CLEVELAND, Ohio (Blugolds.com) – After being in 76th place following the fall, the UW-Eau Claire Athletics program jumped to 18th place out of more than 430 NCAA Division III institutions in the latest edition of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup Standings, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) officials announced today.

View Winter Standings

View Fall Standings

Directors' Cup Website

During the 2011-12 winter season, the Blugolds accumulated 290.5 points, earning points from five winter sports. They now have a total of 355.5 points, 65 of which were accumulated in the fall.

The men’s indoor track & field team earned the most points of all winter sports, 90 points, after finishing in second place at the NCAA Championship. The women’s track & field team gained 64.5 points for finishing 12th at nationals while the women’s basketball team earned 50 points for advancing to the second round of the NCAA Championship. The men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams combined for 86 points, with 45 coming from the women and 41 coming from the men.

Around the WIAC, UW-Whitewater leads the conference in fifth place while UW-Oshkosh is 11th. UW-Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse are also in the top 26.

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 18 sports -- nine women’s and nine men’s.

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