The final LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup winter standings for NCAA Division II have been released and Lenoir-Rhyne ranks 15th among 221 athletic programs. The ranking is the highest in program history after the winter championships and set LR up to break last year’s program-best finish of 33rd in the final LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup standings. The Bears rank second among all South Atlantic Conference programs in the Learfield rankings through this winter update.

LR had 126 points after fall and gained another 207 in winter to give them 333 total points. In winter, the Bears were paced by 71.25 points from men’s track and field and another 63.75 points from the women’s program. The men’s team finished seventh overall at NCAA Indoor Championships, led by a pair of National Runner Up placements from Dario Matau. The women finished 12th overall and were led by the first individual National Champion in program history in Alexis Brown whose time of 23.26 in the 200m was the fastest in the history of the NCAA Indoor Championship.

With Micah McRea’s two All-American swims at the NCAA Championships earlier this month, the men’s swimming program earned 47 more winter points. McRea earned All-American status in the 400 IM and the 200m breaststroke.

Lastly, the women’s basketball program earned 25 points for their trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament as the No. 4 seed in the Southeast Region.

The Bears could break their record finish of 33rd — which came in 2022 — with another strong spring season.

The LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today.

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.