Spurred on by contributions from 14 of its 22 sports, St. Thomas finished in the top 10 nationally in the Learfield Division-III Director’s Cup standings for the third year in a row.

The Tommies scored a school-record 765.5 points in the all-sport competition and finished in ninth place for the second consecutive year. St. Thomas Director of Athletics Steve Fritz said the strong national finishes by the baseball and softball teams were impressive, but contributions were needed by all of the university’s programs to achieve success.

“You have to have balance,” Fritz said. “The huge charge by our spring sports is a great accomplishment, but we have an athletic goal as an institution that all teams strive toward.”

St. Thomas’ total score bested its previous high by more than 20 points, and it was the only institution in the competition that sent its men’s and women’s hockey teams, men’s and women’s basketball teams and softball and baseball teams to the national playoffs.

Men’s basketball guard Marcus Alipate wasn’t surprised by St. Thomas’ balance in the competition, but said most people expect athletic excellence from the Tommies.

“Everyone here knows that we have good sports, but most people don’t realize just how good we are as a school,” Alipate said. “We all have high expectations and standards.”

Swimming and diving coach Scott Blanchard said high expectations produce consistent results for St. Thomas athletics, and said “tradition plays a huge part in it.”

“I think it speaks to the quality of coaching we have here, and the work and development with athletes that takes place,” Blanchard said. “Hopefully, I can continue that success, and my team can contribute more to the total score.”

Fritz said that the fall sports season didn’t contribute as many points as in prior years, but said he “fully expects that to change next year.”

“Our fall sports are all strong programs with great traditions, and we have national-championship quality teams,” Fritz said.

Quarterback Matt O’Connell echoed Fritz’s sentiment and said all sports at St. Thomas have the chance to compete at the highest level.

“Everyone’s mindset is to compete to the best of their ability, and the whole school seems to strive for the same thing,” O’Connell said. “We have national championships in a wide range of sports here.”

Fifteen All-Americans will be returning for the Tommies this year from a wide array of sports. Seniors Erika and Angela Tipp, five-time All-Americans, form half of St. Thomas’ 4×100-meter relay team; designated hitter Brenna Walek will be an integral part of the softball team’s offense; junior Mike Lanz, a standout performer in the 100 fly, will look to improve on his sixth-place national finish; and goaltender Drew Fielding will be counted on to backstop men’s hockey to a second straight NCAA Playoff appearance.

With plenty of talent and leadership returning, Fritz said that the university is more than capable of improving on its fourth place finish in 2000, the school’s highest to date.

“Each coaching staff and each program have goals of their own, but collectively, as an institution, we have athletic goals that we aspire to reach,” Fritz said.

O’Connell said strong finishes in the Director’s Cup standings indicate the bond shared by all athletes at St. Thomas.

“Everyone here has community support, alumni support and peer support,” O’Connell said. “We’re all playing and cheering for the same school, and we all have the same name on the front of the jersey.”

Tom Pitzen can be reached at pitz2014@stthomas.edu.