Why do the Wisconsin schools dominate D3?

it really is a hot spot, for reasonably priced D3 schools that is. If you look at the state of Wisconsin compared to some other states, they have more public division 3 schools than they do D1. When you get so many schools like that in one area, that are easy to afford, of course they\\\'re going to have a pretty good history.

[quote]please explain wrote:

d3 state school

[quote]

This goes a long way towards explaining it. There simply aren't many state schools in DIII, and those that do exist and attempt to fund athletics well tend to succeed.

they are gigantic.

There is also a strong DIII culture in Wisconsin that arises from having all these public schools compete in the same DIII conference and do well at DIII nationals. DIII is much more on the radar of high school athletes in Wisconsin than it is in most states. Add that to the low tuition costs (and solid coaching) and you get successful programs.

Wisconsin has alot of decent runners that aren't quite good enough to get in to Div 1 University of Wisconsin. The rest of the state colleges just happen to be Div 3 so that's where they end up.

I have heard, but cannot confirm, that they bend DIII rules (ie they give "academic" scholarships to good athletes, pay for board, etc.)

whatareyoudoing wrote:

I have heard, but cannot confirm, that they bend DIII rules (ie they give "academic" scholarships to good athletes, pay for board, etc.)

We're not talking about private schools here, these public schools don't have the money to do that.

Another solid advantage that I've heard is that they offer in-state tuition to a resident of any bordering state--letting them get in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan (?) kids for cheap.

Gotta give credit where credit is due, though, most of these advantages would be meaningless if the schools did not have great coaches and great traditions of success.

Okay, that might be just Minnesota kids, but still it is another advantage.

They don't dominate running thats for sure...I kinda think running is a little important in track.

Macharia Yuot Sr Widener University 14:20.65c (14:18.35) 2/11 St. Valetines Invi

Matt DeShane Sr Plattsburgh S U N Y 14:26.02c (14:23.72) 2/24 NYU Fast Track Inv

Hany Abdallah So New York University 14:29.15c (14:26.85) 1/27 BU Terrier classic

Fred Josyln Sr Cortland S U N Y 14:31.97c (14:29.67) 2/11 Bu. St. Valentine

Neal Holtschulte Sr Williams College 14:34.28c (14:31.98) 2/11 Valentine Classic

======================= Automatic 14:34.60

Brian Donovan Sr College of New Jersey 14:36.10c (14:33.80) 2/11 BU Valentines Invi

Pat Rizzo Sr North Central College 14:38.20c (14:34.20) 3/4 Cyclone National Qu

Mike Sawicki Sr Otterbein College 14:39.60c (14:35.60) 12/9 Kent State Golden

======================= Last 2005 qualifier 14:40.64

Steve Harris Sr Carleton College 14:40.82 3/3 MIAC Championships

Dave Billings Sr Ripon College 14:41.18 2/18 UW Oshkosh

10

Grant Scott Sr Haverford College 14:41.22c (14:38.92) 2/11 BU Valentine's Mee

Matt Lacey Sr Tufts University 14:41.28c (14:38.98) 1/27 Terrier Invitation

Mike Bunker Sr Southern Maine 14:42.88c (14:40.58) 1/27 BU Terrier Classic

Aaron Johnston-Peck Jr Case Western Reserve 14:44.18 3/3 UAA Championships

There they are, top 14 5k guys in the country for D3. One Wisconsin guy from Ripon. I wouldn't exactly call that domination. If anything the east coast is the strongest region of the country for D3 distance running. If you think its a fluke look at XC national results.

I didn't see much D3 dominance by East coast schools at XC nationals.

WIAC is in a down cycle right now, if you go back even just three years you'll see a different story.

whatareyoudoing wrote:

I have heard, but cannot confirm, that they bend DIII rules (ie they give "academic" scholarships to good athletes, pay for board, etc.)

All DIII's do this to some extent. They are called leadership grants in most cases.

if you score xc nats by region North East wins

I didn't use the term dominance I just said it was the strongest for XC too...and it is. Ya heard?! 8 northeast region folks in the top 15 thats 8 for east 7 for rest of country for those who dont have a calculator handy.

If ya want to go further down its 10 in the top 20 too. I stand by my math...which is pretty shakey admitedly.

whatareyoudoing wrote:

I have heard, but cannot confirm, that they bend DIII rules (ie they give "academic" scholarships to good athletes, pay for board, etc.)

That's some funny stuff man. I've never heard of any team in DIII doing that. Some guys might claim that they're getting a "fake" athletic scholarship, but they're the same guys who tell you then ran a 47 in high school and when you look up their state meet results they didn't even break 50.

those east coast dudes get their asses pulled around the track to fast times...at nats in real races the WIAC boys always dominate....and also LaCrosse and Oshkosh were ranked in the national top5 all year and the WIAC had 5 all americans in cross and the 36th place finisher as well

ALSO...the WIAC would have had 2 oshkosh guys in the 5k, but one is injured and one is running the mile instead, they both clocked 1444's....and the WIAC has 5 guys in the mile in at nats....

whoa easy cowboy...I listed the top 14 performance in the country not the entry list. Plus no matter how you try and sugar coat it the northeast was the strongest this year in XC. Which was a passing point to further solidify that its not a fluke. I know the central area is usually good its just this year the east was better next year is a new year...goodluck.

One reason is that their enrollment is HUGE. Bigger pool to draw from when compared to other 1500-3000 enrollment D3 colleges...