Top of the Class

By Justin Lutes, June 15, 2023
Ithaca Finishes 12th in 2022-23 LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup Standings.
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The Bombers finished the season 12th out of 450 Division III schools in the 2022-23 Director's Cup standings.

The Bombers finished the season 12th out of 450 Division III schools in the 2022-23 Director's Cup standings.

Ithaca College proved its overall athletics excellence by placing 12th in the nation for Division III in the 2022-23 LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings with 783 points. Directors' Cup points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports — nine men’s and nine women’s — in NCAA postseason competition.

IC is one of just five Division III schools to finish within the top 30 every year since the Directors' Cup started in 1995-96, along with Amherst College, Emory University, Middlebury College, and Williams College. This year also marked the 21st time Ithaca has finished within the top 20.

This year, the Bombers were once again the top performing athletics program among New York state and Liberty League institutions.

“I could not be prouder of what our coaches and student-athletes accomplished this year. Thank you to our coaches, student-athletes, and support staff for all your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence.”

Susan Bassett, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

During the spring sports season, IC teams earned 254.25 points. Women's crew contributed 73 points thanks to a fifth-place finish at nationals, while baseball earned 64 in a tie for ninth. Women's outdoor track & field picked up 63.75 points with an 11th place performance at the NCAA Championships, while men's outdoor track & field received 53.5 points for finishing in 20th place.

The fall season saw Bomber squads earn 202.5 points. Football paced the field by earning 70 points for a tie for fifth place, while women’s soccer and volleyball each received 50 points for their trips to the second round. Women’s cross country earned 32.5 points after their performance at the NCAA Niagara Regional.

In the winter, IC received points from six programs for 326.25 points. Women's indoor track & field earned 70.5 points for their eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, while women's swimming & diving received 61.5 for its 14th place finish. Men's indoor track & field contributed 59.3 points, wrestling earned 52 points, women's basketball earned 50 points and men's swimming & diving scored 33.

The LEARFIELD Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on the NACDA's website at www.directorscup.org.