NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has won the 2016-17 Thomas Howell Cup, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference's all-sports award, said the GCAC in a Friday announcement.It's the sixth time that XULA won the award, all in the last seven years.
\The Thomas Howell Cup, named for the GCAC's longtime commissioner, is awarded annually to the school with the most points based on order of finish in various sports. XULA was boosted by GCAC championships in men's cross country, women's cross country, women's volleyball (regular season and tournament), and women's outdoor track and field.
"Xavier is proud to take control of the Thomas Howell Cup once again," said XULA Director of Athletics & Recreation Jason Horn. "Not only did our student-athletes and coaches have another outstanding year, we produced our largest group of graduates in the last 12 years. The athletics department strives daily to live up to our motto: 'Win. Grow. Graduate.' "
The conference did not announce point totals or standings for the Howell Cup, but unofficial scoring by XULA Assistant Athletics Director for Communications Ed Cassierehad XULA with 37 1/2 points. In the seven GCAC championship sports — men's and women's cross country, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball and men's and women's outdoor track and field — XULA scored 33 1/2 of a possible 41 points.
Although XULA won GCAC volleyball regular-season and tournament championships for the sixth consecutive year, the university was credited with all-sports points only for its regular-season standing. The GCAC also applied that method in men's and women's basketball.
Dillard, the 2015-16 Howell Cup winner, and Edward Waters tied for second place in Cassiere's unofficial scoring with 30 points apiece. Talladega was fourth with 24 1/2 points, followed by SUNO with 17, Tougaloo with 13 and Philander Smith with 11.
"This honor is another testament to Xavier's commitment to excellence, dedication and hard work not only in the classroom, but in everything we do," said XULA Vice President for Student Services Joseph Byrd, "and athletics is no exception. It is because of the vision of our president, Dr. Reynold Verret, our athletic director, Mr. Jason Horn, our coaches and especially our students that we are again recognized for greatness. We are pleased to be honored."
In addition to the conference titles, XULA highlights for the past year included:
• 7-of-9 teams represented at NAIA National Championship appearances — volleyball, men's cross country, women's cross country, men;'s tennis, women's tennis, men's track and field (individual athlete) and women's track and field (individual athletes).
• Nine student-athletes earned NAIA All-America: Catalin Fifea, Moses Micheal, Antoine Richard and Karan Salwan in men's tennis, Charlene Goreau in women's tennis and Clarke Allen, Ry-Anne Riley, Tramaine Shannon and Ariane Williams in women's track and field.
• Two CoSIDA Academic All-Americans: Salwan and Drew Chatters (women's track and field).
• Department GPA increased from 2015-16 to 2016-17.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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