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UA athletics secure 5th consecutive top-20 finish in Learfield Directors’ Cup standings

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The Arkansas Razorbacks have earned a top-20 finish in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings for a program-record fifth consecutive year, the university announced Thursday.

The award is given annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics.

The Razorbacks ranked No. 5 in the Southeastern Conference and No. 11 overall in the final standings released by the NACDA, a news release said.

Arkansas earned a total of 966.7 points and is one of 11 league programs in the top 25 of the final standings.

Arkansas finished No. 18 in 2023-24, No. 13 in 2022-23, No. 7 in 2021-22 and No. 8 in 2020-21.

Arkansas has won eight NCAA championships and 39 Southeastern Conference team championships in the past seven years, including 31 conference titles in the past five years alone, the release said.

Both conference championship totals lead all SEC programs and the Hog’s 39 titles are more than seven other league programs combined in that same time-frame.

“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the loyal support of our Razorback Foundation members, the University of Arkansas once again ranks among the nation’s top performing collegiate athletics programs,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek in the release.

“Our program has finished in the top 20 of the Directors’ Cup for a school record five years in a row, even while competing against programs that have far more than 19 sports. We are grateful for the loyal support of Razorback fans who have and will continue to play an integral part in our success as we move forward into a new era of intercollegiate athletics.”

Football

A win over Texas Tech capped the season in style as the Razorbacks won their fourth straight AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

The win was also the third bowl win under Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman, the release said.

Pittman is 3-0 as a head coach in bowl games at Arkansas, becoming the first Razorback coach to win his first three bowl outings. The victory earned Arkansas 45 Directors’ Cup points.

Baseball

The final Directors’ Cup standings include points awarded in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s beach volleyball, women’s bowling, men’s and women’s cross country, fencing, women’s field hockey, football, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, rifle, women’s rowing, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, skiing, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, men’s and women’s outdoor track & field, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s water polo and wrestling, the release said.

Arkansas ended a strong baseball season with its 12th appearance at the College World Series. Led by Golden Spikes Award winner Wehiwa Aloy, the Hogs swept through the NCAA Regional and Super Regional rounds at Baum-Walker Stadium to earn a trip to Omaha.

Arkansas finished tied for third at the CWS and ended one step short of the championship series. The Hogs finished the season with a record of 50-15 and earned a top-5 national finish for the seventh time in school history. For their baseball season, Arkansas earned 83 Directors’ Cup points, it said.

Basketball

New head coach John Calipari’s Razorback men’s basketball team made an improbable run into the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 after starting SEC play winless in its first five games.

Arkansas finished the season with a 22-14 record, earned its 37th NCAA appearance and its 15th NCAA Sweet 16, including its fourth in the last five years, the release said.

The Hogs were a No. 10 seed and topped No. 7 seed Kansas (79-72) in the opening round, before upsetting No. 2 seed St. John’s (75-66) in the second round of the tournament.

Arkansas’ season came to an end to No. 3 Texas Tech (85-83). The Razorbacks earned 64 Directors’ Cup points for the NCAA Tournament run, it said.

Softball

Led by Bri Ellis, the Softball America and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Arkansas finished the 2025 campaign with a 44-14 overall record while making its fourth Super Regional appearance in program history, the release said.

The Hogs’ 44 wins were the most since 2022, with 48.

The Razorbacks were named the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and won the NCAA Fayetteville Regional, before falling in game three of the Fayetteville Super Regional to Ole Miss. The Hogs earned 64 points towards the Directors’ Cup from softball.

Soccer

Razorback Soccer continued its recent run of success on the pitch. Arkansas earned a No. 2 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament and hosted three rounds of postseason play in front of capacity crowds at Razorback Field.

Head coach Colby Hale’s squad advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in program history in 2024, including the third time in the past four seasons, it said.

The postseason success gained Arkansas 64 points in the Directors’ Cup standings.

