West Chester University Places 19th In Learfield Sports Division II Standings

The following is a press release from the West Chester Athletic Department.

West Chester University’s athletics program placed 19th nationally in the final 2011-12 Learfield Sports Director’s Cup Division II Standings, sparked by two national championships and another national runner-up performance.
 
The finish marks West Chester’s highest in the standings since back-to-back 12th-place plaudits in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Those two placements represent the Golden Rams’ highest in school history as well. West Chester accumulated 478.5 points and improved 43 places over its 62nd-place showing during the 2010-11 campaign. The Golden Rams’ ranking of 19th was second highest in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference behind only California (Pa.), who came in 11th overall.
 
The Golden Rams finished up with 195 points in the spring season, marking the highest output between the three seasons. Baseball’s national championship and women’s lacrosse’s national finals appearance were the heavy hitters in the final season. WCU opened up with 150 points in the fall, on the strength of field hockey’s national championship, and followed up with 133.5 points in the winter thanks to the men’s and women’s swimming programs.
 
“When you reflect on what was accomplished this year, it all adds up to one of the best performances in school history,” West Chester University director of athletics, Dr. Edward Matejkovic stated. “It was all made possible by the tireless work ethic of our coaching staff. I can’t say enough about the job they did this past year.
 
“Not a lot of programs in the country can say that they won two national championships and played for a third. ”
 
Only Grand Valley State (women’s indoor and women’s outdoor track & field) and Nova Southeastern (Fla.) (men’s and women’s golf) joined West Chester University in winning multiple national titles during the academic year. Grand Valley State was runner-up in women’s soccer as well.
 
Grand Canyon (Ariz.) unseated eight-time defending champion, Grand Valley State (Mich.), 925.50-894.00, to capture the top spot in the Division II standings. It is the Lopes’ first Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup title.
 
Grand Canyon scored in the maximum 14 sports, including a national championship in men’s indoor track & field, third place in men’s wrestling and women’s golf and fifth place finishes in both men’s and women’s swimming, women’s outdoor track & field and men’s tennis, sixth in women’s indoor track & field and 10th in men’s outdoor track & field.
 
Grand Valley State (Mich.) finished in second, after scoring in 13 sports. The Lakers won both the women’s indoor and outdoor track & field national championships, finished second in women’s soccer, third in women’s cross country and sixth in women’s swimming.
 
Ashland (Ohio) finished in third with 750.50 points. The Eagles scored in 13 sports with their highest finish coming in women’s basketball (2nd place).
 
Indianapolis (Ind.) rounds out the top five with 673.75 total points. The Greyhounds scored in 12 sports, their highest finish a seventh-place showing in baseball.
 
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 14 sports -- seven women’s and seven men’s.
 
Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA’s website at www.directorscup.org. In addition, please visit www.thedirectorscup.com, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/lsdirectorscup or follow us on Twitter @lsdirectorscup.