Friday, June 5, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – Simon Fraser earned its highest Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Division II All-Sports ranking since joining the NCAA during the 2014-15 season.

The Clan athletic program, under the direction of Dr. Milton Richards, Senior Director of Athletics and Recreation, was the highest ranked GNAC team in the final standings, placing 26th overall with 467 points. 

SFU, which previous best NCAA finish was 36th in 2012-13, scored points in nine different sports, led by its men’s golf team which placed fifth in the national championships and its women’s cross country and indoor track and field teams, which each placed seventh.

Other Clan teams to contribute to SFU’s point total included women’s swimming (12th), men’s cross country (20th), men’s swimming (23rd), women’s outdoor track and field (26th), men’s soccer (33rd) and men’s indoor track and field (41st).

Two other GNAC teams finished in the Top 50 – a total of 254 institutions earned points - including Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington, which finished 34th and 36th, respectively.

The Learfield Sports Directors Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today.

Points are awarded based on a school’s final finish in regional and national competition in up to 14 sports – seven men’s and seven women’s.

Grand Valley State (Mich.) finished first for the 10th time with a total of 965 ½ points.  All 10 GNAC schools scored points.

Final Division II Standings – 1. Grand Valley State 965 ½; 26. Simon Fraser 467; 34. Alaska Anchorage 415 ½; 36. Western Washington 402; 65. Alaska 276; 99. Seattle Pacific 200 1/5; 164. Central Washington 111; 166. Northwest Nazarene 109; 182. Western Oregon 92; 183. Saint Martin’s 90 ½; 209. Montana State Billings 50.