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 24, 2001 NCAC All-Sports Update Denison Claims Fifth All-Sports Title; Big Red Earn Six NCAC Crowns in 2000-01 CLEVELAND -- Denison posted top-two finishes in 13 of 22 sports on the way to a successful defense of the North Coast Athletic Conference All-Sports Championship. The Big Red had a slim eight-point advantage after the winter season but held off all challengers with a strong spring performance, earning three championships and three second-place finishes to total 175.5 points, just three and one-half points off the scoring record that they established last year. Denison, winners of four consecutive All-Sports crowns, also won the title in the 1985-86 season. Six time champion Ohio Wesleyan totaled 158 points to earn second place. The Battling Bishops won six championships overall, including three this spring, to repeat last year's second-place finish. Wittenberg (156) placed third, followed by Wooster (147.5) in fourth and Allegheny (145.5) in fifth. Kenyon (129.5), Oberlin (86.5), Earlham (70.5), Wabash (55.5) and Hiram (47.5) took positions six through ten. Denison's championship campaign featured six NCAC titles -- outright crowns in women's cross country, women's indoor track & field, women's lacrosse, men's tennis and softball, plus a co-championship in field hockey. The Big Red improved their standing in six sports from a year ago. Wabash and Wooster each advanced one spot in the standings. 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 (four times) over the past seven seasons. Ohio Wesleyan leads the way with 79 team championships during the NCAC's 17 playing seasons. Allegheny is next with 71 titles, followed by Denison (70), Kenyon (68) and Wooster (45). North Coast Athletic Conference 2000-2001 All-Sports Final Standings   School Points 1.   Denison University 175.5 2.   Ohio Wesleyan University 158.0 3.   Wittenberg University 156.0 4.   College of Wooster 147.5 5.   Allegheny College 145.5 6.   Kenyon College 129.5 7.   Oberlin College 86.5 8.   Earlham College 70.5 9.   Wabash College 55.5 10.  Hiram College 47.5