Men’s track and field

The 2025 SEC Champion Arkansas men’s track and field team made a strong run at yet another national championship at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

A strong final day of performances clinched the Razorbacks a No. 3, just one point shy of two teams that tied for the national championship, the release said.

Head coach Chris Bucknam and the Razorback men in the past eight NCAA championships held in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. Jordan Anthony starred for the Razorbacks, capturing the individual title in the 100m with a time of 10.07. This marked the seventh podium finish for Bucknam’s Hogs.

Arkansas collected 85 Directors’ Cup points for its top-three national finish in men’s outdoor track and field.

Women’s outdoor track and field

Arkansas women’s outdoor track and field tallied 70.5 Directors’ Cup points after the Razorbacks finished eighth at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

Led by a runner-up finish in the 4-x-400-meter relay and a bronze medal effort from Rosey Effiong in the 400 meters, the Hogs earned a top-10 finish at the national meet for Coach Chris Johnson.

This marked the fourth straight top-10 finish and the 10th time in the past 12 NCAA Outdoor meets, the Running Razorback women’s squad has accomplished that feat, it said.

Women’s golf

While making history, the Razorback women’s golf team pushed its way to a deep run in the postseason.

Arkansas advanced through the NCAA Regional and team stroke play at the NCAA Championship, before losing in the quarterfinals of match play competition to the eventual national championship team in Northwestern.

Sophomore Maria José Marin led the team and, in the process, became the third Razorback in history to win the individual national championships. For its NCAA quarterfinal finish, Arkansas scored 72.75 in Directors’ Cup points, the release said.

Men’s golf

Returning to a familiar place again in 2025, Arkansas men’s golf made the NCAA postseason. The Razorback men’s team played in its 17th straight NCAA Regional and competed as a team or with individuals in 31-of-36 Regionals held since 1989, it said.

Arkansas finished in the top seven as a team at the NCAA Amherst Regional and stumbled just short of qualifying for the NCAA Championship. For its regional appearance, the Razorbacks earned 33.5 Directors’ Cup points, it said.

Gymnastics

Razorback Gymnastics netted Arkansas 60.8 Directors’ Cup points in a strong season. The Hill’s Gymbacks advanced to the NCAA University Park Regional as a team before finishing one step shy of the NCAA Final.

Senior Maddie Jones and freshman Joscelyn Roberson moved to the NCAA Championship in individuals, with Jones competing on the uneven bars and Roberson competing in the all-around competition.

Men’s and women’s indoor Track and Field

Arkansas was on the podium following both the men’s and women’s competition at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Jordan Anthony won the 60-meter and a silver medal finish for Jack Turner in the heptathlon propelled the Arkansas men to a fourth-place trophy finish.

Anthony became the first Razorback to win the 60-meter at the NCAA Indoor, it said.

Turner’s score of 5,962 points placed second to Peyton Bair of Mississippi State in the heptathlon. The Running Razorbacks collected 80 Directors’ Cup points for the team finish.

Isabella Whittaker ran an amazing performance, producing an American and collegiate record in the 400-meter as she blasted a 2025 world-leading time of 49.24 seconds to lead the Razorback women, it said.

Arkansas finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in team standings with 31 points, earning 76.2 Directors’ Cup points.

Swim and dive

Freshman diver Maria Sanchez competed in three different events and led the Razorbacks to a 40th-place finish at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Sanchez-Moreno competed in the 1-meter (20th), 3-meter (13th) and platform (24th) dives.

Her performances at the national meet earned All-America Honorable Mention honors and earned Arkansas 26 Directors’ Cup points in women’s swimming and diving, the release said.

Cross country

The Razorback men’s cross country team earned the program’s first top-5 national finish of the year.

No. 3 Arkansas secured a third-place finish at the national meet with 202 points, it said.

Three Razorbacks earned All-America honors as the Hogs secured their 24th top-four NCAA Cross Country finish in school history. Bucknam’s squad earned 85 Directors’ Cup points for its championship performance.

