St. Scholastica holds early lead in UMAC Kruse Award all-sports competition
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Last spring, the College of St. Scholastica earned its eighth-straight Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Jerome Kruse All-Sport Trophy competition. With fall sports wrapped up for 2017-18, it looks as if the Saints could be poised for an ninth-consecutive title as they hold an early lead in the standings announced Thursday.
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UMAC Jerome Kruse Award Website |
St. Scholastica leads the pack with 59 points after winning four regular season titles this fall. They hold a 13-point lead over the University of Northwestern that is among a group of three schools separated by just 2.5 points.
The Saints repeated as champions in women's cross country, women's golf and men's soccer to earn full points in each respective sport, while the St. Scholastica men's golf team captured its first-ever conference title in just its third year as a program. Women's soccer placed as runner-up and football was the top regular-member finisher in the standings which helps the Saints remain ahead of Northwestern.
The Eagles pulled in 46 points in second, while the University of Wisconsin-Superior was just one point behind with 45 points and the University of Minnesota Morris was fourth with 43.5 points. Northwestern dominated in volleyball and went unbeaten in women's soccer to capture first-place finishes, while men's golf was second to bring in other big points.
Wisconsin-Superior secured the third spot in the standings after winning men's cross country for the second time in as many seasons. The Yellowjackets were also second in women's cross country and men's soccer. Minnesota Morris didn't win a title in any sports but remained among the top pack as runners up in women's cross country, women's golf and volleyball. All three team sports qualified for the postseason for both Wisconsin-Superior and Minnesota Morris.
Martin Luther College was just four points behind Minnesota Morris with 39.5 points thanks to taking second in men's cross country and earning postseason bids in both men's and women's soccer and volleyball.
Bethany Lutheran College comes in sixth with 28 points led by a top-four finish in men's golf. Northland College saw a slight drop in points from a year ago with 20 points in seventh, but saw another postseason run in women's soccer. Crown College held eighth place with 16 points, while North Central University rounded out the standings with 15 points.
Since the award's inception in 1996-97, St. Scholastica has won the Kruse Award a UMAC-best 13 times. The award, which is named after Mr. Jerome Kruse, a longtime athletic director at the former Northwestern College (Wis.) and Martin Luther College, travels to the full-member institution with the most points accumulated by the place finishes of the college's athletic teams in the final standings of 18 conference sponsored sports.
KRUSE AWARD POINTS (2017-2018 - through fall sports)
1. St. Scholastica - 59 points
2. Northwestern - 46 points
3. Wisconsin-Superior - 45 points
4. Minnesota Morris - 43.5 points
5. Martin Luther - 39.5 points
6. Bethany Lutheran - 28 points
7. Northland - 20 points
8. Crown - 16 points
9. North Central - 15 points
KRUSE AWARD POINTS (2017-2018)
UMAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
| School |
MCC |
WCC |
FB |
MSC |
WSC |
VB |
MGF |
WGF |
Total |
| Bethany Lutheran College |
4 |
5 |
- |
1 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
28 |
| College of St. Scholastica |
6 |
9 |
5 |
9 |
8 |
5 |
9 |
8 |
59 |
| Crown College |
1 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
- |
16 |
| Martin Luther College |
7 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
6.5 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
39.5 |
| North Central University |
3 |
1 |
- |
4 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
15 |
| Northland College |
2 |
2 |
- |
2 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
20 |
| University of Minnesota Morris |
5 |
8 |
2 |
6 |
6.5 |
8 |
1 |
7 |
43.5 |
| University of Northwestern |
- |
3 |
4 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
6 |
46 |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior |
8 |
7 |
- |
8 |
3 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
45 |