FLUSHING, N.Y. – For a second straight year, Hunter College demonstrated athletic excellence in the City University of New York Athletic Conference, hoisting the 2019-20 CUNYAC Commissioner's Cup. Spring sports were not included due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the CUNYAC canceled the remainder of its sports season on March 13.
The Hawks, who won their conference-best 13th Cup all-time, accumulated 105 points across the Fall and Winter campaigns.
"We are extremely proud of our Hawks working so hard to reach this collective department accomplishment throughout this extremely complicated academic year. Our collective motto was -- #SoarAbove! The student-athletes, coaches and staff did this through resiliency, communication, focus, and a great work ethic culture," Director of Athletics Terry Wansart said.
Baruch was the runner-up for a second consecutive campaign with 61 points, followed by John Jay with a third-place finish of 51 points.
Hunter dominated the Fall sports season. The Hawks swept all the top points in both women's tennis and women's volleyball, winning CUNYAC's regular season and tournament championships to score 40 points.
At the cross-country championships, the women's cross-country squad won their fifth consecutive title while the men took second for an additional 15 points. Hunter closed out the Fall with runner-up finishes in the regular season and tournament in the sport of men's soccer for another 10 points.
In the Winter, the Hawks collected 20 points in the sport of women's swimming, winning the CUNYAC regular season crown for a fifth year in a row and the conference championship for the first time since 2017. In addition, Hunter earned 10 points in women's basketball with second-place finishes in the regular season and postseason while picking up 10 more points with runner-up efforts in men's and women's indoor track and field.
"Looking back, I am reminded of a quote from Lionel Messi - "There are more important things in life than winning or losing a game." - This rang true when we had to suspend the spring seasons; and it was a celebration like no other, when we could say our 'Hawks' were safe and sound and completing their academic course work successfully online. "This, despite continued challenges and heartache with COVID-19 and the travesty of this past week" Wansart said, "I am proud of our Hawks on the court, in the classroom and in life, while being awarded the CUNYAC Commissioner's Cup in such a distinct manner and during this unprecedented time in our lives."
The Bearcats tallied points in seven different sports, highlighted by regular season and tournament titles in men's swimming for a third straight season. In addition, Baruch posted regular season and tournament runner-up performances in women's tennis, women's swimming and men's basketball while accumulating points in men's cross country, men's soccer and women's volleyball.
John Jay moved up three spots in the standings from a season ago, posting its best finish since the 2003-04 campaign. The Bloodhounds scored in six sports, featuring a perfect score in women's soccer, going unbeaten against league opposition in both the regular season and tournament championship, the program's first-ever conference title. John Jay also collected 10 points in men's soccer, using a Cinderella run as the fifth seed to capture its first-ever league CUNYAC championship. The Bloodhounds' women's cross-country team finished second at the league championships for five points, while the men's basketball team won the CUNYAC regular-season crown for 10 points. In addition, JJC picked up points in women's tennis and women's basketball.
Brooklyn moved up two spots in the standings from last year, scoring 48 points in the school's best finish since the 2014-15 campaign. The Bulldogs grabbed all 20 points in the sport of women's basketball, posting an undefeated year against CUNYAC members to win both regular season and tournament titles.
Brooklyn's men's basketball team added 10 points to the school's total, playing as the underdog in three straight games to win the tournament title, the program's first since 2016. In addition, men's swimming finished second at the league championships, their best finish at the meet ever, while collecting eight points in women's volleyball as the tournament runner-up and third-place regular season finisher.
Lehman (39) edged out CCNY (38) in points, scoring in eight different sports, highlighted by a regular season crown in men's soccer. The Lightning also scored in women's soccer, women's cross country, men's and women's swimming, men's basketball and men's and women's indoor track and field.
CCNY collected 30 points from winning CUNYAC titles in three different sports. The Beavers' won the men's cross-country title for a fourth straight season, while capturing their 10th consecutive men's indoor track and field championship and third straight women's indoor track and field crown. In addition, CCNY scored in women's soccer with a runner-up finish in the tournament.
2019-20 CUNYAC Commissioner's Cup – Final Standings
1. Hunter – 105 points
2. Baruch – 61 points
3. John Jay – 51 points
4. Brooklyn – 48 points
5. Lehman – 39 points
6. CCNY – 38 points
7. Medgar Evers – 0 points
8. York – 0 points