For the first time since 2002-03, Ithaca College finished in the top 10 in the final Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings, as the Bombers placed 10th out of 325 NCAA Division III schools with 716 points. Directors' Cup points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports in NCAA postseason competition, measured by nine women's sports and nine men's sports. It is also the 17th time since the inception of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup that Ithaca has finished within the top 20.
Ithaca was 44th in the nation after the fall season and then jumped up to No. 18 after the winter. With their stellar spring season, the Bombers vaulted to 10th, which is the highest finish for the program since 2002-03, when IC was ninth. Ithaca's best finish all-time is second, which happened in 2001-02.
IC is just one of seven Division III schools to finish within the top 30 every year since the Directors' Cup started in 1995-96. The other institutions are Amherst, Calvin, Cortland, Emory, Middlebury and Williams.
"Our success this year both on and off the field has been a reflection of the commitment to excellence that our student-athletes and coaches make on a daily basis," expressed Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports Susan Bassett '79. "It is a high achievement by our broad based program to finish in the top 10 of the Learfield Director's Cup. Competitive success measured by NCAA Championship performance is an aspiration we embrace. I am enormously proud of everyone associated with Ithaca College Athletics. Our academic success is of equal magnitude achieving our highest overall average GPA of 3.344 with 189 student-athletes achieving a 3.75 GPA or higher and 43 individuals achieving a 4.0 GPA."
Ithaca accumulated 334 points during the spring season as six sports competed in NCAA postseason play, and five of those earned points towards the Bombers' total. Women's track & field garnered the most points for IC with 90, thanks to their second place finish at the NCAA Championships. Women's crew tallied 80 points for a fourth place showing, while women's lacrosse earned 64 points with their longest trip into the NCAA Tournament this season. Both baseball and softball contributed 50 points as they both competed in NCAA regionals. Women's tennis also reached postseason play, but did not factor into the point total as Ithaca already earned points from nine women's sports.
During the winter, Ithaca compiled 266 points from four sports. Women's track & field was once again the runners-up at the NCAA Championships, which is good for 90 points. Wrestling was next on the list with a ninth place showing and 69 points, while women's swimming & diving added 57 points with a 17th place finish. Women's basketball rounded out the winter season with 50 points.
In the fall, women's cross country and volleyball reached postseason play and combined for 116 points (56 from cross country with an 11th place finish and 50 from volleyball for reaching the second round).
The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. For more information on the program and complete standings across all divisions, visit www.directorscup.org.
Ithaca was 44th in the nation after the fall season and then jumped up to No. 18 after the winter. With their stellar spring season, the Bombers vaulted to 10th, which is the highest finish for the program since 2002-03, when IC was ninth. Ithaca's best finish all-time is second, which happened in 2001-02.
IC is just one of seven Division III schools to finish within the top 30 every year since the Directors' Cup started in 1995-96. The other institutions are Amherst, Calvin, Cortland, Emory, Middlebury and Williams.
"Our success this year both on and off the field has been a reflection of the commitment to excellence that our student-athletes and coaches make on a daily basis," expressed Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports Susan Bassett '79. "It is a high achievement by our broad based program to finish in the top 10 of the Learfield Director's Cup. Competitive success measured by NCAA Championship performance is an aspiration we embrace. I am enormously proud of everyone associated with Ithaca College Athletics. Our academic success is of equal magnitude achieving our highest overall average GPA of 3.344 with 189 student-athletes achieving a 3.75 GPA or higher and 43 individuals achieving a 4.0 GPA."
Ithaca accumulated 334 points during the spring season as six sports competed in NCAA postseason play, and five of those earned points towards the Bombers' total. Women's track & field garnered the most points for IC with 90, thanks to their second place finish at the NCAA Championships. Women's crew tallied 80 points for a fourth place showing, while women's lacrosse earned 64 points with their longest trip into the NCAA Tournament this season. Both baseball and softball contributed 50 points as they both competed in NCAA regionals. Women's tennis also reached postseason play, but did not factor into the point total as Ithaca already earned points from nine women's sports.
During the winter, Ithaca compiled 266 points from four sports. Women's track & field was once again the runners-up at the NCAA Championships, which is good for 90 points. Wrestling was next on the list with a ninth place showing and 69 points, while women's swimming & diving added 57 points with a 17th place finish. Women's basketball rounded out the winter season with 50 points.
In the fall, women's cross country and volleyball reached postseason play and combined for 116 points (56 from cross country with an 11th place finish and 50 from volleyball for reaching the second round).
The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. For more information on the program and complete standings across all divisions, visit www.directorscup.org.
Ithaca College All-Time Directors' Cup Results Year Finish 1995-96 16th 1996-97 6th 1997-98 18th 1998-99 17th 1999-2000 21st 2000-01 5th 2001-02 2nd 2002-03 9th 2003-04 11th 2004-05 14th 2005-06 26th 2006-07 21st 2007-08 14th 2008-09 20th 2009-10 22nd 2010-11 19th 2011-12 19th 2012-13 19th 2013-14 12th 2014-15 30th 2015-16 20th 2016-17 10th
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20170621093227278