By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Culture. Tradition.
Those were two words of how Barton Community College Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs described the meaning behind the college’s athletic department finishing in the top three of the NATYCAA Daktronics Cup standings. NATYCAA stands for National Alliance of Two Year College Athletics Administrators and they judge all the junior colleges across the country based on how their teams finish at national competitions.
Finishing third in the
country, Rolfs commended his staff for creating a department with overall success.
"Some colleges hang their hat on a football program," said Rolfs. "They have a few other sports, but as long as their football team wins, or maybe it's basketball. Certainly, track and field has led the way for us when it comes to scoring and national championships, but I think we had 11 of our 22 programs who were ranked in the top 10 this last year nationally. That's incredible."
Each college is allowed to score points from their top-five programs, per
gender, at their national championships. The champion in each sport is given 20
points, second place awarded 19 points, and so forth.
David Schenek just
completed his 16th year as Barton’s head track and field coach. The multi-national-champion winner spoke to the pride of the Cougars’ athletic department.
"It just shows what everyone here is trying to do," said Schenek. "It's not easy. I love being part of an incredible athletic program altogether. It only helps in recruiting but it also creates an atmosphere where everyone is competing to do the same thing you're doing. I think there are a lot of young coaches that are working hard to do those same things and give opportunities to young people."
2023 marked the sixth straight year that Barton has finished among the top
three of the annual NATYCAA Cup standings.
Daktronics 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