Paityn Noe led the Razorbacks women’s cross country team recorded a top-20 finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, it said.

Noe crossed the line seventh in the individual race to earn All-America honors and lead the Razorbacks to a No. 17 team finish. Arkansas earned 57 Directors’ Cup points for the performance.



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Central’s Meyer earns weekly USTFCCCA national honor

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PELLA — Central College men’s track and field hurdler and high jumper Gunner Meyer (senior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) was named the USTFCCCA Division III Men’s National Athlete of the Week Monday.

In the 60-meter hurdles race at the Jimmy Grant Alumni Invitational hosted by the University of Iowa Saturday, Meyer clocked in at 7.92 second. It’s the fastest time by any Division III athlete so far this season. It’s also the fastest in American Rivers Conference history. He placed third in the meet behind a pair of Hawkeyes.

At the Dutch Holiday Preview on Friday, Meyer cleared 6 feet, 7.5 inches in the high jump. He finished second after teammate Lance Bunde (sophomore, Guthrie Center, ACGC HS) cleared the same bar but in fewer attempts. He is tied for seventh in Division III with that height.

This is the second time a Central athlete has received the national weekly honor for the indoor season. The first was Eric Larson in 2015.

 



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Keresey, Pierre, Monday Bring Home GNAC Weekly Recognition

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STANDISH, Maine – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) weekly honors have been released and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine was well-represented, with sophomore Isaac Keresey (Pittsfield, Maine) named GNAC Track Athlete of the Week, junior Tudum Monday (Lewiston, Maine) selected as GNAC Field Athlete of the Week, and freshman Stephen Pierre (Turner, Maine) earning GNAC Rookie of the Week recognition following their performances at the USM Alumni Open.

Keresey claimed Track Athlete of the Week after placing second in the mile with a time of 4:31.81 and running on Saint Joseph’s second-place 4×400-meter relay that clocked 3:42.01. Keresey is now the top-ranked miler in the GNAC and sits ninth in Division III New England early in the 2025-26 indoor season.

Pierre was tabbed Rookie of the Week after setting two school records at the USM Alumni Open. He won the long jump with a mark of 6.81m (22′ 4.25″), meeting the New England Division III automatic qualifying standard, and placed second in the 55-meter hurdles in 7.98, a New England Division III provisional time. Pierre now leads the GNAC in both events and is ranked sixth in Division III New England in the long jump and eighth in Division III New England in the hurdles as of December 14.

Monday earned Field Athlete of the Week honors by winning the triple jump with a mark of 13.03m (42′ 9″), meeting the New England Division III provisional standard. He also ran 8.24 in the 55-meter hurdles prelims, meeting the New England Division III provisional standard in that event as well. Monday ranks first in the GNAC in the triple jump by 60 centimeters and sits 14th in Division III New England.



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Saint Joseph’s Women Sweep Three GNAC Weekly Awards

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STANDISH, Maine – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) weekly honors have been released and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine was well-represented, with freshman Amber Pendleton (Warren, Maine) named GNAC Track Athlete of the Week, sophomore Olivia Bean (South Portland, Maine) selected as GNAC Field Athlete of the Week, and freshman Olivea Miller (Livermore Falls, Maine) earning GNAC Rookie of the Week recognition following their performances at the USM Alumni Open.

Pendleton claimed Track Athlete of the Week after winning the 500 meters in 1:27.86, setting a Saint Joseph’s program record. She also competed on the winning 4×400-meter relay that recorded a time of 4:30.61.

Miller was tabbed Rookie of the Week after placing second in the 200 meters in 27.37, meeting the New England Division III provisional qualifying standard. She also finished second in the high jump with a clearance of 1.47m (4′ 9.75″). Miller now leads the GNAC in both events and is ranked 21st in Division III New England in the 200m and 26th in Division III New England in the high jump as of December 14.

