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Nine Landmark Institutions Earn Spots in Final 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup Standings

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Nine Landmark Conference institutions appeared in the final 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup Division III standings. Administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the Learfield Directors' Cup awards points based on institutions' performances in NCAA Championships, recognizing broad-based athletic excellence across the academic year.

 

About Learfield: Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

  • The Royals capped another successful year with three NCAA Tournament appearances in the spring, as baseball, men's lacrosse, and women's lacrosse each won their opening-round contests. At the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Molly White earned Second Team All-America honors in the heptathlon, highlighted by a first-place finish in the 800 meters with a program-record time of 2:13.65, while Sam Sharrow placed 19th nationally in the long jump.

    During the winter, Scranton advanced to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship game, and White earned First Team All-America honors in the pentathlon to become just the second First Team All-American in program history for the Royals' track & field program.

    The Royals also enjoyed a strong fall season with NCAA Tournament appearances in field hockey, women's soccer, and men's soccer, with the men's soccer team earning its first NCAA Tournament victory since 2016.

  • Moravian's spring season featured NCAA Tournament appearances by both the men's and women's tennis teams, with the women advancing with a first-round victory. Softball added to the success by capturing the NCAA Regional title on its home field, marking the program's eighth regional championship and third in four seasons.

    During the winter, Karalyn Vashey earned All-America honors in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

    In the fall, Tara Smurla captured her second consecutive NCAA Division III Metro Regional title and made her third straight national championship appearance, while Gavin Hefferan represented the Greyhounds men's cross country program on the national stage.

  • Michael Brunet competed at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 1,500 meters, becoming the fourth consecutive Catholic student-athlete to reach the national meet. The women’s golf team earned its bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. As a team, the Cardinals finished with a score of 678, which was the lowest two-day score in program history at the championships.

    In the winter, the men's basketball team earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament and defeated Western Connecticut, 71-69, in the opening round before falling to Tufts, 74-60, in the second round.

    Catholic’s fall season was highlighted by a Landmark championship and NCAA Tournament appearance from men’s soccer, which advanced to the second round. Women’s cross country also made history on the national stage, sending two runners to the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history, as Olivia Sobkowicz placed 137th and Laurel McMahon finished 221st.

  • The River Hawks' year was highlighted by a Landmark championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in men's basketball, with Susquehanna earning the conference's automatic berth before falling to Redlands, 96-71, in the opening round.

    Calder Diakite also represented the River Hawks at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships in the 60-meter hurdles after setting Landmark Conference and championship meet records with a time of 8.10 seconds.

    In the fall, the football team advanced to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals for the second consecutive season, finishing one victory shy of another semifinal appearance.

  • Juniata added another chapter to its championship tradition in the spring as the men's volleyball team claimed its fifth Continental Volleyball Conference title, the most in conference history, and hosted an NCAA Regional.

    The Eagles' fall season featured another dominant campaign from the women's volleyball program, which captured its 44th consecutive conference championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after opening postseason play with a win over Grove City College.

  • Wilkes' national success was fueled by its women's ice hockey program, a non-Landmark-sponsored sport, which advanced to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals and concluded the season with a program-record 25 victories.

  • The Blue Jays saw Isabella Cowger become the program's 13th track & field All-American in the spring after placing sixth in the discus at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Cowger also became the first female thrower in program history to reach the national podium.

    Earlier in the year, wrestling, a non-Landmark-sponsored sport, contributed to the Blue Jays' standing as Ganon Smith finished as the national runner-up at 184 pounds, the program's best NCAA finish since 2010.

  • Drew enjoyed a historic spring highlighted by the men's golf team's 15th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, the best national finish in program history. Senior Elliot Parker tied for seventh individually, while the Rangers became the first Landmark men's golf program to advance past the NCAA Championship cut and posted the highest NCAA finish in conference history.

    On the track, Emily Camlet earned her first career All-America honor in the 400 meters, becoming just the second All-American in program history, while Lauryn Brown became the first Ranger to compete in the triple jump at an NCAA Championship event.

  • Lycoming's NCAA representation came through wrestling, a non-Landmark-sponsored sport, as Nolen Zeigler, Eli Crum, and Kaiden Wagner competed at the NCAA Championships. Zeigler advanced to the round of 12 at 174 pounds for the second consecutive season.