The Modesto Junior College athletics program tied for 15th (seventh in Northern California) from among 109 California community colleges in the annual National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Cup standings. MJC’s standings were benefited by particularly successful performances by MJC’s Football, Wrestling, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, and Men’s Track and Field teams.
Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA, topped the final standings with their fifth straight NATYCAA Cup.
The NATYCAA is the professional organization of two-year college athletic administrators and membership is open to all two-year institutions throughout the country. The NATYCAA Awards were designed to recognize and reward overall program excellence at the two-year college level.
“We had another outstanding year for MJC athletics. Once again, six of the top 15 ranked athletic programs in the State (MJC included) came from the highly competitive Big 8 Conference. Student athletes that come to Modesto do and will get noticed, both academically and athletically,” stated MJC athletic director Nick Stavrianoudakis. “MJC’s success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our head coaches and student athletes.”
MJC highlights this past year included Football’s Valley Conference Championship and ranking of 14th in the nation; Women’s Tennis Big 8 Conference Championship and number one ranked singles player in Northern California, Symone Jacques; Men’s Track and Field producing two State Champions – Escalon’s Matthew Gallego (hammer throw) and Michael Thompson (triple jump); Wrestling earning a ranking of 11th in the State, and Men’s Golf qualifying for the State Tourney and finishing in the Elite 8.
A college is awarded points based on its team’s final positions in post-conference competition. Each college’s top-five men’s and top-five women’s team results count toward the school’s overall point total. Complete standings, scoring criteria, and history of the NATYCAA Cup is available on the CCCAA website, http://cccaasports.org/NATYCAA/index.
