Penn 87th in Final Winter NACDA Standings
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Katie Burnett (Sr., Mesa, Ariz., Arizona) and Eric Burgey (Fr., Easton, Pa., Easton HS) basically single-handedly helped Penn move into the top 100 nationally as the final winter NAIA Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup Standings were released.
Penn earned 100 points in the winter and is currently tied for 87th in the NAIA. A total of 181 NAIA institutions have scored points thus far, while 290 schools comprise the division.
Burnett picked up her fifth All-America award earlier this month, taking second in the 3,000-meter race walk event. Her finish helped the Lady Statesmen indoor track and field program to a tie for 21st place at the national meet.
Burgey did his damage on the mat, placing fifth at 149 pounds and helping Penn to a tie for 24th.
Burnett scored 51.5 points in the Directors’ Cup standings, while Burgey and his teammates, including two wins at the national meet by Chris Diaz (Jr., Montrose, Colo., Olathe HS), gave Penn an additional 48.5 points.
Not surprisingly, six-time defending standings champion Azusa Pacific (Calif.) is once again atop the standings with 691.5 points, nearly 200 points ahead of second-place Lindenwood (Mo.) and its tally of 499.5 points. The Cougars recently won the NAIA Division I women’s basketball crown, while the women’s swimming, women’s track and field, and men’s track and field programs also placed in the top five nationally.
Biola (Calif.) is third with 459.5 points, while Simon Fraser (B.C.) is fourth with 444.5 points and California Baptist is fifth with 411 points. The Golden State Conference is dominating the poll with four of its members, including Azusa Pacific, Biola, and Cal Baptist, in the top seven, while the Great Plains Athletic Conference is also strong with three in the top nine.
Penn ranks third among all Midwest Collegiate Conference institutions with Grand View heading the group in 36th place with 208.75 points. St. Ambrose is next in 75th place with 118 points.
Fellow MCC programs Iowa Wesleyan (T-101st, 78 points), Waldorf (121st, 55 points), Ashford (T-135th, 50 points), Mount Mercy (T-144th, 48 points), and Viterbo (T-153rd, 30 points) have also scored points.
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 12 sports-six men’s and women’s.
For complete standings and the scoring structure, visit the NACDA website at www.nacda.com