Bean earned Field Athlete of the Week honors by winning the triple jump with a school-record mark of 10.72m (35′ 2″), meeting the New England Division III provisional standard. She also placed eighth in the long jump with a best of 4.68m (15′ 4.25″). Bean’s record-setting triple jump mark currently ranks seventh in the New England region.



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2025 CWRU Women’s Cross Country Season Recap

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The Case Western Reserve University women’s cross country team saw a talented class of first-year runners lead the way, as the team was represented at the NCAA Division III Championships for the sixth time in the last seven years in 2025.

CWRU was led by a pair of first-years, as Francesca Taracila was the top-finishing Spartan in three races during the year, while Halina Tompkins crossed the finish line first among Spartans on four occasions. Taracila got stronger as the season went on and was the first CWRU runner to cross the line at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship, earning an NCAA Championship berth with a ninth-place finish overall at the meet with a career-best time of 22:28.8 in the women’s 6K.

Taracila went on to place 74th out of 290 total finishers at the NCAA Division III Championship in Spartanburg, South Carolina the following week. Her time of 22:35.9 was the seventh-fastest among 45 total first-year runners at the meet. It marked the 22nd consecutive season that the Spartans have been represented by at least one men’s or women’s team member at the NCAA Division III Championship.

In addition to Taracila, Tompkins also claimed all-region honors with a 26th-place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Region Championship. Also scoring for the Spartans at the meet were seniors Arianna Holbrook (41st) and Ayla Grabenbauer (42nd), along with first-year Reid Smith (46th). CWRU placed sixth out of 37 total teams at the regional championship.

CWRU also placed seventh at the UAA Championship on November 1 behind a 29th-place finish from Tompkins and a 33rd-place finish from Taracila.

The Spartans were featured in all nine United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Great Lakes Region polls during the year, and were ranked as high as fourth in the region over the course of the campaign. CWRU has been ranked in 12 consecutive regional polls dating back to last season.

Other highlights from the season included team wins at both the Daniel Mullen Memorial Invitational on October 4 and the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble on October 18.  CWRU placed five runners in the top-10 at the Daniel Mullen Invite, including Taracila (second), first-year Aditi Mukundhan (fourth), sophomore Cecilia Postma (fifth), Smith (sixth), and sophomore Becca Liaw (ninth). Tompkins also led the way at the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble with a 10th-place finish and was followed by Taracila (12th), Holbrook (16th), Liaw (21st), and Mukundhan (22nd). Eight of the 12 Spartan runners who competed at Oberlin recorded season-best times, including Tompkins, whose time of 22:17.9 was the fastest by a Spartan in 2025.

The Spartans added a third-place finish out of 11 teams at the Pre-National Meet and opened the season with a 15-50 win over John Carroll at the Bill Sudeck Invitational with each of the top seven finishers in the race coming from CWRU.

In addition to the team’s athletic success during the season, eight members of the women’s cross country team received UAA Fall All-Academic honors, including Grabenbauer, senior Julia Hluck, senior Lauren Iagnemma, sophomore Ciara Ledford, Liaw, senior Medha Patria, Postma, and sophomore Julia Walko.

The Spartans earned the following individual honors during the 2025 season:



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Tigers Open Season at UCCS Pre-Holiday Meet

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Colorado College opened the 2025-26 track & field season at the Colorado Running Company Pre-Holiday Invite and Multi last weekend at UCCS.
 
Freshman Riley Webb posted the best individual performance for the Tigers, placing fourth in the women’s 400 with a time of 1:01.42. Senior Allison Barker followed in sixth place in 1:02.92 and sophomore Chloe Johnson was 14th in 1:07.65.
 
Senior Emma Jones and freshman Jane Keenan tied for 10th in the pole vault, while sophomore Jordyn Tomlinson placed 12th in the shot put.
 
Junior Zaniya Bruno Munn and sophomore Keely Lueckeman ran in the prelims of the 60-meter dash, while Lueckeman and fellow sophomore Clara Kirr competed in the prelims of the 200-meter dash.
  
