ASU Sweeps The SWAC!
It's a statement Alabama State University President Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd made two years ago when Hornet student-athletes won the all three of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's all-sports awards.
In 2015-16, Alabama State has done it again, highlighted by winning the Commissioner's Cup trophy (James Frank Award) for the third straight year as the best all-around sports program in the SWAC. The Lady Hornets won the Barbara Jacket/Sadie Magee Award for the fourth straight year as the best all-around women's program in the conference. On the men's side, the Hornets won the C.D. Henry Award for the second time in three years as the best all-around men's program in the SWAC.
The league office announced the final results today, as Alabama State will officially receive the trophies in June at the SWAC's Spring Meetings in Birmingham.
"Our student-athletes, coaches and staff continue to redefine greatness," Alabama State Athletic Director
Melvin Hines said. "It has been another history-making year for Hornet Athletics, and everyone in Hornet Nation is beaming with pride with this year's accomplishments. Our student-athletes continue to accept the challenges and demands on time to be just that – student-athletes, as more than 60 earned degrees in the past year. To Sweep The SWAC is a testament to their dedication to be the best they can be. We congratulate them on a legendary year."
Alabama State won or shared eight championships this season that are computed in the Commissioner's Cup Standings. For the fifth straight year, the women's track program won the "Triple Crown," earning SWAC championships in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. It was the fifth straight league title in cross country, the eighth consecutive title in indoor track, and the seventh consecutive outdoor track championship.
For the fourth straight year, both the women's and men's golf programs won SWAC Championships this spring, earning NCAA Tournament appearances. The women's team earned its fourth straight SWAC title and fifth in six years, while the men's team won its fifth consecutive league title.
Women's basketball won a share of the regular season crown for the first time since 2004 while repeating as tournament champions. The Lady Hornets' tournament title is one of 14 divisional, league, regular season, conference, or tournament titles and national championships won by ASU teams.
Alabama State softball won the Eastern Division title and its first SWAC Championship in program history. Hornets' baseball won their third straight divisional title this season and also won their first SWAC Championship in program history. Also Thursday, ASU Baseball was named HBCU National Champions for the second straight year.
Men's golf also won the HBCU National Championship, and the women's tennis program won the 2016 regular season championship.
A total of 16 Hornets' programs finished in the top three in their respective sports in the Commissioner's Cup Standings. Women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's tennis, and men's indoor track each finished second, while women's bowling, men's cross country, women's tennis, and men's outdoor track each finished third.
The commissioner's cup is named the James Frank Award for the former long-time SWAC Commissioner and NCAA President. The women's award, the Barbara Jacket/Sadie Magee Trophy, was named for two conference pioneers. Jacket was a long-time track coach at Prairie View and is in the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame. Magee is the winningest coach in Jackson State women's basketball history.
