N E W S R E L E A S E

Contact: Dennis Collins, Executive Director
Phone:   (440) 871-8100
Fax:     (440) 871-4221
E-mail:  ncac@northcoast.org

Edited:  May 23, 2000

NCAC All-Sports Update

Denison Claims Fourth All-Sports Title;
Big Red Shatter Own Scoring Record

CLEVELAND -- Denison posted top-two finishes in 14 of 22 sports on the way to a successful defense of the North Coast Athletic Conference All-Sports Championship. The Big Red built a 16.5-point advantage after the winter season and finished strong with three championships and three second-place finishes in the spring to total 179 points and shatter the previous scoring record of 160.5 that they established last year. Denison, winners of three consecutive All-Sports crowns, also won the title in the 1985-86 season.

Six time champion Ohio Wesleyan totaled 157.5 points to earn second place. The Battling Bishops won eight championships overall, including four this spring, to improve upon last year's third-place finish. Wittenberg (143.5) placed third, followed closely by Allegheny (143) in fourth and Wooster (139) in fifth. Kenyon (130), Oberlin (89.5), Earlham (70.5), Hiram (58) and Wabash (58) took positions six through ten.

Denison D

Denison's championship campaign featured six NCAC titles -- outright crowns in women's cross country, field hockey, women's indoor track & field, women's lacrosse, and men's tennis, plus a co-championship in men's lacrosse. The Big Red improved their standing in nine sports and added 19 points to their total from a year ago. Wittenberg jumped two positions in the standings, while Earlham, Oberlin and Ohio Wesleyan each advanced one spot.

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 before titles by Wooster (twice), Wittenberg and Denison (three times) over the past six seasons. Ohio Wesleyan leads the way with 73 team championships during the NCAC's 16 playing seasons. Allegheny and Denison are next with 69 titles each, followed by Kenyon (64) and Wooster (45).

North Coast Athletic Conference
Final 1999-2000 All-Sports Standings

School
Points

1.   Denison University
179.0

2.   Ohio Wesleyan University
157.5

3.   Wittenberg University
143.5

4.   Allegheny College
143.0

5.   College of Wooster
139.0

6.   Kenyon College
130.0

7.   Oberlin College
89.5

8.   Earlham College
70.5

9.   Hiram College
58.0

Wabash College
58.0