Thursday, March 30, 2017
PORTLAND, Ore. – The winter season may have been cold and wet in the Northwest, but it was hot in the GNAC.
The success of the GNAC athletic programs is evident in the latest Learfield Division II Directors’ Cup standings, updated through the end of the winter seasons and released Thursday (Mar. 30). Three GNAC programs are ranked in the top 15 out of 218 ranked schools, the second most of any Division II conference.
Simon Fraser is ranked No. 6 with 451.5 points, which included 303 points picked up during the winter season in women’s basketball, indoor track and field, swimming and wrestling. Alaska Anchorage is ranked No. 7 with 440.5 points, which includes 205 winter points earned in indoor track and field and skiing. Western Washington sits at No. 14, having picked up 97.5 points in men’s and women’s basketball and women’s indoor track and field.
The GNAC has five schools ranked in the top 100 of the Directors’ Cup standings. Central Washington checks in at No. 75 while Western Oregon sits at No. 100.
Simon Fraser picked up its most winter points (64) in women’s basketball, where the Clan shocked West Region Tournament host Alaska Anchorage to advance to the regional championship game, eventually falling to Cal Baptist. Simon Fraser also picked up points with a 24th place finish in women’s indoor track and field and a 38th place finish in men’s indoor track and field. The Clan added points in swimming and wrestling, which are non-GNAC sports.
Alaska Anchorage was the beneficiary of 50 points in women’s basketball and added points with a 21st place finish in women’s indoor track and a 28th place finish in men’s indoor track. The Seawolves’ most points came in skiing thanks to an 11th place finish at the national championship.
Western Washington received points from both the men’s and women’s basketball program, both of which advanced to regional competition. The Vikings’ women received 50 points thanks to advancing to the West Region semifinals. Western Washington also picked up points in women’s indoor track.
Grand Valley State maintained its dominant lead in the standings with 701.5 points thanks in part to top-10 finishers in men’s and women’s indoor track and men’s swimming. Among other West Region schools, Cal Baptist is ranked fifth with 487.5 points and UC San Diego is 12th with 330.5 points.
The Learfield Directors’ Cup is a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Torday. Points are awared based on each institution’s finish in NCAA championships.