March 15, 2001
Truman Athletics Currently 11th in Sears Directors' Cup Standings
Truman State University's athletics teams moved up from 13th to 11th in the latest Sears Directors' Cup standings released today. The updated standings include wrestling and indoor track and field from the winter season.
With NCAA Championships appearances in each of the three sports included thus far in the winter campaign, the Bulldogs added 104 points with women's track scoring 36.5 points, men's track 34.5 and wrestling 33. The Truman women's track team finished tied for 30th at last weekend's indoor championships, while the men were tied for 31st. The Bulldog wrestling team placed 34th at the Division II wrestling championships last weekend, as well.
Thus far on the year, Truman has accumulated 210 points. Men's cross country (56 points) and women's volleyball (50) accounted for all of the Bulldogs' Sears Directors' Cup scoring in the fall season.
Current standings show Western State (Colo.) as the overall Division II leader with 471 points, 109 ahead of second-place California-Davis.
Truman is the second-rated team from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association as Central Missouri State ranks sixth. But the 'Dogs are just 79.5 points back of CMSU and could overtake their MIAA foe with a strong finish to the winter sports and a solid spring showing.
The Bulldogs are aiming for their third consecutive top 10 finish in the Sears Cup race, which honors the nation's top collegiate programs on the NCAA Division I, II and III levels, as well as NAIA.
Last year, and in 1998-99, Truman has placed ninth in the final standings.