Ithaca College 10th in Learfield Directors’ Cup

By Justin Lutes, May 31, 2018

IC athletics finishes in the top 10 for the second year in a row.

(Photo by Jon Reis)

Ithaca College repeats as the No. 10 institution in the final Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings, out of 450 NCAA Division III schools across the nation. The ranking is 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.

"Ithaca College's back-to-back top 10 finish in the Learfield Directors' Cup is a testament to our sustained commitment to excellence in athletics competition," said Associate Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports Susan Bassett '79.

"What is remarkable about this year's performance is that several different programs contributed to our high standings. We have a broad-based program committed to both sport equity and gender equity, as reflected in these results."

Earning Points

The college finished the year with 760.5 points, 42.5 more points than last year.

In the fall, women's volleyball reached the Final Four in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to tally 83 points, while women's cross country finished ninth at the national race in Elsah, Illinois, for 69 points.

Ithaca acquired 270 points across four winter sports. Wrestling finished third at the national championships in Cleveland to pick up 85 points, while women's indoor track and field earned 72 points from a seventh place finish in Birmingham, Alabama. Women's swimming and diving earned 63 points with a 12th place showing in Indianapolis. Women's basketball made another trip to the second round of their NCAA championship to notch 50 points.

In the spring, IC posted 338.5 points as five sports competed in NCAA postseason play. Softball accumulated 83 points as the Bombers finished third in the College World Series in Oklahoma City. Women's crew was right behind softball with 80 points from a fourth place showing in Sarasota, Florida. Men's lacrosse notched 64 points after its trip to the third round, while the 14th place finish for women's outdoor track and field equated to 61.5 points. Baseball rounded out the spring with 50 points as the program finished fourth in the Mideast Regional in Adrian, Michigan.

History of Athletic and Academic Excellence

This is the 18th time since the inception of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup that Ithaca has finished within the top 20, and sixth time within the top 10. This marks the school's best back-to-back finish since Ithaca placed second in 2001-02 and ninth in 2002-03.

IC is just one of six 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, Emory, Middlebury and Williams. Cortland had placed within the top 30 each year since 1995-96, but finished 54th this year.

Not only did Ithaca perform well athletically this year, its student-athletes were equally impressive in the classroom as 64 student-athletes graduated with honors (3.5 GPA or higher) this year.