Cal-Davis Leads in the Race for the Division II Sears Directors' Cup as the Winter Championship Season Closes

As of April 24, 1996

Cleveland, Ohio -- The University of California-Davis, the leader at the end of the fall season, continues to lead as the winter championship season closes in the race for the 1996-97 Division II Sears Directors' Cup, presented annually by the nation's athletic directors.

With two-thirds of the year completed, Cal-Davis has a tally of 463.0 points in its quest for its second Sears Directors' Cup, administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and sponsored by Sears. Following in second is North Dakota State with 366.0 points. Rounding out the top five are Western State (Col.), third with 349.0 points; South Dakota State, fourth with 320.5 points; and North Dakota, fifth with 310.0 points.

These are the final winter standings and include the sports of women's and men's basketball, men's ice hockey, women's and men's swimming, women's and men's indoor track and field, men's wrestling and the National Collegiate sports of fencing, rifle, skiing and women's gymnastics. Winning the Division II championships were North Dakota in women's basketball; Cal State-Bakersfield in men's basketball; Bemidji State (Minn.) in men's ice hockey; Drury (Mo.) in women's swimming; Oakland (Mich.) in men's swimming; Abilene Christian in both women's and men's track and field; and San Francisco State in men's wrestling.

There are four Sears Directors' Cup Awards, one to honor the institution with the best all-around athletics program in each of the NCAA's Divisions I, II and III and the NAIA. It is the first-ever cross-sectional all-sports national recognition award for both men and women.

To determine the champion, points are awarded based on each institution's finish in 16 sports--six core sports for men, six core sports for women and two wild card sports each for men and women. The core sports include, for men--baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf and tennis; and for women--basketball, cross country, softball, tennis, outdoor track and field and volleyball.

The winner of the award will receive a trophy designed by Waterford Crystal, which will tour the country, appearing at major men's and women's events throughout the year.

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