Ashland University Third In Final Learfield Cup Standings
6/6/12 ASHLAND, Ohio -- It can be argued that the 2011-12 academic year is the most successful athletic year in Ashland University history. That theory got a major boost on Wednesday (June 6) when the final NCAA Division II Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings were announced.
Ashland finished third in the final all-sports standings with 750.5 points. This is the highest finish in school history. The Eagles scored in 13 sports with their highest finish coming in women’s basketball. The Ashland University women’s basketball team ended the year as the national runner-up. The Eagles were 33-2.
Ashland University is one of two GLIAC teams that finished in the nation’s top three. Grand Valley State finished second with 894 points. The national leader is Grand Canyon (Ariz.) with 925.50 points. Grand Valley State had won the Learfield title for eight straight years. This is the first time Grand Canyon has claimed the top spot. In addition to the GLIAC having GVSU and Ashland University in the nation’s top three spots, the California Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAA) placed two schools in the Top 10 – UC San Diego (seventh) and Chico State (eighth). A total of 244 institutions are listed in the final Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in up to 14 sports – seven for men and seven for women’s. The Eagles received 89.0 points in the fall, 403.50 in the winter and 258.0 points in the spring. In the spring, both track and field teams, softball and men’s and women’s golf participated in the NCAA postseason. Ashland’s winter point total is second in the country, trailing only Grand Canyon (479.50).
Visit this site -- http://goashlandeagles.com/general/Learfield_release.pdf -- to see the full directors' cup standings and release.
Ashland University has placed in the Top 10 in the final Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings for five consecutive years. Last year Ashland was ninth. In 2009-10 Ashland University was seventh in the final standings.
In addition to the second place finish by the Ashland University women’s basketball team, the Eagles were seventh at nationals in women’s swimming. The men’s track team was seventh indoors and tied for seventh outdoors. The women’s track and field program was 12th indoors and tied for eighth outdoors. Men’s swimming finished 16th at the national meet and the wrestling team was 13th.
"This is our highest ranking ever, " said Ashland’s director of athletics Bill Goldring. "Everybody in the organization had to contribute and they did. It's a tribute to our coaching staff and student-athletes. I'm proud we are the highest ranked private school in the country.
"To be in the Top 10 the last five years is a great achievement," continued Goldring. "It shows the level of competition in the GLIAC that we have two teams in the top three and four in the Top 20. I'm extremely proud of everyone in our organization."
