Williams Named ECAC Jostens Institution of the Year
Courtesy ECAC/Williams Sports Information
CAPE COD, Mass. – Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Commissioner Rudy Keeling announced Monday that Williams College has been selected as the winner of the 2010 ECAC Jostens Institution of the Year award. The award is given annually to the ECAC institution that best exemplifies the highest standards of collegiate academic and athletic performance.
"Williams is honored to receive again the ECAC's Jostens Institution of the Year Award," President Adam Falk said. "It's a tribute to the many athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans, who together make the Williams athletics program the powerful educational experience that it is."
The Ephs will receive their award on Tuesday, September 28, at the ECAC Honors Banquet presented by Jostens. Presenting the award will be Jim Dougher, Jostens National Sports Manager and long-time supporter of the ECAC. The luncheon will be held at The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, Massachusetts during the 2010 ECAC Fall Convention and Trade Show.
Williams has previously won the award in 1995, 1999, 2001, 2004, and 2009. With six crowns in the 16-year history of the award, Williams has won the award more than any other institution. Princeton, a winner in 1996 and 1998, is the only other school to win the coveted prize more than once.
The Jostens Institution of the Year Awards is based annually on participation and success of an institution's athletic program in recognition of the following selection criteria:
- Documentation and confirmation of academic success by the institution's student-athlete population
- Number of ECAC championships won
- Number of institution's teams selected for participation in ECAC championships
- Number of institution's teams selected for participation in NCAA championships
- Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Points
Williams won its 12th consecutive Directors' Cup award in 2009-10 and 14th of the 15 awarded in NCAA Division III history. During the 2009-10 academic year the Williams Ephs established a Division III record with a grand total of 1,292.25 points, 386.5 points ahead of runner-up Amherst (905.75). The Ephs' margin of victory was the largest in the 15 years of the NCAA Division III Directors' Cup competition, eclipsing their previous record margin of 379.5 back in 2002-03.
The overall athletic success of the Ephs is further heightened when viewed against the backdrop of the admission standards at Williams, which are among the highest in the nation.
Williams led all NESCAC schools with 184 Academic All-NESCAC honorees on the year. Senior Corey Watts, a standout in cross country and track & field, won a prestigious Watson fellowship and classmate Blake Schultz was the winner of the national Josten's Trophy in men's basketball, which is based on basketball ability, scholarship and community service. Further, men's ice hockey player Zach Miller, one of seven finalists for the 2010 Hockey Humanitarian Award, given annually to college hockey's finest citizen, was the valedictory speaker at the college's commencement.
Grace Baljon secured national recognition when she was selected the Co-Senior Player of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Junior Ryan Malo was named to National Wrestling Coaches Association team representing the USA in Siberia for two weeks in June.
Eight NCAA individual titles were won this past year by Ephs. Women's swimming and diving contributed six of the individual titles with first year Caroline Wilson and sophomore Logan Todhunter each capturing three. Wilson took top honors in the 500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle and the 400 Individual Medley, while Todhunter won the 100 and 200 Butterfly events and the 200 Individual Medley. Todhunter was named The Honda NCAA Division III Women's Swimmer of the Year.
Senior Connor Kamm won the 5,000 meter run at the Outdoor Men's NCAA Track & Field Championships, while first year Tanasia Hoffler took top honors in the triple jump at the Outdoor Women's NCAA Track & Field Championships.
In July Kamm was named the US Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Men's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. Joining Kamm in receiving academic recognition from the USTFCCCA are Chris Fogler, Richard Fusco, Josephat Koima, Isaac Nicholson, Anthony Raduazo and Corey Watts.
Eph teams combined to win 12 of 26 NESCAC titles, four ECAC championships, and two NCAA titles (women's rowing and tennis). Williams finished as the NCAA runner-up in men's basketball and reached the semifinals of men's and women's soccer.
Winning 12 NESCAC championships this year boosted the Eph all-time total of NESCAC titles to 151. The 12 Eph NESCAC championships is one shy of the Eph previous best of 13 (out of 23), which was established in 2002-03.
The Ephs also captured four ECAC titles – men's cross country, men's outdoor track, women's outdoor track, and women's New England Rowing Championship points title. The four titles were second to Ithaca's five titles for most among all ECAC institutions this year. The Ephs also captured gold medals in the men's varsity eight and women's varsity at the National Invitational Rowing Championships.
Six Williams teams finished in the top five nationally with women's crew winning its fifth consecutive NCAA title and women's tennis extending its NCAA title streak to three.
About the ECAC
The ECAC is the nation's largest athletic and the only
multi-divisional conference in the country with approximately 300
Divisions I, II, and III colleges and universities. The ECAC
stretches from Maine to North Carolina and westerly to Illinois.
Established in 1938, the ECAC, a non-profit service organization,
sponsors nearly 100 championships in 37 men's and women's sports
and assigns more than 4,400 officials in 12 sports. The ECAC also
administers nine affiliate sports organizations and six playing
leagues, and through the public relations arm of the conference,
more than 2,500 student-athletes in 23 sports are recognized
annually. Finally, the ECAC serves as the primary conference for
select members in the sports of men's and women's ice hockey and
men's lacrosse.
About Jostens
The Minneapolis-based Jostens is a provider of products, programs
and services that help people tell their stories, celebrate
important traditions and recognize achievements. Jostens' products
include school yearbooks and other memory book products, scholastic
products such as class rings and graduation products, and products
for athletic champions and their fans.
Past ECAC Jostens
Institution of the Year Recipients:
1995 – Williams College
1996 – Princeton University
1997 – Middlebury College
1998 – Princeton University
1999 – Williams College
2000 – Georgetown University
2001 – Williams College
2002 – University of Maryland, College Park
2003 – Harvard University
2004 – Williams College
2005 – Keene State College
2006 – New York University
2007 – Brandeis University
2008 – Stevens Institute of Technology
2009 – Duke University and Williams College
