WUSTL Athletics ranks in Top Five

The Department of Athletics finished fifth in the 2006-07 U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup Division III standings, as announced by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), the U.S. Sports Academy and USA Today. The fifth-place finish marks the Bears fifth straight Top 10 appearance: 2002-03 (fifth), 2003-04 (ninth), 2004-05 (third) and 2005-06 (seventh).

WUSTL totaled a school record 845 points and had eight Top 10 finishes in 2006-07: volleyball (second), women’s basketball (second), softball (second), men’s basketball (third), women’s cross country (fourth), men’s tennis (fifth), women’s swimming and diving (seventh) and women’s soccer (ninth).

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The Bears also placed 18th in men’s swimming and diving, 25th in men’s cross country, 28th in women’s indoor track and field, 33rd in baseball and in men’s soccer and 56th in women’s outdoor track and field.

Williams College won its ninth consecutive Directors’ Cup and 11th in the past 12 years with 1,137.50 points. Middlebury College (1,064.50 points), Cortland State University (892.75 points), Amherst College (887.25 points) and WUSTL (845.00 points) rounded out the Top Five.

University Athletic Association members Emory University (ninth, 694.50) and New York University (14th, 578.00) also ranked in the Top 15.

The University, which was seventh after the fall season and third after the winter season, shattered the school record point total of 675.75 set in the 2004-05 season.

Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in as many as18 sports — nine women’s and nine men’s.

The U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between NACDA and USA Today. The U.S. Sports Academy, based in Daphne, Ala., is the program sponsor.

Nick Povalitis wins AVCA media award

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced that Nick Povalitis, assistant sports information director, is a 2006-07 AVCA Grant Burger Media Award winner for the Central Region.

Povalitis, who also won the award in 2004-05 and 2005-06, was one of eight award winners in Division III women’s volleyball. He handles publicity for WUSTL’s baseball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s track and field, volleyball, women’s basketball and women’s tennis teams.

A Rockford, Ill., native, Povalitis’ last day on the Danforth Campus was June 7. He returned to his hometown to pursue other career opportunities.

Football’s Scott Mueller promoted

Scott Mueller has been promoted to full-time assistant football coach, head coach Larry Kindbom announced. Mueller replaces Shap Boyd, who took the defensive coordinator position at Muskingum College. Mueller, who has spent the past four seasons as a part-time coach, will serve as the defensive line coach for the Bears. He came to WUSTL in 2002 after serving as assistant coach at Maplewood Richmond Heights High School.

Baseball players named all-region

Senior Andy Shields highlighted five players on the American Baseball Coaches Association All-Central Region Team. A first-team all-region selection, Shields also garnered second-team All-America accolades. Senior first baseman Eddy Hoering and sophomore right fielder Zander Lehmann received second-team honors, while senior third baseman Arden Farhi and sophomore right-hander Brian Williams garnered third-team honors.

Softball’s Sagartz receives honors

Senior softball pitcher Laurel Sagartz has been named a finalist for the Honda Award for the Division III Female Athlete of the Year, as announced by the Board of the College Women Sports Awards. In addition, Sagartz earned ESPN The Magazine third-team Academic All-America honors, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America. A three-time Academic All-UAA honoree, she graduated in May with a 3.40 grade-point average in mechanical engineering.