[SAU Bees] A look back at SAU Athletics in 2018-19
It was a year of champions, achievements and debuts. The 2018-19 academic year saw St. Ambrose Athletics earn recognition on the playing fields, in the classroom and in the community.
Andrea Adam won National Championships in women's diving, her third and fourth national crowns. There were 22 All-American Bees and 12 teams advanced to NAIA National Championship competition.
The year started St. Ambrose earning NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character Gold Star Institution status in late August. SAU was one of just 12 institutions to receive top honors, and one of just three to repeat the honor. And the year closed with St. Ambrose leading the NAIA with 23 Scholar Teams, the third straight year SAU was tops in the country.
An Esports team was added to the department and a newly-formed Color Guard joined the Athletic Band, which made its marching debut at halftime of an SAU football game in the fall.
And there was a change at the top of the department. While remaining head men's basketball coach, Ray Shovlain stepped aside as Athletic Director at the end of June, and Mike Holmes stepped in as Athletic Director on July 1.
With the 2019-20 athletic seasons right around the corner, look back at the major highlights of another banner year for the Fighting Bees in 2018-19.