After completing one of the most successful seasons in the history of the Lee University Athletic Department, the Flames finished 11th out of over 320 NCAA DII schools in the LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup Final Standings the organization announced on Thursday.
The Flames cemented their highest Learfield Directors’ Cup Standing by earning 100 points after winning the Men’s Golf National Championship on May 20. Lee also earned crucial points in Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field, thanks to Indoor National Championship event winners, Celine Ritter (3K) and the Men’s Distance Medley Relay and top finishes in several outdoor events.
In addition to the track and field and men’s golf programs, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, women’s basketball, baseball, and women’s golf all earned points for qualifying for NCAA DII regional and national championships.
Lee was the top finisher in the Gulf South Conference and the South Region. West Florida placed 44th as the next highest GSC school, while Nova Southeastern from the Sunshine State Conference was right behind the Flames in 12th as the next highest South Region representative.
“Finishing 11th in the prestigious DII LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup Standings is a fantastic way to cap off our most successful year in Athletics. Our best DII finish to date was 44th, so this is quite an accomplishment by our student athletes and staff,” said Lee Athletic Director, Larry Carpenter. “Our goal has always been to have competitive teams in every sport we sponsor, so I am very proud that ten of our eighteen teams scored points for Lee. Men’s Golf led the way earning 100 points for winning the National Championship. We understand how difficult it is to reach this level and are committed to working hard to have another successful year in 2022-2023.”
Overall, 15 sports are counted in the final DII standings, four of which must be women’s volleyball and basketball and men’s basketball and baseball. The next highest (11 max.) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings.
The LEARFIELD 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 NCAA Championships.