CLEVELAND – Fort Hays State University has surged into the Top 25 of the Learfield Directors' Cup Standings for NCAA Division II following a strong showing in winter NCAA Championship events. The Tigers went from tied for 71st in the standings following fall sports to 24th following winter sports, moving up 47 places. FHSU is one of four schools from the MIAA within the Top 25. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in NCAA Championships.
Nebraska-Kearney ranks highest of any MIAA school in 12th. UNK jumped 13 spots in the standings from 25th following the fall. Central Missouri moved up from 21st in the fall to 14th following the winter, and Northwest Missouri State moved up from 26th to 22nd. UNK has generated 357 points in the standings, while UCM has 353.5, NWMSU has 294.5, and FHSU has 289.25. Nebraska-Kearney generated a full 100 points possible for a national title in wrestling, and Northwest Missouri State generated 100 points for a national title in men's basketball.
The MIAA really shows its strength as a whole in the standings with nine schools inside the Top 75 and 10 inside the Top 100, which is best in NCAA Division II. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is closest with seven inside the Top 75.
For the NCAA championship events in the winter, Fort Hays State generated 216.25 points in the standings. Women's Basketball produced 64 points by making the Central Regional Final (Round of 16). Men's Track and Field produced 59.25 points for a 15th place finish and Women's Track and Field produced 37.5 with a 35th place finish at the Indoor Championships. Wrestling generated 55.5 points with an 18th place finish. Had it not been for a pair of teams outside the Top 10 of the Central Region rankings claiming automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament, a 23-6 FHSU Men's Basketball team that was unfortunately left out of the NCAA Tournament could have generated points in the standings as well.
Fort Hays State produced 73 points in the fall, all from Men's Soccer's run all the way to the national quarterfinals.
Grand Valley State (Mich.) has a strong lead nationally at 754 points, followed by Colorado School of Mines with 614.25. Queens (N.C.) and West Texas A&M are both north of 500 in third and fourth respectively.