Central Missouri and Washington University boast top four finishes  in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup

Central Missouri and Washington University boast top four finishes in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup

The University of Central Missouri finished third in the final Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings for the 2013-14 year, which were released on Wednesday morning. It is the fourth top three finish for UCM in the last six years and the 14th time in the last 15 years that the Mules and Jennies have finished in the top 20.

Central Missouri scored in 12 of a maximum 14 sports. UCM tallied 128 points in the fall, scoring in men’s cross country, women’s soccer and volleyball. The Mules and Jennies racked up 345 points in the winter, including the national championship in men’s basketball. UCM also garnered points in women’s basketball, women’s bowling, men’s indoor track & field, women’s indoor track & field and wrestling. Central Missouri wrapped up the spring with 180.75 points, scoring in men’s golf as well as men’s and women’s outdoor track & field.

Central Missouri captured seven MIAA regular season championships in 2013-14, the second time in school history with that many titles and the only school in MIAA history to win as many in a single school year. Teams capturing conference championships this season included Mules Cross Country, Jennies Soccer, Jennies Volleyball, Jennies Basketball, Mules Basketball, Mules Golf and Mules Baseball. Additionally, Jennies Volleyball and Mules Golf captured MIAA Tournament titles and Mules Basketball captured the NCAA-II National Championship.

Finishing ahead of Central Missouri was Grand Valley State as it claimed its ninth Division II Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. The Lakers last won the title following the 2010-11 season and finished second the previous two years. Grand Valley State will be honored at the 2014 NACDA Convention during the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, June 10.

Grand Valley State finished with 1,030 points and scored in the maximum 14 sports, including national championships in women’s cross country and women’s soccer, second in men’s cross country, third in football and women’s outdoor track & field, fourth in women’s indoor track & field, sixth in men’s indoor track & field, seventh in men’s outdoor track & field, ninth in women’s volleyball, 10th in both men’s and women’s swimming & diving, 11th in women’s golf, 17th in baseball and 33rd in men’s golf. The Lakers had three scores omitted due to the seven maximum allowed for women’s and men’s sports – men’s and women’s tennis and softball.

West Texas A&M finishes as the runner-up for the title with 708 points. This is the school’s best finish, as West Texas A&M has never been higher than 22nd. The Buffs scored in 12 total sports and finished the spring with a national championship in softball, a 17th place finish in baseball, a 39th place finish in women’s outdoor track & field and a 53rd place finish in men’s outdoor track & field.

Washington University-St. Louis finished fourth overall in the final Division III  Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings.  The Bears finished with 924.25 points, finishes in fourth place. The Bears scored in the maximum 18 sports and had one score omitted due to the nine maximum allowed for women’s and men’s sports – softball.

Finishing ahead of Washington was Williams, which claimed its 17th Division III Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup. The Ephs have now won back-to-back titles and 17 out of 19 awarded since 1995-96. Williams finished with 1,225.25 points and scored in the maximum 18 sports.

Wisconsin Whitewater finishes as the runner-up for the title with 1134.75 points, which is the highest finish for the University. The Warhawks scored in 16 total sports and finished the spring with a national championship in baseball, a third place finish in softball and women’s outdoor track & field, 13th place finish in men’s outdoor track & field and a 17th place finish in men’s and women’s tennis.

Johns Hopkins takes home third place with 977.50 points. The Blue Jays scored in 17 sports, including fourth in women’s tennis, fifth in men’s lacrosse and men’s tennis, 17th in women’s lacrosse, 18th in men’s outdoor track & field and 23rd in women’s outdoor track & field. The third place finish is a new all-time high for Johns Hopkins.

The Division I winners will be announced on June 10th.

The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 18 sports — nine women’s and nine men’s.

Each institution is awarded points in a pre-determined number of sports for men and women.

The overall champion is the institution that records the highest number of points in their division’s Directors’ Cup standings.

The winner receives a crystal trophy.

Sports Included:
Division I — 20, ten men’s and ten women’s
Division II — 14, seven men’s and seven women’s
Division III — 18, nine men’s and nine women’s
NAIA –12, six men’s and six women’s

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