DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State University wrapped up the 2024–25 athletic year ranked No. 22 nationally in the final NAIA Learfield Directors' Cup standings, released Tuesday by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
The Blue Hawks totaled 493.00 points, placing DSU ahead of all other North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) members. Bellevue University, the next-highest NSAA institution, finished 51st with 347.00 points, while Dakota State placed 85th with 224.00 points. Fellow NSAA member Jamestown was 106th (151.50 points).
Dickinson State's top-25 finish also stands out among its future Frontier Conference peers. Among Frontier institutions, only Carroll (No. 53, 340.75 points) and Montana Tech (No. 55, 337.00 points) cracked the top 60. Providence (No. 73), Rocky Mountain (No. 78), Montana Western (No. 110), and Montana State-Northern (No. 154) trailed the Blue Hawks by a considerable margin.
Dickinson State's 493-point total in the Learfield Directors' Cup was the result of consistent performances across fall, winter, and spring sports. The Blue Hawks opened the year strong in the fall with a 9th-place finish in football, earning 45 points. Winter competition saw a surge in scoring, led by a 3rd-place national finish in cheer that netted 85 points. Women's indoor track and field added 64.5 points with an 11th-place finish, while the men's indoor squad placed 27th to contribute 44.5 points. Men's wrestling scored 48 points with a 26th-place finish, and women's wrestling chipped in 39 points after placing 17th. Men's basketball rounded out the winter slate with 25 points from a 33rd-place finish at nationals. In the spring, women's outdoor track and field led all programs with 80 points following a 4th-place finish, while the men placed 34th for 37 points. Baseball closed out the scoring with 25 points from a 37th-place national finish. Together, these results showcased the depth and consistency of Blue Hawk Athletics across all three championship seasons.
"It was an outstanding year for Blue Hawk athletics," said Dickinson State Athletic Director Pete Stanton. "It's pretty incredible to have two different teams finish in the top four in the nation, and also have three other teams qualify for their respective national tournaments. We are proud of all the work our athletes, coaches, and support personnel put in to help us reach the top 25 in the NAIA."
The Learfield Directors' Cup awards points based on each institution's finish at NAIA national championships in up to 13 sports, including mandatory scoring in men's and women's basketball, men's soccer, and women's volleyball.
Cumberlands (Ky.) claimed the top spot for the second consecutive year with 1,014.00 points, followed by Keiser (Fla.) with 954.00 and Indiana Wesleyan with 889.25.
The Directors' Cup standings are a benchmark of broad-based athletic success at the national level, and DSU's performance signals its continued ascension among the NAIA's most competitive programs.
