CLEVELAND — Washington and Lee University continued its strong 2025-26 campaign by ranking 19th nationally in the Division III winter standings of the Learfield Directors' Cup, released Thursday.
The Generals have totaled 409.00 points through the fall and winter seasons and remain the top-performing program in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). W&L leads all conference institutions by a wide margin, with Lynchburg next at No. 37 nationally with 297.50 points, while Randolph-Macon (90th) and Roanoke (99th) also sit among the top 100.
Nationally, NYU (UAA) leads Division III with 812.25 points, followed closely by Williams (NESCAC) with 811.00 points, and Washington University in St. Louis (UAA) in third with 787.50 points.
Washington and Lee's winter standing was fueled by standout NCAA Championship performances across four programs — women's basketball, men's swimming, women's indoor track & field and wrestling.
Women's basketball delivered one of the most historic seasons in program history, contributing 73 Directors' Cup points following a run to the NCAA Quarterfinals. The Generals finished 31-1 overall, setting a program record for wins and posting the longest winning streak in school history. W&L also captured its third ODAC Championship in four seasons and earned its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, climbing as high as No. 3 nationally in both the D3hoops.com and WBCA polls.
Men's swimming added 35 points at the NCAA Championships, highlighted by multiple All-America performances from Dalton Jobe and relay teams. Jobe earned Second Team All-America honors in both the 200 IM (14th) and 200 freestyle (13th), while the 800 freestyle relay (13th) and 400 freestyle relay (15th) also secured All-America recognition. Leighton Chapman contributed across multiple sprint events, helping power W&L's national finish.
Women's indoor track & field contributed 30 points, led by a trio of All-America performances. Bailey Hedgemon earned First Team All-America honors with a fifth-place finish in the weight throw, setting a program record (18.07m). Jesma Evans claimed Second Team All-America honors in the 400m after resetting her own school record, while Camille Gillum earned Second Team All-America recognition in the high jump for the third time in her career.
Wrestling rounded out the winter scoring with 43 points, highlighted by a program-record five national qualifiers. The ODAC Wrestler of the Year, Liam Flanagan, earned All-America honors with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, finishing the season with a 30-3 record. His podium performance marked the ninth All-America finish in program history and capped one of the most successful seasons for the Generals on the national stage.
The Learfield Directors' Cup, developed jointly by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today, awards points based on institutional finishes in NCAA Championships. Winter standings remain unofficial until the completion of the spring season.
View the interactive standings |
DIII Conference Standings |
NACDA Release |
2025-26 W&L Athletics Profile
The Division III winter standings will be updated following the conclusion of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship on April 5. Spring standings will begin release on June 9.
About LEARFIELD Directors' Cup and LEARFIELD
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 performance in NCAA postseason championships and respective tournaments.
Please note that standings published midseason are unofficial. Official standings will be released upon the completion of the spring season. Complete standings and the scoring structure can be found on NACDA's websites: www.directorscup.org and www.thedirectorscup.com.
LEARFIELD is a leader in media, data, and technology services within intercollegiate athletics. The company unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform offering innovative content and commerce solutions. LEARFIELD's services include licensing and multimedia sponsorship management for collegiate sports properties; publishing; audio, digital, and social media; data analytics and insights; ticketing software; ticket sales; premium seating and fundraising services; branding; and campus-wide business and sponsorship development.
Since 2008, LEARFIELD has served as the title sponsor for NACDA's acclaimed LEARFIELD Directors' Cup, which recognizes athletic departments across all divisions.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
