FSW Top 10 of 2018-19- #3, Bucs Take Over NJCAA Rankings

FSW Top 10 of 2018-19- #3, Bucs Take Over NJCAA Rankings

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Having already touched on a number of firsts during our countdown of the top 10 moments in the 2018-19 FSW Athletic season, as we work our way to #3, we have another.  Our #3 moment is the Bucs taking over the NJCAA National rankings with both Men's Basketball and Softball finishing the regular season ranked #1, Women's Basketball climbing into the top 10 for the first time in program history, and Baseball receiving their first national ranking in program history this year.

Both Bucs Basketball teams were ranked to begin the season, the FSW Men at #10 and the Women at #12.  An early season upset sent the ladies down to #18, but the Bucs Men quickly moved into the top five with a 10-0 start to the year.  A month later, the Bucs continued their climb, with the men matching their highest ranking in program history when they checked in at #2 and the women following suit, moving back to lucky #13.  Despite winning, winning, and winning some more, the FSW Women stuck like glue at #13, spending six straight weeks in the same spot in the poll. On the men's side, after spending two weeks at #2, the Bucs caught a break as South Plains lost and they kept on winning, taking over the #1 spot in the National Rankings for the first time in program history.  The Bucs Men protected that #1 ranking for the final five weeks of the regular season, ending the regular season ranked #1 in all the land.  The Bucs Women continued their charge, jumping two spots to #11, their highest ranking in program history and then two more into the top 10 at #9 to close the regular season, topping the previous week's program best. 

On the diamonds at City of Palms Park it was much of the same.  The preseason brought very predictable news as the Bucs Softball team opened the year ranked 3rd and the Bucs Baseball team without a national nod.  A 21-0 start to the year on the softball diamond easily propelled the ladies into the #1 spot for the second time in program history and they didn't plan on giving that up any time soon.  Baseball also got off to a hot start, the best in program history to be exact at 19-3, taking them from unranked to #9 in the poll, the program's first National Ranking since their revival in 2016.   Coach Robert Iamurri and the Bucs Softball squad remained the nation's top ranked team for the next six weeks, closing the regular season at #1 for the second straight season.  On the baseball diamond, there was more moving and shaking.  The Bucs jumped into the top five at #4 in the week three poll, but dropped back to #11 after losing three of four before the week four poll.  They bounced around between #9 and #15 for the next six weeks, closing the regular season at #11.

Each program achieved their highest ranking in their respective program histories in 2018-19 and the four were simultaneously ranked for the first time in FSW Athletics history. 

Tomorrow we arrive at #2 which brings us to something that had never been done in collegiate history!

#10- Sarah Lawton's Perfect Game

#9- Bucs Baseball Sweeps Defending Champs

#8- Collins Named NJCAA National Pitcher of the Year   

#7- Bucs Go 4 for 4 in Suncoast Titles/All-Americans

#6- Both Bucs Hoops Squads Go Dancing

#5- FSW Claims First Baseball Title

#4- Women's Basketball Secures First National Tournament Win

#3- Bucs Take Over NJCAA Rankings

#2- Revealed July 18th

#1- Revealed July 19th