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| FAMU celebrating Head Softball Coach Veronica Wiggins’s 700th
win |
The All-Sports Award is an indicator of the overall
strengths and women's athletic program. FAMU received a $20,000 check during a
reception in St. Petersburg, Fla.
“I would like extend congratulations to Florida A&M
University and Interim President Dr. Larry Robinson, Director of Athletics
Milton Overton and all of the outstanding individuals including staff, coaches
and student-athletes who were involved in winning the Mary McLeod Bethune
Award,” said MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas.
FAMU Senior Associate Athletics Director Angela Suggs feels the credit goes to the exceptional coaching staff at Florida A&M.
“Our coaches understand that we expect them to graduate the
student-athletes they bring in to the university,” Suggs said. “It's part of our standing with the
university's mission. But, we also
expect success in competition. This year
our women's coaches rose to the occasion, delivering clutch performances. That resulted in us leading the pack in the
MEAC. I could not be more proud of our
coaches, their support staffs and the student-athletes who performed on the
field of competition to bring home this honor to the highest of seven hills in
Tallahassee," Suggs said.
Florida A&M, which shared the Mary McLeod Bethune
Women's All-Sports Award last academic year, won the award outright for the
first time since 2001. The Lady Rattlers have won the award a total of 10 times
since its inception in 1987 and has won it in consecutive years for the first
time since a nine-year streak from 1993-2001.
“I commend all of our women's teams coaches who are grooming
the next era of FAMU Champions,” said Milton Overton Jr., FAMU director of athletics.
“The young ladies have done a great job of exemplifying the three characteristics
we seek in building champions. They are
getting it done in a big way in the classroom, this award proves that they are
getting it done on the field and they are certainly involved in the community. Those things combined build champions in
life. I am extremely proud of our
coaches as this indicates that they are conducting themselves with
excellence. We challenged them to win
this award outright, after sharing it last year and they delivered.”
The Lady Rattlers totaled 95.5 points in the all-sports
tally, highlighted by their fifth consecutive conference championship in cross
country and fourth straight softball championship. Florida A&M also
captured divisional titles in volleyball and softball while finishing second in
indoor track & field.
North Carolina A&T State placed second with 90 points,
followed by Bethune-Cookman (83.5), Hampton (82.5) and Norfolk State (76.5).
Points are awarded in a descending order beginning with 14
points for champions or first place regular season finishes. The second-place
team receives 12 points. Tied teams split the point total.