Indiana State University Newsroom

Indiana State posted a No. 129 finish in the 2018-19 IMG Learfield Director's Cup Standings -- its highest since the 2014-15 academic year and a number which ranked second-best among the Sycamores' Missouri Valley Conference peers. Fueled by a No. 17 finish in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship and a No. 32 final standing at the Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship -- the Sycamores shined on a national stage this spring to bring home an impressive national ranking. There were 295 NCAA Division I schools who scored points in the IMG Learfield Directors Cup standings this year.

The Sycamores equaled their No. 129 national ranking enjoyed followed the 2013-14 campaign and were right there with their No. 128 mark secured back in 2014-15. The Sycamores' second place finish among Missouri Valley Conference peers trumps its standing in 2013-14 when they were third-best as well as in 2014-15 when their No. 128 mark was the fifth-best in the league.

This year, the Sycamores were edged by Northern Iowa, among MVC schools who earned a No. 119 national ranking and topped Illinois State (No. 133), Missouri State (No. 161), Drake (No. 174), Bradley (No. 190), Southern Illinois (No. 215) and Loyola (No. 266).

The Sycamore Baseball program claimed its first MVC Tournament title since 1995 and advanced to the Nashville Regional final, eliminating Ohio State and McNeese State while also challenging eventual national champion Vanderbilt to the brink against some of the best pitching and hitting talent in the country in front of a pair of sold out crowds.

Indiana State's Track and Field program made its mark on the national stage as Erin Reese claimed All-America First Team honors at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, finishing as the national runner-up in the (outdoor) hammer throw. She was named the Most Outstanding Female of the MVC Indoor and Outdoor Championships and, joined by Cassaundra Roper at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, led the Sycamores to a 32nd-place finish.

Other highlights from an outstanding 2018-19 campaign include:We went far beyond our goals for the Elevate Campaign by raising over $865,000, over $265,000 more than projected and we did so two months earlier than our targeted date. That is a tribute to your investment into Indiana State providing resources that have paid and will pay immediate and future dividends.

Sycamore Football made an incredible turnaround from 0-11 to 7-4 and one of the first teams out of the FCS Playoffs. Curt Mallory was named national and MVFC Coach of the Year, QB Ryan Boyle took home named Newcomer of the Year and Jonas Griffith was named Third Team All-America.

First-year Indiana State Swimming and Diving coach Josh Christensen, starting just one week before the season commenced, quickly hired a staff and guided the Sycamores to a third-place finish in the Valley, the highest in the program's short history and up one spot from last year.

ISU Women's Golf made great strides by finishing fourth at the MVC Championships. Thilda Staubo and Sierra Hargens were named All-MVC and All-Valley Scholar-Athletes while Staubo was named the MVC's Golfer of the Year.

Our department as a whole increased its GPA to 3.299 with 38 percent of our student-athletes getting named to the Dean's List (3.5+ GPA).

The Athletic Department's APR reached an overall score of 985, our highest mark ever.