June 19, 2009

It’s a four-peat in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings, as the same institutions in Divisions I, II, III and the NAIA will take home their Directors’ Cup trophies during today’s Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings luncheons on June 20 in conjunction with the 44th annual NACDA Convention in Orlando, FL.

Division I

The Division I race will not conclude until June 26 following the baseball championship, Stanford has clinched its 15th consecutive Directors’ Cup. The Cardinal currently have a total of 1455 points after placing in 23 postseason championships and earning points in a maximum of 10 women’s sports and 10 men’s sports. Stanford boasted an impressive 10 top five finishes this season, taking home the men’s gymnastics and women’s rowing championships, placing second in women’s volleyball and men’s water polo, third in men’s cross country, men’s swimming, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, and women’s water polo, fourth in women’s swimming, seventh in men’s track and field, eighth in women’s cross country and women’s gymnastics, ninth in fencing, women’s softball, women’s tennis and men’s tennis, 11th in men’s track and field, 12th in women’s track and field, 20th in men’s golf, 40th in women’s golf, 43rd in women’s track and field and 51st in men’s wrestling.

Quote from Stanford University Athletics Director Bob Bowlsby:

“We never take this award for granted. Our coaches and student-athletes treasure the opportunity to compete for the Directors’ Cup. They work very hard for it, and it is a constant presence throughout the year. We’re most proud of the merger of world class academics and world class athletics. Nineteen out of 20 student-athletes that come in the front door leave with their degrees, so they get a great competitive experience and they get a great academic experience and come because they want to compete at the highest level of everything they do.”

For the complete Division I standings, click here.

Division II

Despite not earning a single individual championship, Grand Valley State captured its sixth straight Division II Cup with 1014.50 total points. The Lakers placed in 18 postseason championships, earning points in the maximum of seven men’s and seven women sports. Grand Valley State finished second in women’s cross country, women’s indoor track and field, and women’s golf, third in women’s volleyball, fourth in women’s outdoor track and field, fifth in men’s cross country, and football, seventh in baseball, ninth in women’s soccer, women’s swimming and men’s swimming, 12th in men’s indoor track and field and men’s outdoor track and field, 33rd in men’s and women’s basketball and tennis and 35th in men’s golf.

Quote from Grand Valley State Athletics Director Tim Selgo:

“While we’re very proud of all the competitive success of all our student-athletes, we’re proud of them in other ways as well. This past semester, 59.6 percent of our student-athletes achieved a three-point grade point average or better and have accumulated a total of 3,200 community service hours. Our competitive success is due in large part to the outstanding conference we compete in. In this year’s Directors’ Cup standings, four our conference members finished in the top 20.”

Division III

Williams (Mass.) has clinched its 11th consecutive Division III Directors’ Cup with 1066.50 points after competing in 16 post season championships earning points in the maximum nine women’s sports and in seven men’s sports including the national collegiate skiing championship. The Ephs took home the women’s tennis and women’s rowing championships and placed third in women’s and men’s cross country and women’s soccer, fourth in women’s swimming, fifth in women’s volleyball and men’s tennis, ninth in women’s lacrosse, 10th in men’s wrestling, 14th in national collegiate skiing, and men’s outdoor track and field, 15th in women’s outdoor track and field, 21st in men’s swimming and 48th in men’s and women’s indoor track and field.

Quote from Williams Athletics Director Harry Sheehy:

“It’s a tremendous honor to be here and I’m humbled and thrilled to accept this. There’s a lot of repeat winners up here, but it really isn’t easy at all, so I’m really proud of our student-athletes. I treasure the opportunity we have as a staff to work and build these young men and young women’s lives. I know the year will come when we don’t win this, but I’m proud to be here.”

NAIA

In the NAIA, Azusa Pacific has claimed its fifth straight Directors’ Cup after placing in 14 postseason championships and earning points in the maximum of six women’s and six men’s sports for 915 total points. The Cougars clinched three individual championships this year, taking titles in women’s cross country and men’s indoor and outdoor track and field. Azusa also placed second in men’s cross country, and women’s indoor track and field, fourth in women’s track and field, fifth in women’s soccer and men’s tennis, seventh in women’s swimming, ninth in women’s volleyball, women’s basketball and women’s tennis, 11th in baseball and 17th in men’s basketball.

Quote from Azusa Pacific Athletics Director Bill Odell:

“I’d like to thank NACDA, USA Today and Learfield Sports especially, for your coming on board and for the additional publicity. We’re very proud of our athletes and our coaches for what they have done this year. They represent Azusa Pacific in Christ, community, scholarship and service, and that is our goal as the athletics department to be representative of who we are as an institution.”

For the complete NAIA standings, click here.

The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today.