Demorest, GA (October 18, 2023) – In a momentous event following the triumphant conclusion of the 2022-23 athletic seasons and the inaugural year of competition in the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS), Piedmont University was honored with the inaugural Commissioner’s Cups on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of their women’s volleyball match.
 
The Commissioner’s Cup, an esteemed recognition, annually distinguishes the top men's and women's athletic programs and the overall program in the league. This prestigious award is bestowed based on a point system, which is conferred to the top finisher in the regular season and the top four places in the conference championship.
 
The Lions secured all three titles: Men's, Women's, and Overall Commissioner's Cups, last season.
 
"The Commissioner's Cup stands as an embodiment of the relentless dedication and unyielding spirit that defines the journey of our student-athletes and coaches throughout an entire season,” said CCS Commissioner, Beth Vansant. “As we draw the curtains on this inaugural year for the CCS, it is a privilege to present the Men's, Women's, and Overall Commissioner's Cups to Piedmont University, a testament to their unwavering commitment to the principles of NCAA Division III. The prowess of their student-athletes and the tireless passion of their athletics staff illuminate a path towards excellence that will inspire generations to come."
 
This historic achievement comes in the first year of competition for the Collegiate Conference of the South and marks the first Commissioner’s Cups awarded in the league.
 
Piedmont University's athletic prowess was on full display during the 2022-23 season as they clinched six postseason championship titles. 
 
On the women’s side, the Lions made history by winning the CCS Women’s Cross Country Championship, becoming the first team to do so in the league's history. Additional titles were claimed in women's soccer, women’s tennis, women’s track and field. On the men’s side, Piedmont captured the men’s track and field and baseball championship titles.

“Sweeping the Collegiate Conference of South Commissioner's Cups in the first year of the conference formation is a historical accomplishment for the Piedmont University Athletic programs. It is an honor for me to serve with such incredible coaches and support staff who recruit and retain a tremendous group of student-athletes for our campus. I would also like people to know of the excellence of this group in the classroom as well, as our overall department GPA in the fall was 3.3 and a 3.28 this spring. Our student-athletes are excelling in the classroom as well as on the athletic fields of play. Thank you to everyone in our department for their continued commitment to excellence.”

 
 

ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH
The CCS is an NCAA Division III athletic conference that began play during the 2022-23 academic year. The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Berea College, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports. In addition to sharing the member institutions' geographic identity, the name 'Collegiate Conference of the South' is indicative of a shared commitment to academic excellence, which is commensurate with the NCAA Division III philosophy.