Embry-Riddle Wins 2012-13 Commissioner’s Cup
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Sun Conference Commissioner Mark Pope announced Embry-Riddle as the winner of the 2012-13 Commissioner’s Cup at the spring meeting of the league’s Athletic Directors on Monday. The Eagles won at least a share of seven regular season titles to finish with a score of 10.75, capturing their 14th consecutive Commissioner’s Cup. SCAD Savannah was second with a score of 9.65, just ahead of third-place South Carolina Beaufort (9.17).
The Cup points are awarded in descending order to the 12 league members based on regular-season standings in the 15 conference sports; 12 for first place, 11 for second place, and so on. In addition, one bonus point each is awarded to the tournament champions of those sports with a regular season conference schedule. Total points are then divided by the number of sports sponsored by each institution to get the overall scores.
The Eagles won regular season titles in volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country in the fall. Men’s tennis and baseball also won regular season titles, while the men’s and women’s track and field teams also took top honors at the conference track and field meet. Embry-Riddle finished as league runners-up in women’s soccer, women’s tennis and women’s golf. ERAU’s volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s basketball, baseball and men’s tennis teams each earned bonus points for the Blue and Gold by winning their respective conference tournaments.
SCAD repeated as the Commissioner’s Cup runners-up. The Bees took home the women’s golf and women’s tennis crowns and earned runner-up finishes in men’s soccer and women’s cross country. SCAD also picked up a bonus point for winning the women’s tennis tournament.
After finishing fifth a year ago, South Carolina Beaufort jumped up to the No. 3 spot in 2012-13. The Sand Sharks won the softball regular season and tournament titles while placing second in men’s golf. Additionally, they were third in women’s golf and women’s track and field.
Northwood won the regular season titles in men’s basketball and women’s soccer, and those titles helped the Seahawks to a fourth-place finish in the Commissioner’s Cup race with a score of 8.68. NU also placed second in men’s tennis and third in women’s tennis.
Webber International averaged an 8.53 to finish in fifth place, just ahead of St. Thomas (8.38) and Warner (7.67). WIU garnered runner-up finishes in men’s cross country and softball and were tied for second in women’s basketball. St. Thomas won the regular season titles in both men’s soccer and women’s basketball and finished third in women’s soccer, volleyball and baseball. Warner placed among the top three in five sports, including runner-up finishes in men’s and women’s track and field and volleyball.
Southeastern (7.62), Thomas (6.7), Ave Maria (6.14), Johnson and Wales (5.17) and Florida Memorial (5.1) rounded out the scoring.
Since the league's inception in 1990, only five teams have captured the Commissioner's Cup, formerly known as the All-Sports Trophy. Former conference member Nova Southeastern took home the honor five times (1992-93, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99), while St. Thomas claimed the cup in 1993-94 and 1997-98. Webber International (1990-91) and Flagler (1991-92) each earned the award during the first two years of the conference when the league was known as the Florida Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.