Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has achieved a 21st place finish in the final standings of the 2024-25 Learfield Directors' Cup. This marks the fourth time in six years that the Blugolds have secured a top-25 national ranking.

The Learfield Directors' Cup is a collaborative initiative by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. It awards points based on each institution's performance in NCAA Championships, emphasizing consistent success across athletic departments.

UW-Eau Claire accumulated a total of 654.75 points this year, marking its fifth-highest score ever. The breakdown includes 209 points from fall sports, 225.75 from winter, and 220 from spring competitions. Their current placement is their best since finishing 16th in the 2021-22 season.

During the spring season, significant contributions came from postseason achievements by UW-Eau Claire's softball and men's and women's track and field teams. The men's track and field team finished as national runner-up last month, contributing 90 points to the Directors' Cup tally. The women's track and field team secured fourth place nationally, adding another 80 points. In softball, reaching the championship round of their NCAA regional brought an additional 50 points.