ONU Tigers capture Commissioner's Cup

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Thursday, July 29, 2010

For the Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) Department of Athletics, "Winning Championships. Building Champions." isn't a trite expression. During a remarkable 2009-2010 season, the Tigers made strides on the national level while dominating conference play.

The Tigers continued to launch themselves into the national spotlight, with 11 teams earning trips to their national tournaments: basketball (men's), cross country (men's), indoor track (men's and women's), outdoor track (men's and women's), soccer (men's), tennis (men's and women's), softball, and volleyball.

"Our success comes from our coaches knowing what type of athlete can compete in our league and in the NAIA," says Gary Newsome, director of Athletics. "We have recruited outstanding, talented athletes who have a burning desire to win championships."

Finding even more success in conference play, the Tigers claimed their third consecutive Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup (CCAC). The CCAC annually gives the award to the university that collects the most combined points in relationship to placement in league-sponsored sports.

The Tigers claimed first place by capturing the regular season and tournament titles in both volleyball and softball, the men's cross country championship, the men's and women's outdoor track championship, and the men's soccer tournament championship.

But victory for the Tigers has not been limited to the win column. Olivet has once again been recognized as an NAIA Champions of Character school. Earning the award, which emphasizes servant leadership, integrity, respect, responsibility, and sportsmanship, is always a top-three goal for Newsome and the department.

The Tigers also averaged a 3.1 GPA in the classroom, with 61 students being named NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athletes.

"Our outstanding grade point average is due to our coaches recruiting quality student-athletes. Our staff looks for outstanding students who can handle the rigor of an athletic schedule as well as the academic schedule," Newsome says. "We do an excellent job of recruiting high ACT students combined with an outstanding high school GPA."

Looking forward to the 2010-2011 seasons, Newsome hopes teams continue to lead the conference while increasing their national presence. "We want to finish in the top 10 in the NAIA Director's Cup standings," he says. "To do that, we must win on the field and get back to the national tournaments, winning once we get to that level."
--Olivet Nazarene University

 

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