Track, Tennis, and Rugby Wrap-Up
Track
Adding to his NCAA Division III Indoor Championship in the 200 m dash, sophomore Corey Carter won the 200 m DIII Outdoor Championship over Memorial Day weekend, running a personal best of 20:89. After a false start in the 100 m, Corey was disqualified from that race, but his 200 m win earned him All-American honors for the third time so far in his college career.
Tennis
Undefeated in conference play during the regular season, the men’s tennis team won their sixth consecutive St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Tournament, sweeping almost all of the All-Conference Awards, including the following highlights:
• Player of the Year—Daniel Gomez (C'20)
• Coach of the Year—Rusty Jones
• 1st Team All-Conference #1–6 Singles
• 1st Team All-Conference #1 and #2 Doubles
The women’s tennis team won the SLIAC Conference Tournament as well, claiming many top All-Conference awards. Notably, Paige Cooley was undefeated in both singles and doubles conference play, never losing a set during singles play. The women’s All-Conference awards include the following highlights:
• Player of the Year—Paige Cooley (C'19)
• Newcomer of the Year—Greer Sprague (C'21)
• 1st Team All-Conference #1 Singles
• 1st Team All-Conference #3 Singles
• 1st Team All-Conference #1 Doubles
After the SLIAC Tournament, both the men’s and women’s teams competed in the first round of NCAA DIII Nationals. The men’s matches, their first at Nationals in 32 years, took place on campus in Hexberg Tennis Center before a huge home crowd. The women played at Kenyon College in Ohio. Neither team advanced beyond the first round.
Rugby
In an unprecedented sixth consecutive appearance at the Rugby USA DII College 7s Championship, Principia’s Thunder Chickens tied the University of Wisconsin Whitewater (who wound up winning the Championship) and won against North Carolina State University (who took 2nd place overall). Principia also beat the University of Hartford to win their pool.
From there, however, they lost the key matches that would have secured a spot among the top five teams. In the end, the Thunder Chickens captured 7th place—and unexpected acknowledgement from their opponents for their formidable presence at the Championships over the last six years.