Wheaton Currently Ranked 29th Overall and Fifth in New England in the NACDA Directors' Cup Division III Standings

CLEVELAND, OH - Wheaton College, which earned its highest ranking in the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Directors' Cup Division III standings two years ago, is ranked 29th overall and fifth in New England through the final standings of the winter competition. The standings are presented by the nation's athletics directors.

Wheaton has posted 238.25 points, which is 2.75 points ahead of Illinois Wesleyan University and 6.25 points behind St. Olaf College (MN). Williams, which has won six of the seven championships, has pulled away from the competition with 873.25 points, 290.75 points ahead of its nearest competitor. The College of New Jersey moved from fourth to second place with 582.5 points, followed by Wisconsin-LaCrosse with 502.5 points, Trinity University (TX) with 502 points and Wartburg College (IA) with 496.25 points.

The NACDA Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today. The winter standings are based on the completion of fencing, skiing, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming and indoor track and field and men's wrestling. The fall sports include men's and women's cross country and soccer, field hockey, football and women's volleyball.

The Lyons collected several points from their men's and women's indoor track & field teams. The four-time defending national champion women's indoor track & field team tied Louisiana State University for the second longest winning streak in NCAA track history in mid-March, as the Lyons captured an unprecedented fifth consecutive national title. The Lyons earned 54 points at the meet, which was just six points ahead of Lehman College (NY). The team championship came down to the final event of the meet, as Wheaton secured the crown by winning the 4x400-meter relay. The Lyons also captured individual championships in the long jump, 55-meter high hurdles and 400-meter events.

On the men's side, head coach Paul Souza and the squad also gained valuable points, finishing in a tie for 10th overall at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. The Lyons tallied 12 total points, just three points shy of picking up a share of a seventh place standing. As a team, Wheaton recorded a national championship in the high jump event and in the process earned All-America status in the 400-meter dash.

Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports - nine for the men and nine for the women. Each national champion receives 100 points. Current winter standings that are published mid-year are unofficial standings. Official standings will be published upon the completion of the spring season. Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's web site at www.nacda.com.