Wheaton Ranks Among Top 50 in Sports Academy Directors' Cup Standings

ORLANDO, FL - For the seventh straight time, Wheaton College completed an academic year ranked among the top 50 NCAA Division III institutions in the final United States Sports Academy (USSA) Directors' Cup standings. Four hundred twenty schools compete in Division III, and the Lyons stand seventh in New England for an annual program that recognizes the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country.

The 2006-07 USSA Directors' Cup winners were announced at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention in Orlando and the four winning institutions - one in each of the three NCAA Divisions and the NAIA - were awarded their Directors' Cups and scholarships. Williams College defended its title as the best athletics program in Division III by winning its 11th Directors' Cup.

Amassing its highest point total since the 2003-04 academic year, Wheaton's 338.5 points were good enough for 48th overall among 312 scoring institutions. The Lyons placed seven points ahead of Trinity University (Texas) and 7.375 in front of Wesleyan University (Conn.), a school that nipped Wheaton by 0.75 points in 2005-06. Finishing this year as the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference's (NEWMAC) top school, the Lyons were a mere 2.5 points behind Geneseo State (N.Y.).

Williams secured its 11th cup in the 12-year history of the Division III program by totaling 1,137.5 points. New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) counterpart Middlebury College finished second overall with 1,064.5 points, while Cortland State (N.Y.) took third with 892.75 points. Another NESCAC school, Amherst College, placed fourth with 887.25 points, while Washington University (Mo.) came in fifth with 845.

The USSA Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today. NACDA administers the program and the USSA, based in Daphne, Alabama, is in its fourth year sponsoring the program. Final standings are based on the completion of baseball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, women's rowing, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's outdoor track and field, and women's water polo.

Buoyed by Wheaton's men's and women's soccer teams in the fall, the Blue and White's 75 points tied for 67th. A successful winter season highlighted by three top-30 finishes from men's and women's indoor track and field and men's swimming and diving drove the Lyons into 38th place. Wheaton rounded out its point total with spring production from the baseball and women's outdoor track and field teams.

Under 11th-year head coach Eric Podbelski., the baseball team qualified for its seventh NCAA Tournament in eight seasons and finished with a 34-13 record. The Lyons won their ninth successive NEWMAC regular season title and eighth tournament championship. Thirteenth-year head coach Paul Souza, who is at the helm of the track and field programs, led the women to a tie for 28th at the outdoor national championship.

Cup 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. Complete final standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's web site at www.nacda.com.