Washington University Athletics Second in Learfield Sports Directors' Cup
STANDINGS | ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS
St. Louis, Mo., June 7, 2012 – The Washington University in St. Louis Department of Athletics finished second in the 2011-12 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Division III standings, as announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
The second-place finish is tied for the highest in school history and the Bears’ 10th-straight top-10 appearance–2010-11 (third), 2009-10 (third), 2008-09 (fourth), 2007-08 (second), 2006-07 (fifth), 2005-06 (seventh), 2004-05 (third), 2003-04 (ninth), 2002-03 (fifth). Washington University, which was first after the fall and the winter standings, accumulated a school record 980.25 points. The Bears’ previous high was 964 points after a third-place finish in 2010-11.
Middlebury College captured its first Directors’ Cup with 1040.75 points after scoring in the maximum 18 sports. Washington University (980.25) was second and Williams College was third with 964.50 points. Williams had captured 15 of 16 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup titles, including 13 straight through last year. Amherst College finished fourth with 950.75 points, while the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater rounded out the top five with 815.50 points.
Washington University was one of five University Athletic Association (UAA) members within the top 100 in Division III–Emory University (sixth, 727 points), University of Chicago (38th, 405 points), Case Western Reserve University (73rd, 264 points) and New York University (88th, 221.50 points).
Washington University had 17 of 19 teams compete in NCAA Tournament action, and recorded seven top-10 finishes. WUSTL also won eight University Athletic Association (UAA) titles and posted a combined sports record of 203-69-1 (.745).
The Bears had four teams make Final Four appearances in 2011-12, led by the national championship women’s cross country team. Washington U. also placed third in men’s cross country and women’s indoor track and field, fourth in men’s tennis, fifth in women’s soccer and sixth in women’s outdoor track and field.
Washington University also finished ninth in volleyball, 13th in women’s golf, 17th in men’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s tennis, , 18th in men’s indoor track and field, 25th in women’s swimming and diving, 41st in men’s swimming and diving, 48th in baseball and 77th in men’s outdoor track and field.
The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between 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.