2024-25 Learfield Cup Standings

Cleveland, Ohio----For the first time in program history, Wingate University has finished second in the NCAA Division II Directors' Cup. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) released the final standings Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs piled up a school-record 837.25 points to post the best finish in Wingate or SAC history. This marks the third straight year Wingate has finished in the top five in the Learfield Cup Standings. The Bulldogs also captured their 17th consecutive SAC Athletic Excellence Cup in 2025.

"Congratulations to all of our student-athletes, coaches, trainers and administrators on Wingate's highest Learfield finish in school history," Wingate director of athletics Joe Reich says. "This is the result of your sustained commitment to excellence."

Grand Valley State won the Learfield Cup for the 17th time in school history, posting 1080.50 points. Wingate finished in second place, 31 points ahead of third-place West Texas A&M. UIndy (789.75 points) and Tampa (755.50 points) round out the top five. Wingate is the only team in the SAC or the Southeast Region to finish in the top 20. North Georgia is the second-highest Southeast Region team at No. 22, while Catawba is the number two SAC team, finishing 23rd.

Wingate put up one of the most balanced finishes in the Learfield standings. The Bulldogs and Grand Valley State are the only two schools that posted at least 230 points in the fall, winter and spring seasons. Wingate had 18 sports qualify to score points during the 2024-25 season. The 'Dogs had nine top-10 finishes on the year, the second-most among all schools, trailing only Grand Valley State. The Bulldogs piled up six top-five national finishes in 2024-25.

Wingate is no stranger to ranking among the top Division II programs in the nation. The Bulldogs finished fourth in last year's Learfield Directors' Cup and fifth in 2022. Wingate's other two top-10 finishes came in 2015 (sixth) and 2018 (eighth). The Bulldogs have finished in the top 30 nationally in each of the last 10 years of the award.

Overall, 15 sports are counted in the final Division II Learfield Cup standings, four of which must be women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball and baseball. The next highest (11 max) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings. The Learfield Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between the NACDA and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships.

Wingate kicked off the year with a strong fall, compiling 283.50 points to check in at number two in the initial standings. Men's cross country led the way with a national runner-up finish, giving the 'Dogs three straight top-two finishes, highlighted by the 2023 national title. The MXC squad piled up 90 Learfield points, while also capturing the SAC and region titles. The volleyball team advanced to the national quarterfinals for the seventh time in program history, collecting 73 points with a fifth-place finish while adding a SAC regular season and tourney title, along with a region championship.

The women's cross country team also finished in the top 10, hauling in 70.5 points with an eighth-place showing at nationals after capturing the SAC and region championships. Wingate football and women's soccer also made postseason appearances. Both teams won the SAC title and punched a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Wingate football finished 17th, while women's soccer was 33rd.

The 'Dogs had another strong winter, collecting 258.50 points, staying in second in the Learfield standings. The four top-25 winter finishes were highlighted by the men's swimming team piling up 73.5 points with a sixth-place finish. The men's track & field team was seventh at the indoor championships to collect 72 points. The women's swimming team collected 63 points with a 13th-place showing. The women's track & field team added 50 points with a 23rd-place effort. All four teams also captured SAC titles during the winter, with all four squads winning SAC championships for the third straight year.

Wingate finished strong in the spring, collecting 345.25 points to hold on to second place. The 'Dogs had four top-five finishes in the spring, led by the men's golf team's third-place showing for 82.5 points. The men's track & field team was fourth at the outdoor championships to pick up 80 points after capturing a third straight outdoor SAC title, while the women's golf team added 73 points with a fifth-place finish. The WGOLF squad also won the SAC tournament. The men's lacrosse team advanced to the national quarterfinals to add a fifth-place showing after capturing the SAC Tournament title. Wingate softball won the regular season SAC title, then advanced to the finals in the FMU Southeast regional to finish 17th and collect 50 points.

Both tennis teams, along with women's lacrosse also made NCAA Tourney appearances for the 'Dogs, with the women's lacrosse team capturing a third straight regular season SAC title. The women's track & field team finished 30th at the outdoor championships after winning another outdoor SAC title.

2024-25 Wingate National Finishes (Learfield Points)
Men's Cross Country - 2nd (90 points)
Men's Golf - 3rd (82.5 points)
Outdoor M T&F - 4th (80 points)
Women's Golf - 5th (73 points)
Volleyball - 5th (73 points)
Men's Lacrosse - 5th (60 points)
Men's Swimming - 6th (73.5 points)
Indoor M T&F - 7th (72 points)
Women's Cross Country - 8th (70.5 points)
Women's Swimming - 13th (63 points)
Softball - 17th (50 points)
Indoor W T&F - 23rd (50 points)
Women's Lacrosse - 17th
Football - 17th
Outdoor W T&F - 30th
Women's Tennis - 33rd
Men's Tennis - 33rd
Women's Soccer - 33rd

Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's website. In addition, you can follow on X at @ldirectorscup.

ABOUT LEARFIELD

Learfield is a media, data, and technology services leader in intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform with innovative content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD services include licensing and collegiate sports properties' multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, audio, digital and social media; data analytics and insights; ticketing software; and ticket sales, premium seating, and fundraising services; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for NACDA's acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors' Cup, recognizing athletic departments across all divisions.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 29 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.

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