Emory Report

July 10, 2000

Volume 52, No. 37

Eagle Update Eagles end spring seasons on high note Emory finished 14th in the nation among some 380 Division III schools in the final 2000 standings for the Sears Directors' Cup, presented to the school with the best all-around athletics program. This is the fifth consecutive year Emory has finished in the Top 25 nationally. Standings are derived from a mathematical formula based on each school's finish at the NCAA championships in the respective sports. Emory benefited from six Top 10 finishes and eight Top 25 finishes. Teams placing in the Top 10 nationally were men's swimming and diving (third), baseball (seventh), women's swimming and diving (seventh), men's tennis (quarterfinalist), women's tennis (quarterfinalist) and golf (10th). Of Emory's 18 varsity teams, 10 were selected for or scored at their respective NCAA national championship. Emory finished 22nd in the 1999 Directors' Cup standings, 14th in 1998, fourth in 1997 and seventh in 1996, the first year standings were compiled for Division III schools. Emory is one of only two schools in the nation-the other being Division I Stanford-to place in the Top 20 in both the Directors' Cup standings and the latest annual U.S. News and World Report rankings (18th). In 1997, Emory and Stanford were the only two schools to place in the Top 10 in both rankings. Baseball For the first time in school history, the baseball team advanced to the Division III World Series after winning the South region championship, another first. The Eagles finished tied for seventh place at the World Series with both losses to the two teams that advanced to the championship game. Emory ended up seventh in the final national rankings compiled by the American Baseball Coaches Association, its highest ever season-ending ranking. The Eagles compiled a 33-16 record, tying a school mark for wins in a season. Golf For the fourth consecutive year, the golf team finished in the Top 10 at the Division III national championships. The Eagles finished 10th at this year's NCAA championships after placing fifth in 1997, 10th in 1998 and sixth in 1999. Emory ended up eighth in this year's final rankings compiled by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Tennis (Men) The men's tennis team finished with a top-eight finish at nationals for the ninth consecutive year, ranking fifth in Division III. Three players, Brett Kaplan, Michael Miller and Kyle Nelson, were named All-America, equaling the school record for honorees in one season. Tennis (Women) The women's tennis team reached the quarterfinals of the Division III championships for the eighth time in 10 years. The team's 16 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances is the longest active streak by any Division III school. Senior Julie Sterner became the first Emory player to earn All-America honors in both singles and doubles in the same school year. Outdoor Track & Field (Women) Junior Kendra Robins finished fourth in the javelin throw at the NCAA championships to earn All-America recognition. Robins, a two-time conference champion in the event, established a new school record with a throw of 135 feet 9 inches (41.38 meters). Sophomore Sarah Byrd, making her first appearance at the NCAAs, finished 17th in the 1,500m run. Emory varsity sports season recaps are available on the Web at www.emory.edu/SPORTS.   -John Arenberg is Emory's sports information director. Return to July 10, 2000 contents page