Orlando, FL — A school-record three team national championships helped Messiah to a 14th-place finish in the 2008-2009 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced Friday.
The Falcons' men's soccer team, women's soccer team and softball team all claimed NCAA Division III National Championships during the year, helping Messiah to 696.75 total points in the Directors' Cup final standing — a new Messiah record in the 14-year history of the award.
The Directors' Cup utilizes a mathematical formula to calculate the nation's best all-sport institutions, awarding points to teams and individuals competing in NCAA post-season play.
With the Falcons' three team national championships and another 190.25 points secured from an outstanding year in track and field, Messiah outdid its previous high of 615.25 total points, set last year.
“To have this type of finish in the Directors' Cup is an awesome accomplishment for our department,” said Jerry Chaplin, Messiah director of athletics. “Our three national championships make a big difference, but the way points are awarded, a finish this high indicates that our program competes in many post-season championships.”
With 100 points secured from each of Messiah's national championship teams, an additional 83 points was captured from the Falcons' field hockey program, as the team advanced to its 12th Final Four in program history. The Falcons' women's basketball team picked up 50 points after reaching the NCAA Tournament Second Round for the 10th consecutive season, while women's lacrosse added another 25 points thanks to its second NCAA Tournament berth in the program's 13-year history.
Messiah also received 37.5 points behind senior Craig Gin's All-American performance in the NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships. The women's cross country team competed as a team in the national championship meet for the first time since 1999, yielding 11 points.
The Falcons' points in track and field arrived thanks to junior Kristen Bates and senior Patrick Roach, as Bates picked up a total 119.25 points between the indoor and outdoor seasons, capturing a total four All-American honors. Roach's presence accounted for 71 total points, finishing as a national runner-up in the outdoor championships and taking a third-place finish in the indoor event.
“The final results show a balanced program, one that has strength across the board,” Chaplin said. “And I think that is one of the hallmarks of Messiah's program. Many student-athletes, coaches and staff members contribute to our success in athletics. The 2008-2009 year in athletics was a great one.”
While Messiah's point total was a new school record in the 14-year history of the Directors' Cup, its finish was second behind an 11th-place result last year. Messiah has now finished among the Directors' Cup top 25 on six occasions — 310 schools were eligible in this year's Directors' Cup at the NCAA Division III level.
Williams College (Williamstown, Mass.) claimed its 11th consecutive Division III Directors' Cup, earning a total 1066.50 points behind 16 post-season finishes. Stanford University claimed its 15th straight Cup at the NCAA Division I level. Grand Valley State University (Grand Rapids, Mich.) earned the Division II title, while Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, Cal.) secured the NAIA's top spot. It was the fifth consecutive year that the same four institutions claimed their respective Directors' Cup.
The winners were honored at the Directors' Cup Awards Luncheon Saturday in Orlando. The NACDA press release is available at the organization's official website. A
detailed chart of both past and current results from the Directors' Cup is also available.
The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today in 1993. Learfield Sports, a Dallas-based sports marketing organization, is in its first year as the program's sponsor.
Messiah All-Time Final Directors' Cup Rankings
2008-2009 — 14th (696.75)
2007-2008 — 11th (615.25)
2006-2007 — 23rd (466.50)
2005-2006 — 15th (474.25)
2004-2005 — 20th (380)
2003-2004 — 34th (313)
2002-2003 — 16th (478.5)
2001-2002 — 26th (348)
2000-2001 — 26th (352.5)
1999-2000 — 54th (223.5)
1998-1999 — 59th (110)
1997-1998 — 45th (140)
1996-1997 — 134th (78)
1995-1996 — 40th (172.5)
