NCAC All-Sports Competition

May 13, 2008

NCAC All-Sports Update

OHIO WESLEYAN CLAIMS SECOND STRAIGHT ALL-SPORTS TITLE;
BATTLING BISHOPS CLAIM 19 TOP-FIVE FINISHES IN 2007-08

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CLEVELAND -- Ohio Wesleyan posted top-five finishes in 19 of 22 sports on the way to its second straight, and eighth overall, North Coast Athletic Conference All-Sports Championship. The Battling Bishops opened the year with top-five finishes in all seven fall sports, but was three points behind then first-place Wittenberg at the conclusion of the fall season. Ohio Wesleyan moved into the top spot in the standings after a winter season in which the Bishops swept the men's and women's indoor track & field titles and finished tied for second in both men's and women's basketball. Ohio Wesleyan capped the year with a strong spring performance, earning four championships and four additional top-five finishes to compile a league-leading 75.5 points, giving the Bishops a year-long total of 169.5. The Bishops also won the All-Sports crown six straight times between the 1988-89 season and the 1993-94 campaign.

Denison totalled 153.5 points to earn second place. The Big Red turned in eight top-five spring finishes, and 16 overall, including the men's lacrosse and women's tennis championships. Allegheny (146.0) finished third, followed by Kenyon (140.0) and Wittenberg (137.5) in fourth and fifth, respectively. Wooster (136.5), Oberlin (111.5), Wabash (65.5), Earlham (54.0) and Hiram (54.0) rounded out positions six through nine.

Ohio Wesleyan's championship campaign was highlighted by six NCAC titles -- men's and women's indoor track & field in the winter and baseball, golf, women's lacrosse and men's outdoor track & field in the spring. The Bishops also picked up six second-place finishes throughout the year to cement their All-Sports win. Kenyon improved its position in the final standings from last year. The Lords and Ladies moved up two spots from last spring's sixth-place finish courtesy of conference championships in men's soccer, women's basketball, men's and women's swimming and men's tennis. Overall, Kenyon turned in 15 top-five finishes over the 2007-08 academic year.

The All-Sports award is given annually to the school that performs the best across the NCAC's 22 sports. Ten points are awarded for a first-place finish, nine for a second, eight for a third, and so on. Men's and women's performances are combined, exemplifying the North Coast's commitment to equity and balance among programs. Wooster won three of the first four All-Sports championships, interrupted only by Denison in year two. Ohio Wesleyan followed with a six-year run leading to titles by Wooster (twice), Wittenberg (once), Denison (nine) and finally OWU last spring.

Ohio Wesleyan leads the way with 112 team championships during the NCAC's 24 playing seasons. Allegheny is next with 102 titles, followed by Denison (97), Kenyon (92), Wooster (64) and Wittenberg (61).

North Coast Athletic Conference 2007-08 FINAL All-Sports Standings
	School	Pts.
1.	Ohio Wesleyan University	169.5
2.	Denison University	153.5
3.	Allegheny College	146.0
4.	Kenyon College	140.0
5.	Wittenberg University	137.5
6.	College of Wooster	136.5
7.	Oberlin College	111.5
8.	Wabash College *	65.5
9.	Earlham College	54.0
	Hiram College	54.0

* Wabash is an all-male institution