Stanford Continues to Lead as the Winter Championship Season Ends in the Race for the Division I Sears Directors' Cup

As of April 23, 1998

Cleveland, Ohio -- As the winter championship season comes to a close, three-time defending champion Stanford University, owns a 200 point lead in the race for the 1997-98 Division I Sears Directors' Cup, presented by the nation's athletics directors.

Stanford had an outstanding winter season, including national championships in women's and men's swimming. The Cardinal also placed second in men's indoor track and field, third in men's basketball and fencing, 14th in women's gymnastics, 21st in women's track and field, 33rd in women's basketball and 56th in men's wrestling to record 760 points in its quest for its fourth Sears Directors' Cup, administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and sponsored by Sears, Roebuck and Co. Rounding out the top five are Michigan, second with 560 points; North Carolina, third with 490 points; Florida, fourth with 380 points; and Nebraska, fifth with 370 points.

A new scoring structure was implemented this year in which points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 20 sports -- ten for men and ten for women. Each national champion receives 100 points (last year, first place was worth 64 points), while second place is worth 80 points (exceptions include brackets of eight teams - 2nd = 75 points; or brackets of two or four teams - 2nd = 50 points.)

These are the final winter standings include the sports of women's and men's basketball, fencing, women's and men's gymnastics, men's ice hockey, rifle, skiing, women's and men's swimming, women's and men's indoor track and field and men's wrestling. In addition to Stanford, winning national titles in those sports were Tennessee in women's basketball, Kentucky in men's basketball, Penn State in fencing, Georgia in women's gymnastics, California in men's gymnastics, Michigan in men's ice hockey, West Virginia in rifle, Colorado in skiing, Texas in women's indoor track and field, Arkansas in men's indoor track and field and Iowa in men's wrestling.

There are four Sears Directors' Cup Awards, one to honor the institution with the best all-around athletics program in each of the NCAA's Divisions I, II and III and the NAIA. It is the first-ever cross-sectional all-sports national recognition award for both men and women.

The winner of the award will receive a trophy designed by Waterford Crystal, which will tour the country, appearing at major men's and women's events throughout the year.

A complete listing of the final winter standings follows.

Go to Standings