By RAMA PEROO/Cowley College
With one national championship, one national runner-up finish, and several top-20 performances, Cowley College was recently recognized for its athletic success by finishing fifth in the Daktronics NATYCAA Cup standings. More than 200 community colleges figured in the scoring.
Iowa Western Community College placed first in the Daktronics Cup, followed by Iowa Central, Barton Community College, and fourth place New Mexico Junior College, which finished just ahead of the Tigers in fourth place.
Cowley College Athletic Director Jeff Fluty said Cowley has a rich athletic tradition that strives for excellence, year in and year out.
“We consistently compete with the best NJCAA programs in the nation and hold ourselves to the highest standards of competition,” Fluty said. “The tradition of excellence here at Cowley College is remarkable. Congratulations to our coaches, student-athletes, staff, and all partnering stakeholders.”
Cowley was led by its men’s tennis team capturing the NJCAA Division I championship, while women’s tennis finished as national runners-up at the NJCAA Division I National Championships.
Other sports to do well on the national stage were men’s soccer (fourth), volleyball (sixth in DII), women’s cross country (sixth in DII), men’s cross country (sixth in DII), men’s outdoor track and field (9th), women’s indoor track and field (11th), women’s outdoor track and field (13th), men’s indoor track and field (18th), and wrestling (20th place),
Top-10 NATYCAA Cup Standings: (1) Iowa Western, 175; (2) Iowa Central, 165; (3) Barton, 161.5; (4) New Mexico JC, 139.5; (5) Cowley, 136.5; (6) Indian Hills, 110; (7) Salt Lake, 107.5; (8) Mesa CC, 104.5; (9) Heartland CC, 98; (10) Jones County, 93.5.
