ITHACA, N.Y. -- Ithaca College's varsity athletic programs helped move the school upward in the Division III Learfield Sports Directors' Cup rankings following the completion of the winter sports season. Ithaca currently ranks 13th among NCAA Division III institutions with 439.5 points through the completion of the winter sports seasons.
 
The Directors' Cup the nation's elite intercollegiate athletic programs based on their finish in championship events. Directors' Cup points are awarded based on each institution's finish in up to 18 sports in NCAA postseason competition, measuring nine women's sports and nine men's sports.

Ithaca's winter sports programs placed in five NCAA championship events. The women's basketball team placed tied for fifth in a record-breaking season and earned 73 points. The Ithaca wrestling team sent six wrestlers to the NCAA Championships and finished 11th in team standings to earn 66 points. In indoor women's track & field, Ithaca athletes earned enough points to place 40th overall and add 30 Directors' Cup points. Additionally, the men's swimming & diving team placed tied for 24th and gained 49.5 points, while women's swimming & diving athletes gave Ithaca a 30th-place finish and 44 points.
 
Ithaca earned 262.5 points during the winter season, to add to its total of 177 points from the fall season, earned by finishes in football, women's soccer and women's cross country. Ithaca stood 20th nationally after the fall season.
 
Just one other Division III institution within the state ranked in the top-25, New York University at 23rd place. The nearest Empire 8 competitor stands in 47th place. Ithaca is one of eight schools to have placed in the top-30 of the final standings in each of the award's first 18 years.
 
The Learfield Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. For more information on the program and complete standings across all divisions, visit www.directorscup.org.