Final 2013-14 Learfield Cup Standings Announced
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) released the final Division III standings for the
Learfield Directors Cup and all eight eligible Empire 8 schools finished in the top 285 among the approximately 440 eligible NCAA Division III programs competing nationally for the prestigious honor.
Ithaca College achieved its highest finish in 10 years with a 12th-place finish in the final standings and was the highest ranked college amoung New York Division III schools with 671 points.
Stevens Institute of Technology placed in the top 50 for the sixth straight year with a 44th place finish and St. John Fisher completed the year ranked 103rd.
Hartwick (209), Nazareth (234), Utica (237), Alfred (243) and Elmira (282) completed the rankings for the Empire 8 schools.
Williams won its 17th Cup with 1225.25 points, followed by Wisconsin-Whitewater with 1134.75 and Johns Hopkins with 977.50.
Ithaca had 13 teams participate in NCAA postseason competition in 2013-14 with eight top-20 finishes. The Bombers were 20th after the fall season, earned by national-tournament finishes in football (t-9th), women's soccer (t-5th) and women's cross country (23rd).
Ithaca's winter sports programs placed in five NCAA championship events. The women's basketball team placed tied for fifth in a record-breaking season. The wrestling team finished 11th in team standings. In indoor women's track & field, Ithaca athletes earned enough points to place 40th overall. Additionally, the men's swimming & diving team placed tied for 24th and women's swimming & diving athletes gave Ithaca a 30th-place finish.
In the spring season, five more varsity teams placed at NCAA Championships, led by women's golf making its inaugural NCAA appearance and placing tied for fifth. The men's lacrosse team returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006 and placed tied for ninth. Softball and women's tennis each placed tied for 17th, and long-jumper
Emilia Scheemaker of the women's track & field team had an all-American finish.
Stevens earned 50 points in the fall and 179 during the winter but it was men's volleyball and men's tennis that brought home impressive cup points with a fifth and 17th place showing on the national stage. Men's volleyball earned an at-large berth to the tournament where they fell in the national quarterfinals. the men's tennis team earned their fifth-straight Empire 8 title to earn an automatic berth to the national tournament where they advanced to the second-round of play.
Fisher had a solid spring season to add onto the success from football in the fall. The men’s golf team placed sixth nationally to finish in the top ten for the third straight year. Women’s lacrosse earned the automatic bid for the third straight season and finished in 17th-place.
Hartwick carried over 75 points from the winter season when the women's basketball team gave the Hawks a 17th-place finish and 50 points, while men's basketball gained 25 points.
Nazareth had two teams compete in nationals throughout the year. Women's volleyball earned 25 points with its third straight NCAA appearance and women's indoor track and field garned 30 points.
Utica only earned points during the fall season thanks to a ninth place performance in field hockey for the second straight year.
Alfred earned all 50 of its points with a 17th place finish in softball. Elmira's 25 points came during the winter season in women's ice hockey.
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.
12 - Ithaca, 671.00
44 - Stevens, 370.25
103 - St. John Fisher, 192.75
209 - Hartwick, 75.00
234 - Nazareth, 55.00
237 - Utica, 53.00
243 - Alfred, 50.00
282 - Elmira, 25.00