(St. Peter, Minn. – June 17, 2003) — The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced the final totals for the 2002-2003 Directors’ Cup and Gustavus finished 6th out of 424 competing Division III institutions. The Directors’ Cup, the only all-sports competition in intercollegiate athletics, is awarded by NACDA to four-year institutions with the best overall athletic programs. In Division III, standings are based on national tournament finishes in 18 sports with points awarded based on the number of teams participating in each specific national championship. Williams College (Mass.) won the Division III title for the seventh time in the past eights years by topping the 1000-point mark for the first time. The Ephs recorded 1,158.25 points. Williams was followed by Emory (Ga.) with 779, The College of New Jersey with 695.75, Trinity (Tex.) with 680, Washington (Mo.) with 638.75 and Gustavus with 637.
Gustavus recorded national finishes in 10 sports including men’s basketball (2nd, 90), men’s tennis (3rd, 83), men’s track and field (4th, 80), women’s tennis (5th, 70), men’s golf (6th, 70.5), women’s basketball (17th, 50), softball (17th, 50), women’s swimming and diving (23rd, 50.5), women’s track and field (24th, 48), and men’s swimming and diving (29th, 45).
This is the highest finish for Gustavus in the eight-year history of the Directors’ Cup program for Division III institutions and the third Top 10 finish. The Gusties finished 10th in 2001-02 and 1995-96, 14th in 1996-97, 18th in 1997-98, 25th in 1998-99, 39th in 1999-2000, 18th in 2000-2001 and sixth this year.
Gustavus was one of five Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) members to finish in the top 50 as St. Thomas placed 35th (301), St. Olaf placed 37th (294.5), Carleton placed 42nd (282.5), and St. John’s placed 48th (270.5). The sixth place Gustavus finish is the second highest MIAC finish in the history of the competition as St. Thomas finished 4th in 1999-2000. The Gusties 637 points is the highest-ever MIAC school point total.