Orlando, FL — Yet another national championship in men's soccer and deep NCAA Tournament runs in women's soccer, field hockey, softball, women's lacrosse and track and field has kept Messiah in the upper echelon of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings once more, as the Falcons' athletics program finished 23rd overall among NCAA Division III institutions in 2010-2011, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced Friday.
An NCAA Division III-record eighth national title in men's soccer and national runner-up finishes in both women's soccer and field hockey paced Messiah's 541.5 total points in the annual all-sport standings, as the Falcons appeared in the list's top 25 for the eighth time in its 16-year history.
“Words like 'incredible' and 'amazing' get thrown around a lot, but they really do describe what our student-athletes continue to do here,” said
Jack Cole, Messiah interim director of athletics. “There's a standard of excellence that permeates across the board. It's an honor to continually finish at the top of the NCAA's largest division. It's a testament to our coaches, our student-athletes, our support staff and our fans.”
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.
Messiah's men's soccer team earned 100 points for its eighth national title — and third consecutive — while both the Falcons' women's soccer and field hockey teams earned 90 points for making it all the way to their respective title events before falling. It was the women's soccer program's sixth appearance in a national championship game and eighth 'Final Four' appearance, while Messiah field hockey made its eighth appearance in a title tilt and 14th showing in a national semi-final.
The Falcons' softball program advanced to the Division III 'World Series' for the third time in program history, picking up 73 points, while Messiah's women's lacrosse team equaled a program-best finish, advancing to the 'Sweet 16' while picking up 53 points in the Directors' Cup standings.
Messiah's women's basketball team played in an NCAA Tournament for the 12th consecutive season, earning 25 points, while another 25 points came via the Falcons' baseball program — a squad that qualified for the NCAA Championships for the fourth time in school history.
Rising senior Tyler Newhook earned a pair of All-American honors in indoor and outdoor track and field — earning 47 points — while junior-to-be Hillary Pelkey finished third in the javelin throw at the 2011 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, collecting 33.5 points. Rising senior Tim Stewart concluded Messiah's scoring in the cup, earning five points in his first-ever appearance at an NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships.
“There were 449 NCAA Division III institutions this year,” Cole said. “It is really remarkable that our department continues to thrive in the manner it does, from fall through spring.”
Messiah's 23rd-place result was 12 spots off its best-ever finish, coming following the 2007-2008 academic year. The Falcons' program finished 14th in 2008-2009, picking up a school-record 696.75 points. Last year, Messiah held the 19th spot in the standings.
Again, however, Messiah finished as the top school in Pennsylvania within the Division III standings, as Dickinson College (317 points) was next-best at 49th. A total of 320 schools earned points in this year's Directors' Cup at the NCAA Division III level.
Williams College (Williamstown, Mass.) claimed its 13th consecutive Division III Directors' Cup, earning a total 1147 points behind 18 post-season finishes. Stanford University claimed its 17th straight Cup at the NCAA Division I level. Grand Valley State University (Grand Rapids, Mich.) earned the Division II title for the eighth straight time, while Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, Cal.) secured the NAIA's top spot. It was the seventh consecutive year that the same four institutions claimed their respective Directors' Cup. A detailed chart of past and current results from the Directors' Cup is available at the official website of NACDA.
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 third year as the program's sponsor.
Messiah All-Time Final Directors' Cup Rankings
2010-2011 — 23rd (541.5 points)
2009-2010 — 19th (580.75)
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)