The Tigers return to action at the Colorado Invitational, Jan. 23-24, in Boulder, Colo.
 



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Volleyball Announces 2026 Freshman Signing Class

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WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — William & Mary volleyball announced the signing of three student-athletes to its incoming 2026 freshman class on Monday. Joining the Tribe is Regan Hill, Emily McKee, and Teagan Pocius.

“We are so excited to welcome our 2026 signing class!” said William & Mary interim head coach Emma Minnick. This group brings high-level club experience, strong talent, and an immediate commitment to our program’s culture and goals. We are confident they will elevate our play and we can’t wait for them to join the team!”

 








 2026 W&M TRIBE VOLLEYBALL FRESHMAN SIGNING CLASS
 NAME POS HT  HOMETOWN / HIGH SCHOOL
 Regan Hill OPP 5-10  Garnet Valley, Pa. / Garnet Valley HS
 Emily McKee OH 5-11  Stamford, Conn. / King School
 Teagan Pocius MB 6-0  St. Louis, Mo. / Marquette HS

Regan Hill
5-10 • Opposite hitter • Garnet Valley, Pa. • Garnet Valley High School

HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time first team all-state selection at Garnet Valley High School where she holds the school record for kills, blocks, and aces… Earned all-district and All-Central League honors three times… Varsity captain… Played for club teams Dynamic Volleyball Academy and East Coast Power.

PERSONAL: Intends to major in biology… Had a 3.97 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society and National Art Society… Four-time honor roll selection and two-time distinguished honor roll… Grandfather played football at Northwestern College in Iowa.

Why W&M? “I chose William & Mary because it has a really strong academic program and opportunities to help me in my career development. I’m also excited to get the chance to play volleyball there, challenging myself both academically and athletically. Lastly, the atmosphere there is everything I was hoping for. The community is so supportive, and the campus is beyond gorgeous.”

Emily McKee

5-11 • Outside hitter • Stamford, Conn. • King School

HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity player and two-year captain at King School in Connecticut… Four-time FAA All-League First Team selection… Named 2025 NEPSAC Class A Player of the Year… Helped lead King to four FAA championships, four NEPSAC championships, and three undefeated seasons with a total record of 86-1… Holds the school record for kills with over 1,000… Named to the 2025 AVCA All-American Watchlist and AVCA Girls High School All-Region Team playing for Northeast Volleyball Club.

PERSONAL: Intends to major in business… Participated in the Fellowship Friday Mentor & Clinker Buddy Program Mentor, which provides mentoring to younger students in the community… Earned high honors in the classroom every year of her high school career.

Why W&M? “I chose William & Mary because the sense of belonging I felt with the volleyball team was unmatched. It’s a place where I know I’ll be pushed both academically and athletically, and the program’s supportive, competitive, and team-oriented culture truly stood out to me. I can’t wait to get on campus and be a part of this program.”

Teagan Pocius

6-0 • Middle blocker • St. Louis, Mo. • Marquette High School

HIGH SCHOOL: All-state, all-district and all-conference selection at Marquette High School… Owns school records for career kills (986), career blocks (413), single-season blocks (139), single-game kills (32), and single-game blocks (10)… Named to the 2024 USAV All-Tournament Team… Earned AVCA All-Region honors in 2024 and 2025… Tabbed to the AVCA All-America Watch List… Played for Rockwood Thunder Club team.

PERSONAL: Intends to major in business analytics… Had a 3.96 GPA and was a four-time academic all-state selection… Has played viola in orchestra since fourth grade… Member of the National Honor Society.

Why W&M? “I chose W&M because it’s literally a complete package. It has everything down to the academics, the athletics, the team, and the environment I was looking for. Truly, [it was] such an easy choice to make.”

FOLLOW TRIBE VOLLEYBALL

Fans can keep up with the Tribe by following @WMTribeVB on X/Twitter and Instagram.

 



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