NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - The Wilmington University men's track and field team placed second overall at the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championships in just its third year of competition, leading to head coach Christian Stamm being voted the 2022 CACC Men's Coach of the Year.
The program began with the 2019 spring season, but never got off the ground in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wildcats finished third in the 2021 CACC Championships before sliding up a spot into second overall at the 2022 CACC Championships earlier this month.
In a vote of the league's sports information directors, Christian Stamm was named the Men's Coach of the Year. It is the first CACC Major Award for the track and field program.
Stamm helped the team to a second place finish with 134 points at the CACC Championships, trailing only Georgian Court who tallied 240 points. The Wildcats had three individual champions: Shemar Parker in the 400m hurdles; Akeel Blake in the long jump with a new meet record; and Joshua Varghese in the discus throw.
The Wildcats won the Lloyd Sigler Spring Meet and the Golden Ram Invitational this season while finishing second overall at the Oscar Moore Invite. The Wildcats have been ranked as high as sixth in the USTFCCCA Regional Rankings this year as well.
2022 CACC Track & Field Major Award Winners:
MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Mar'Quel Davis (Bloomfield College)
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Nishorn Pierre (Holy Family University)
MEN'S TRACK ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Joey Datta (Caldwell University)
MEN'S FIELD ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Nishorn Pierre (Holy Family University)
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD COACH OF THE YEAR: Christian Stamm (Wilmington University)
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Bloomfield College
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Martina Stanchi (Post University)
WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Ginalee Erskine (Georgian Court University)
WOMEN'S TRACK ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Martina Stanchi (Post University)
WOMEN'S FIELD ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Anastasia Watson (Chestnut Hill College)
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD COACH OF THE YEAR: Dwight Brandon (Holy Family University)
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Holy Family University