CLEVELAND – After the completion of six fall NCAA championships, the Chico State department of athletics is currently eighth in the nation in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. The Directors’ Cup, a joint effort between Learfield Sports, the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today, is designed to recognize the top programs among the over 280 schools that participate in NCAA Division II athletics.

Chico State sent three of the University’s five fall sports into the postseason, resulting in a total of 188 points. Women’s cross country picked up 72 points for its sixth-place national finish, while men’s cross country, ranked eighth in the nation, added another 66 points. Women’s soccer, returning to postseason play after a year absence, contributed 50 points to Chico State’s fall tally.

Division II powerhouse Grand Valley State (Michigan) – which has won the last six Directors’ Cups – sits atop the fall standings with 290 points, followed by West Texas A&M (216) and Massachusetts Lowell (210). Colorado School of Mines and Metropolitan State (Colo.), each with 208 points, round out the top five.

Other CCAA schools in the Directors’ Cup standings include Cal State L.A. (10th, 167 points), Cal State Dominguez Hills (12th, 160 points), UC San Diego (tied for 30th, 114 points), Cal State San Bernardino (tied for 34th, 108 points), Sonoma State (tied for 68th, 50) and San Francisco State (tied for 89th, 25 points).

COMPLETE DIRECTORS' CUP FALL STANDINGS

The Wildcats finished 22nd in the 2008-09 final Directors’ Cup standings and have notched six consecutive Top 25 rankings, including three straight Top 10 finishes in 2003-04 (5th), 2004-05 (3rd), and 2005-06 (8th).