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What isn’t Stanford good at? Stanford University is renowned for its high academics but has become known for top athletic programs. After winning the Capital One Cup back to back years, Stanford has proven their athletes are the best in the nation.
The Capital One Cup is an annual award presented to the top men’s and women’s athletic programs. Recognized at the ESPYS on July 13th, Capital One the winners will receive a combined $400,000 for student-athlete scholarships. This year, the Stanford men will be given the award alongside USC’s women.
The Cardinal men started the 2015-2016 year well after a third place finish in cross country and winning a national championship in soccer. Stanford started the year off hot and kept that trend going with top-10 finishes in football, water polo, gymnastics, indoor track and field, and volleyball. Stanford won with a relative comfortable margin and scored 128 points while North Carolina finished second with 108 points. Winning the Capital One Cup was no fluke as they won with ease.
Meanwhile, the women’s side was a tad closer. USC may have won, but the Stanford women put up a fight. USC collected 96 points and won by only six points. After winning the Capital One Cup in 2015, Stanford’s women earned second place. Stanford’s season was highlighted by winning tennis and placing in the top-10 in soccer, swimming and diving, golf, rowing, gymnastics, outdoor track and field, and water polo.
Winning the award in consecutive years, Stanford is receiving its fourth Capital One Cup. The women won last year for the third time, and the men have earned the award for the first time in program history. Athletic Director Bernard Muir said, ""It’s uplifting to see our student-athletes receive this recognition and I laud their strength in juggling both academics and athletics. As a first for our men’s athletics program, we proudly welcome this addition to the Capital One Cup trophies bearing the Stanford University name and would like to thank Capital One for its support of college athletics."
Congratulations to these outstanding student-athletes!