Princeton athletics ranked 13th among 330 in NCAA Division I

Sports Illustrated has ranked Princeton as the No. 13 athletic program among the 330 NCAA Division I schools in the United States for the 2007-08 academic year.

According to a story posted on its website, the magazine awarded points for national and conference championships and national rankings in 22 sports.

"It is incredibly rewarding for Princeton to receive this recognition, which underscores the University's commitment to excellence in all of its educational endeavors," Princeton Director of Athletics Gary Walters said. "I am particularly proud of our student-athletes, coaches and administrative staff who understand that competitive performance is first and foremost a byproduct of our commitment to character-based and values-based coaching."

SI listed the top 25 schools and ties in its online release of the rankings. Princeton was the only school on the list from the Ivy League, and the 12 schools ahead of Princeton were all from high-major conferences including the Pac-10, ACC, SEC, Big 10 and Big 12.

"It is particularly meaningful that we are the only selective nonscholarship institution to be recognized in such a fashion," Walters said. "I hope this achievement reflects well not only on Princeton, but on the Ivy League in general."

Princeton received 24 points for eight Ivy League titles in the considered sports, including conference championships in men's and women's cross country, men's hockey, field hockey, softball, women's swimming and diving, women's indoor track and field and women's volleyball. Though not among the considered sports, the Tigers also won an Ivy League title in men's squash, and women's squash won a national title.

The remaining eight of Princeton's 32 points came from four top-30 finishes in the considered sports. Men's hockey made the 16-team NCAA tournament for the first time in 10 years, while field hockey continued its national presence with a play-in game in the NCAA tournament. Women's cross country finished 14th at the NCAA national meet, and women's swimming placed 24th in its NCAA competition.

The 11 men's sports considered were baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, indoor track and field and volleyball. The 11 women's sports were basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, indoor track and field and volleyball.