Illinois Wesleyan Places 27th in Learfield Rankings

Titans post highest finish in national ranking since 2019

6/12/2025 11:00:00 AM

NACDA Release

CLEVELAND, Ohio - For the 12th time in the history of the Division III Learfield Directors' Cup Rankings, Illinois Wesleyan University finished inside the top-30 as the Titans were slotted 27th in the rankings released Tuesday, June 10. It marks IWU's highest ranking since the 2018-19 academic year, when the Green and White also placed 27th, while its the highest point total since the 2017-18 year.

Over the course of the 2024-25 academic year, the Titans amassed 564.75 points across 10 sports. A successful spring sports season saw IWU garner points in men's golf, softball, women's track & field, women's golf, men's lacrosse, and men's track & field. The Green and White picked up 90 points behind a second-place finish at the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship, while softball's super regional appearance was good for 64 points. Women's outdoor track and field followed with 60.75 points, with an individual national championship by Imani Ogunribido and a total of three All-American performances powered IWU to a 14th-place finish. Women's golf, men's outdoor track & field, and men's lacrosse added 60, 50, and 12 points, respectively.

During the winter season, the Titans grabbed points behind women's basketball (64), men's basketball (64), as well as men's indoor track & field (5). Women's volleyball's Sweet Sixteen appearance garnered 31 points during the fall sports season.

Illinois Wesleyan was one of three College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin institutions to rank inside the top-100, joining North Central (25th - 605.85) and Augustana (93rd - 220.75). In all, IWU notched 95 points in the fall, 133 in the winter season, and climbed the rankings with 336.75 points in the spring.

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.

Overall, 18 sports are counted in the final DIII standings, four of which must be men's and women's soccer, and men's and women's basketball. The next highest (14 max) sports scored for each institution, regardless of gender, are used in the standings.

Illinois Wesleyan's All-Time Learfield Rankings
Year - Place (Pts)
1997 - 44th (229.5)
1998 - 101st (60)
1999 - 42nd (251.5)
2001 - 52nd (237)
2002 - 83rd (169)
2003 - 29th (318.5)
2004 - 73rd (199.5)
2006 - 42nd (297)
2007 - 30th (425.5)
2008 - 20th (565.5)
2009 - 25th (520)
2010 - 5th (704.25)
2011 - 18th (596.5)
2012 - 12th (651.25)
2013 - 31st (445.75)
2014 - 26th (478)
2015 - 34th (429)
2016 - 18th (602.5)
2017 - 28th (485)
2018 - 13th (653)
2019 - 27th (493)
2022 - 64th - (280.75)
2023 - 85th (220.75)
2024 - 54th (333.75)
2025 - 27th (564.75)

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