Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324
(Written by Anna Fox, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, amfox@noctrl.edu)
 
2025 Winter Learfield Directors' Cup Standings
 
Apr. 8, 2025 - North Central College ranks 19th among all NCAA Division III institutions in the final winter installment of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup rankings, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced Thursday morning.
 
The Directors' Cup honors institutions with broad-based programs that achieve success in many NCAA sports, both men's and women's. Beginning in 1993-94 for Division I by NACDA and USA Today, it expanded in 1995-96 to include Divisions II, III, and the NAIA. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 NCAA sports—nine women's and nine men's. The Cardinal women's triathlon and women's wrestling teams are not included as they are considered emerging sports by the NCAA.
 
The Cardinals have a total of 387.35 points in the rankings os far this academic year. They earned 165.35 points during the winter championships season, receiving 72.8 points for a sixth-place finish at the Division III Men's Wrestling Championship, 56.6 points for a 16th-place showing at the Division III Men's Indoor Track & Field Championships, and 36 points for a 36th-place finish at the Division III Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships.
 
North Central tallied 122 points during the fall season, scoring 72 points for a seventh-place finish at the Division III Men's Cross Country Championships, 25 points for a 33rd-place finish at the Men's NCAA Division III Soccer Tournament, and 25 points for a 33rd-place showing at the Women's NCAA Division III Soccer Tournament.
 
Johns Hopkins University currently ranks first with 865 points, followed by New York University with 727 points, Emory University with 662.5 points, Massachusetts Institute of Technology with 660 points, and Washington University (Mo.) with 627 points.
 
The Cardinals lead all nine College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) institutions and are one of two to appear in the top 50. Illinois Wesleyan University is 49th with 228 points, while Augustana College (IL) is 84th with 145.75 points, Millikin University is 85th with 141 points, Carthage College is 107th with 114 points, North Park is 111th with 106 points, Elmhurst University is 127th with 90.25 points, Wheaton College (IL) is 163rd with 63 points, and Carroll University is 207th with 39.5 points. In total, 278 institutions were ranked in the winter standings.
 
The first Division III spring standings will be released on Tuesday, June 10.
 
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