{"id":14110,"date":"2022-05-20T21:06:37","date_gmt":"2022-05-21T01:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/?p=14110"},"modified":"2022-06-06T13:31:18","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T17:31:18","slug":"marymount-competes-with-catholic-university-in-inaugural-popes-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/marymount-competes-with-catholic-university-in-inaugural-popes-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Marymount competes with Catholic University in inaugural Pope’s Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In a ceremony hosted by the Catholic Diocese of Arlington<\/a> on Thursday afternoon, the Catholic University of America Cardinals<\/a> received the inaugural Pope\u2019s Cup over the Marymount Saints<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A group of administrators from each university were on hand for the ceremony that saw Most Rev. Michael Francis Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, present the trophy to Catholic University Director of Athletics Sean Sullivan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are grateful to Bishop Burbidge for his support and for hosting the inaugural ceremony of the Pope\u2019s Cup,\u201d said John Garvey, President of Catholic University. \u201cWe have raised the stakes for future athletic competitions with Marymount. We look forward to many good games in future years, but most importantly, to a strengthening of ties between the two institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Similar to the Army vs. Navy \u201cStar Series\u201d and other athletic department rivalries across the country, each team in the department (in sports that both schools sponsor) will have an equal chance to contribute points toward their institution claiming the Cup.<\/p>\n

Each sport can earn one point for their school by defeating their local rival, with Olympic sports selecting an invitational\/tournament, dual meet or performance list comparison to count as their Pope\u2019s Cup event. Teams will not be required to compete against each other in every sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Pope\u2019s Cup competition between Marymount and Catholic University provides a great opportunity for the two of us to build a new athletic tradition which encourages alumni participation for us both,\u201d said Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University<\/a>. \u201cI am very excited about our Marymount family coming out to root the Saints on to victory when the two schools compete with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Pope's<\/p>\n

In future years, the winning university will be presented with the Cup at one of the final competitions of the school year. If the overall Cup points are tied at the end of the year, the previous champion will retain the cup.<\/p>\n

Students, alumni, family and friends are encouraged to attend Pope\u2019s Cup rivalry games and root on their favorite teams as they look to help their university win the trophy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am delighted to see our two great area Catholic universities, Marymount University and the Catholic University of America, engaged in this activity,\u201d Bishop Burbidge said. \u201cThe Pope\u2019s Cup celebrates the fine athletic traditions of these wonderful educational institutions and will be a welcome annual competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the 2021-22 academic year, both athletic programs have reached tremendous levels of success. In addition to having four teams win conference championships (Men\u2019s Soccer, Men\u2019s Swimming, Men\u2019s Lacrosse and Women\u2019s Lacrosse), Catholic had nine programs represented at the NCAA championships. The Cardinals also had six Landmark Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete Selections.<\/p>\n

On the other side of the rivalry, Marymount Men\u2019s Volleyball qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history while Marymount Women\u2019s Golf won its second-straight Centennial Conference title and appeared at the NCAA championships. In its first full season as a program, Marymount Men\u2019s Tennis won the Atlantic East title. The Saints also earned six Atlantic East Elite 20 Awards for individuals holding the highest GPA at the conference championship.<\/p>\n

Catholic University and Marymount University are separated by just 11 miles and are the Washington, D.C., area\u2019s two Division III Catholic institutions.<\/p>\n

POPE\u2019S CUP RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n