Three titles and six runners-up finishes helped UCSB reclaim the Big West Conference Commissioner’s Cup for the eighth time in 10 years, the conference announced Tuesday.
The award is presented to the league institution with the best overall results in the conference’s 18 sponsored sports championships.
The Gauchos, who compete in 17 conference sports, took Big West titles in men’s basketball, men’s soccer, and women’s cross country. They finished with a 115.9 point average. Cal Poly, which claimed a pair of league championships and three second-place finishes, was second with a 105.9 average. UCSB also defeated the Mustangs in 2009-10 Blue-Green Rivalry Series, 12-10.
“I want to congratulate all of the student-athletes and coaches,” said UCSB Director of Athletics Mark Massari. “We are happy, but not satisfied. As I’m sure is the case with all our fellow Big West schools, we strive to be a national program across several sports.”
The 2008-09 champion Long Beach State, placed third with a 103.6 average. UC Davis came in fourth at 101.1.
The Big West Commissioner’s Cup has been awarded 12 times. The initial two, in 1998-99 and 1999-2000, were won by Pacific. UCSB won a league record five in a row from 2000-05, but had the streak ended by Long Beach in 2005-06. The Gauchos won back-to-back Cups in 2006-07 and 2007-08, before the 49ers won the 2008-09 honor.
