UW-Stevens Point Places Fifth for Highest-Ever Director�s Cup Finish
The most successful season in UW-Stevens Point athletics history resulted
in a fifth place finish in the United States Sports Academy Directors� Cup
Standings, which measure the top overall athletic department in the NCAA
Division III.
The fifth place finish is the highest in school history and the best by
any Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference school since UW-Oshkosh was
fifth in 1996-97. It marks the first time UW-Stevens Point has been recognized
for its achievement as the second through fifth place finishers receive a plaque
commemorating their season, while the winner receives the Director�s Cup
trophy. The awards were presented on Sunday at the National Association of
Collegiate Directors of Athletics convention in Dallas.
The standings, formerly known as the Sears Cup, include points
accumulated in NCAA tournament competition. UW-Stevens Point was in second place
following the winter sports season and held its top five ranking despite earning
no points in the spring. The Pointers had a national championship in men�s
basketball, a runner-up finish in men�s cross country, third place finishes in
women�s cross country and indoor track and field and a fourth place finish in
women�s basketball. The Pointers also earned points in men�s indoor track
and field, wrestling, women�s soccer and men�s and women�s swimming and
diving. The runner-up finish in women�s ice hockey is not included in the
standings since a sport must have a minimum of 12 teams in its tournament to
qualify.
UW-Stevens Point amassed 730 points, surpassing its previous best of 656.5
in 2001-02 when it finished sixth in the final standings. For the third time in
the past four years, UW-Stevens Point is the highest placing non-East Coast
school. UW-Stevens Point has now finished in the top seven five of the past
seven years and was the only WIAC school to post a top seven finish since 1997
until UW-La Crosse finished seventh this year.
Williams (Mass.) won its sixth straight trophy and eighth title in the
nine-year history of the award. Emory (Ga.) was second, Middlebury (Vt.) was
third and The College of New Jersey placed fourth overall.
| UW-Stevens
Point Director�s Cup Finishes |
Final
2003-04 Standings |
| Year |
Place |
Points |
Place,
School |
Points |
| 2003-04 |
5th |
730 |
1. Williams (Mass.) |
1081.75 |
| 2002-03 |
16th |
478.5 |
2. Emory (Ga.) |
811 |
| 2001-02 |
6th |
656.5 |
3. Middlebury (Vt.) |
779.5 |
| 2000-01 |
6th |
538 |
4. College of New Jersey |
751 |
| 1999-00 |
7th |
548 |
5. UW-Stevens Point |
730 |
| 1998-99 |
17th |
230 |
6. Amherst (Mass.) |
686.75 |
| 1997-98 |
7th |
355 |
7. UW-La Crosse |
640 |
Complete 2003-04 USSSA Directors' Cup Final
Standings |
