The Vermont Catamounts have won the Stuart P. Haskell Commissioner’s Cup for the first time in program history, as announced by Commissioner Brad Walker on June 2 during the America East Conference’s annual meetings in Mystic, Connecticut.
UVM President Marlene Tromp said, “At a time when college athletics is undergoing significant change, I’m incredibly proud that our student-athletes have achieved historic levels of competitive success while continuing to represent the very best of college athletics in the classroom, on campus, and throughout our community. Our athletics program reflects the character and commitment of UVM and our Vermont community, and achieving the Commissioner’s Cup is a win for us all.”
Vermont secured the title with 320 points, narrowly surpassing UMBC by two points in one of the closest competitions in conference history. The Catamounts claimed two America East titles—in women’s basketball and men’s soccer—and four regular season titles across women’s lacrosse, field hockey, women’s basketball, and men’s soccer. Notably, this year marked Vermont’s first regular season championships in both field hockey and women’s lacrosse. Additionally, it was the first time Vermont reached the America East Championship game in all seven team sports they compete in: men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball.
The Catamounts are also recognized as being the first team to win the Commissioner’s Cup while sponsoring just 14 out of 18 league sports.
A representative from UVM Athletics said, “This is another very proud moment for UVM Athletics as we celebrate an exceptional year in Catamount Country. What makes this award especially meaningful is that it recognizes the collective efforts of our entire department—our student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, performance staff, and so many others whose dedication drives our success every day. The Commissioner’s Cup is a testament to the strength of our culture and the commitment of everyone who wears the Green and Gold. We’re honored to be recognized for our collective success and excited to continue building on this momentum.”
The scoring system for determining cup standings awards points based on final placements within each sport; teams receive additional points for winning tournament championships or placing highly at conference events where round robin play does not occur.
