Cleveland, OH – The University of the Cumberlands garnered four top-five finishes during the NAIA winter season to move atop the LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings, which was announced Thursday morning.  Cumberlands earned a NAIA-best 605.5 points, across nine different sports, to be in first place in with a combined score of 990.50 points.
 
"This is a tremendous accomplishment for our entire athletic department and a reflection of the consistency, competitiveness, and culture we've built at Cumberlands. This winter we had three teams either post or tie their best national finish in program history and that is a testament to dedication of our student-athletes and the leadership of our coaches," said Athletic Director Chris Kraftick.
 
Cumberlands had a pair of national runner-up finishes with both men's swimming & diving and men's indoor track & field garnering second place finishes.  UC tallied 397 points to earn their first national runner-up finish in program history.  The Patriots had 28 NAIA All-Americans and had a program best three athletes capture individual national titles.  Titouan Bernot won the 500 free, Ruthiik Satti garnered the 100 back national title, and Brandon Holder won the 200 back.
 
For the second consecutive season the Patriots men's track & field tallied 90 points after posting a national runner-up finish.  Cumberlands tallied 17 NAIA All-Americans, while Tavon Davis (600m) and Luca Madeo (5k) each captured national titles.  The Patriots also won the MSC Indoor Championships as Mark Lawin was named the MSC Athlete of the Year.
 
Women's swimming & diving capped off an incredible season with a third place finish at the NAIA National Championships to earn 85 points.  UC earned a program record 414 points at the national championships and garnered 33 NAIA All-American accolades.  MSC Freshman of the Year Bella Hoare also captured the 500 free national title, while MSC Swimming of the Year Sarah Zoellner garnered five All-American honors. 
 
A record breaking season from the UC cheerleading team earned 80 points from their fourth place finish at the NAIA National Championships.  Cumberlands posted their highest finish in program history scoring a 91.73 at nationals.  The Patriots won a program-best six competitions this season, including winning the MSC Championships with a score of 95.08.  Hannah King was named the MSC Freshman & Cheerleader of the Year.
 
 
After advancing to the NAIA Final Site the men's basketball teams earned 64 points towards the Learfield Standings.  UC men's basketball reach the NAIA Round of 16 for the third straight year.  The Patriots compiled a 25-8 record and went 7-5 in conference play.  They went on to defeat William Carey 95-68 in the NAIA Second Round.  Kyle Duke was an NAIA Second Team All-American.
  
Women's wrestling garnered 64.5 points after placing 12^th at the NAIA National Championships.  Micah Miller and Saiheron Preciado-Meza earned NAIA All-American honors. 
 
Rounding out the Patriots winter sports is men's wrestling, who garners 56 points for their 18th place finish at nationals, and women's basketball, who qualified for their sixth straight national tournament.
 
Indiana Wesleyan earned 854.00 points to be ranked second, while Marian (754), Lindsey Wilson (658.00), and Life (563.25) round out the top-five.
 
The final LEARFIELD Directors' Cup standings will be released on Tuesday, June 9^th.  The LEARFIELD Sports Directors' Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution's finish in 13 sports during their championships.
 
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