinals fifth Landmark championship this spring. Catholic defeated Scranton 13-9 in the season finale to take home the program's 12th title. The men's lacrosse team followed suit, defeating Elizabethtown 16-8 to win the program's third conference championship.
"As Athletics Director, I am tremendously proud of our larger Cardinal team," Sullivan continued. "Everyone, whether competing in a Landmark sport or not, committed themselves to what was best for the "whole." Our student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, administrative staff and colleagues from across campus, all deserve great credit and sincere thanks for building the approach which led to such on the field success. If there was ever a time when something like this is truly a "team" award, this is, without question, it. Everyone was a part of making this happen."
The Trophy is awarded based on a formula that rewards institutions for regular season conference standings as well as results in Landmark postseason competition. The point structure was revised in the summer of 2016 with different point hierarchies for team and individual sports, but the maximum number of points any team can earn is 15. The total number of points each institution earns is divided by the number of Landmark sports sponsored to determine the average.