RELEASED:  Thursday, June 12, 2008

Five Institutions Finish In Top 21 of Directors’ Cup Standings

Madison, Wis.--Five Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) institutions have finished in the top 21 of the 2008 United States Sports Academy Directors’ Cup NCAA Division III final standings.  The standings recognize the best NCAA Division III overall athletics programs in the country.

UW-Whitewater led the conference with a sixth-place finish after totaling 805 points, while UW-Eau Claire placed 10th with 628 points.  UW-Stevens Point took 13th with 587.25 points, UW-La Crosse 18th with 566.50 points and UW-Oshkosh 21st with 538.75 points.

This marks the 10th time in the 13 years of the Directors’ Cup program, the WIAC has placed at least two institutions in the top 10.  Additionally, the 808 points accumulated by UW-Whitewater are the most in WIAC history.

The Warhawks recorded the highest finish in program archives, while the Blugolds finished in the top 10 for the fourth time in school chronicles and first since 1999-2000.   The Eagles placed in the top 18 for the 13th straight year.

Additional finishes from the WIAC included:  UW-Platteville in 27th (highest in program history) with 447.25 points, UW-River Falls in 99th with 188.75 points, UW-Superior tied for 149th with 126.50 points and UW-Stout tied for 181st with 90 points.  A total of 306 institutions earned points in this year’s competition.

Williams College (Mass.) secured it’s 10th consecutive Directors’ Cup title after amassing 1120.25 points.  Washington University (Mo.) placed second with 899 points, The College of New Jersey third with 825.25 points, Amherst College (Mass.) fourth with 815 points and Middlebury College (Vt.) fifth with 813.50 points.

The WIAC claimed four NCAA Division III national championships during the 2007-08 campaign, including football (UW-Whitewater), men’s indoor track and field (UW-La Crosse), softball (UW-Eau Claire) and women’s outdoor track and field (UW-River Falls).  UW-La Crosse also claimed a national crown in women’s gymnastics, which is sponsored by the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association.

The Sports Academy Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. The United States Sports Academy, based in Daphne, Alabama, is the program sponsor. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports -- nine women’s and nine men’s.

Click here for the complete standings.