The College's intercollegiate sports program
finished the year with an overall record of 192-146-10 and, as of early June, Union was fifty-second among the country's Division III colleges in the race for the Sears Cup, a national competition
that recognizes athletic achievement.
The College's three teams that appeared in NCAA tournaments-women's soccer, men's basketball, and women's lacrosse-finished ninth,
seventeenth, and fifth in the country, respectively. The men's swim team sent four swimmers to the national meet and finished twenty-first, and Justin Sievert finished fourth in the country in the shotput at the NCAA outdoor track and field championship.
Union's ranking in the Sears Cup put the College in third place among Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) colleges (St. Lawrence was twenty-third and Hobart and William Smith was forty-fourth), and seventh in New York State out of thirty-two colleges.
“This is an excellent accomplishment by our student-athletes, by our coaches, and by everyone connected with Union's intercollegiate athletic program,” said Athletic Director Val Belmonte. “In three years we've moved from a ranking of 216 (in 2000) to 171 (in 2001) to 52.
“I'm very excited about our immediate future,” he continued. “The Frank Bailey bleacher renovation will be ready for the opening of the 2002 fall season, and we have some very reachable goals that involve several of our other athletic facilities. I'm very excited to see how much we accomplish and improve in the upcoming season.”
Fifty-two athletes (excluding freshmen) who were either starters or top reserves were named to the UCAA All-
Academic team, and fifty-nine athletes were recognized for their individual accomplishments by being voted All-Conference, All-State, Regional All-American, and/or National All-American. Junior Justin Sievert was recognized in three sports (football, indoor track, and outdoor track) while Sean Washington (indoor and outdoor track), Molly Flanagan (soccer and lacrosse), and Stephanie Maychack (soccer and lacrosse) were recognized in two sports.
Coaches Bob Montana (men's basketball) and Linda Bevelander (women's lacrosse) were named “Coach of the Year” by the UCAA, and Mary Ellen Burt (women's basketball) was presented with the “Service Award” by the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association.