Oskaloosa–A national champion, an All-American, and a top-20 team finish helped the William Penn athletics department to yet another top-100 effort as the final Learfield Sports NAIA Directors’ Cup Standings were released Thursday.

The Statesmen completed the year in 69th with 256.5 points (nearly 250 institutions are in the NAIA).  The 256.5 points are the second-most ever since moving to the NAIA (high was 261 in 2003-2004).  It is the fifth-straight season in which WPU has been in the top 100 and the eighth time in the last nine campaigns.

After scoring 165.5 points in the winter, WPU added 91 more points in the spring.  Discus national champion Derek Seddon (Sr., Knoxville, Iowa, Physical Education) and All-American high jumper Cornelius McCastle (Sr., McKinney, Texas, Industrial Technology) tallied 53 points alone for the men’s track and field team as the Statesmen were 20th overall.  The women’s golf program also collected 38 points with its 18th-place finish at nationals.

Oklahoma City dethroned last year’s champion Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), scoring 982 points with spring titles in softball and women’s golf.  Lindsey Wilson was second with 805 points, while Keiser (Fla.) (705.25), Wayland Baptist (Texas) (690), and William Carey (Miss.) (656) rounded out the top five.

Complete standings can be found at http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/nacda/sports/directorscup/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/June8OverallNAIA.pdf

William Penn ranked fifth in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with Grand View heading the league in 16th with 517 points.

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 each institution’s finish in up to 12 sports-six men’s and women’s.

William Penn in Past Directors’ Cups
2015-2016–69th (256.5 points)
2015-2016–77th (179.5 points)
2014-2015–88th (176.5 points)
2013-2014–62nd (230 points)
2012-2013–61st (245.5 points)
2011-2012–123rd (107 points)
2010-2011–91st (150 points)
2009-2010–63rd (206 points)
2008-2009–91st (128.5 points)
2007-2008–112th (142.5 points)
2006-2007–90th (179 points)
2005-2006–Did not place (0 points)
2004-2005–65th (242.5 points)
2003-2004–54th (261 points)
2002-2003–86th (194.5 points)
2001-2002–87th (152.5 points)

Story provided by Wade Steinlage