By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
For the sixth straight year, the Barton Community College athletic department finished among the top three of the annual NATYCAA Daktronics Cup standings.
Additionally, the year's accomplishment also earned the Cougars a seventh placing overall for their fifth straight year in the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings. Established in 2011-12, the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup also uses the same point system while combining all divisions for a final compiled standings.
Presented annually since 2004, the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletics Administrators (NATYCAA) recognizes the combined excellence of two-year college athletics based on success in championship competition across all sports.
Barton's points compiled 161.5 points toward the Scholarship Division Cup standings during the 2022-23 academic year, placing third behind winner Iowa Western Community College's 175 points and runner-up Iowa Central Community College's 165.00 total. New Mexico Junior College was fourth behind the Cougars with 139.50 and ahead of the only other Region VI member Cowley College's compiling 136.50 points to round out the top five.
The nation's two-year colleges are divided into three divisions with College of Du Page winning the Non-Scholarship Division and Mt. San Antonio College earning the State Association Division's top spot.
The Daktronics Cup recognizes the outstanding overall programs in each of the levels of the country with the NATYCAA organization representing two-year colleges. Each college is allowed to score points from their top-five programs per gender in the highest level of competition within their division. Each sport is treated equally so that the champion of each sport earns 20 points towards their Cup total. Second place finishes earn 19 points, third place earns 18 points, etc. This is the third year Daktronics has sponsored this award in conjunction with the NATYCAA.
Barton's points were led by the third place national finishes by each of the men's and women's outdoor track and field teams, along with, the women's swimming team. Two of Barton's teams placed fourth, the women's indoor track and field team and the men's swimming team. The Cougars' point total was also contributed by the men's indoor track and field team's fifth place finish and each of the men's bowling and women's golf sixth placing respectively. The men's tennis team's 8th place rounded out the men's portion of the scoring contributing as the women's soccer team added 14.5 points due to finishing second in pool play of the national tournament.
Participating at the national tournament but landing outside the program's five contributing highest placings were the women's basketball team, women's bowling, and women's tennis.
Daktronics Cup Standings (Complete NATYCAA Cup Standings)
NJCAA Scholarship Division Top-10
1. Iowa Western CC, 175 points
2. Iowa Central CC, 165
3. Barton CC, 161.50
4. New Mexico JC, 139.50
5. Cowley College, 136.50
6. Indian Hills CC, 110
7. Salt Lake CC, 107.50
8. Mesa CC, 104.50
9. Heartland CC, 98
10. Jones County CC, 93.50
LEARFIELD Directors' Cup Standings – Top Ten
1. College of Du Page, 185.5 points
2. Mt. San Antonio College, 180.5
3. Iowa Western CC, 177.5
4. RCSJ-Gloucester County, 176
5. Iowa Central CC, 167.5
6. Sierra College, 166
7. Barton CC, 164
8. Orange Coast College, 154.5
9. Suffolk County CC, 147.5
10. New Mexico JC, 142
About NATYCAA
Now in its 35th year, NATYCAA is the professional organization of two-year college athletics administrators and membership open to all two-year institutions from throughout the country. NATYCAA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 58th year. For more information on NACDA and the 18 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
About LEARFIELD
LEARFIELD is a leading media and technology services company in intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD services includes licensing and multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics; ticketing, ticket sales and professional concessions expertise; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue technology systems. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions. For more information on LEARFILED, please visit www.learfield.com.