CLEVELAND, Ohio - For the 13th 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 29th in the rankings released Tuesday, June 9. It marks IWU's second straight top-30 finish, while the department's 582.25 point total is its highest since the 2017-18 academic year.
Over the course of the 2025-26 academic year, the Titans amassed 582.25 points across 12 sports. A successful spring sports season saw IWU garner points in men's golf, softball, women's track and field, women's golf, and men's track and field. The Green and White picked up 90 points behind a second-place finish at the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship, while women's golf was good for 57.75 points with 16th place. Women's outdoor track and field followed with 55 points, as an individual national championship by Imani Ogunribido and All-American effort by Adriana Crabtree powered IWU to an 18th-place finish. Softball and men's outdoor track and field added 50 and five points, respectively.
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During the winter season, the Titans grabbed points behind men's basketball (73), women's indoor track and field (54.5), women's basketball (50), men's indoor track and field (38), and women's wrestling (20). Women's volleyball's Sweet 16 appearance garnered 64 points during the fall sports season with men's soccer also contributing 25 points behind the program's second-ever national tournament appearance.
Illinois Wesleyan was the highest ranked College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin institution. IWU was one of three CCIW members to rank inside the top 100, joining North Central (44th - 400.75) and Carthage (73rd - 274.50). In all, IWU notched 89 points in the fall, 235.50 in the winter season, and climbed the rankings with 257.75 points in the spring. Furthermore, the Titans' spring point total was higher than the overall total of five conference foes.
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 Division III 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)
