Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University’s Department of Athletics recently completed one of its finest all-around academic years in school history, ranking 50th out of more than 440 NCAA Division III schools in the final Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed prior to the 1995-96 school year as a joint program between NACDA and USA Today, with points awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 18 sports — nine women’s and nine men’s. Tiger teams finished the fall 2011 season with 100 points thanks to a national championship won by the volleyball team. In the winter sports season, Wittenberg ran its point total to 241 thanks to national finishes in men’s basketball (5th), women’s swimming and diving (44th), and men’s indoor track and field (tied for 33rd). The point total improved to 317.5 during the spring season thanks to national finishes in men’s outdoor track and field (68th) and men’s golf (7th).
Wittenberg’s best finish ever in the NACDA Directors’ Cup came in 2002-03, when the Tigers placed 20th. The 2011-12 finish was the fourth top-50 placement for Wittenberg since the Directors’ Cup competition was created.
“I’m proud of yet another outstanding finish in the national all-sports standings,” Wittenberg Director of Athletics and Recreation Garnett Purnell said. “Once again, this shows that Wittenberg is competing well in a variety of athletic competitions on a national level with the best that NCAA Division III has to offer.”
With 317.5 points, Wittenberg was the third-highest ranked North Coast Athletic Conference school, behind only Denison University and DePauw University, and Wittenberg also ranked third among Ohio NCAA Division III institutions, behind only Denison and the University of Mount Union. Wittenberg previously finished fourth in the tightly contested 2011-12 NCAC All-Sports standings.
Middlebury College (Vt.) finished first in the 2011-12 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings, edging out Washington University (Mo.). Williams College (Mass.), Amherst College (Mass.), and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater rounded out the top five. Click here to view the final standings [PDF].
Wittenberg’s NACDA Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Finishes:
- 1995-96 — 35th
- 1996-97 — 52nd
- 1997-98 — 84th
- 1998-99 — 89th
- 1999-00 — 117th
- 2000-01 — 44th
- 2001-02 — 69th
- 2002-03 — 20th
- 2003-04 — 27th
- 2004-05 — 73rd
- 2005-06 — 73rd
- 2006-07 — 120th
- 2007-08 — 133rd
- 2008-09 — 141st
- 2009-10 — 58th
- 2010-11 — 59th
- 2011-12 — 50th
Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Erin Pence
040-12