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 20, 2002 NCAC All-Sports Update Denison Claims Fifth Consecutive All-Sports Title; Big Red Claim Three NCAC Crowns in 2001-02 CLEVELAND -- Denison posted top-two finishes in 12 of 22 sports on the way to a successful defense of the North Coast Athletic Conference All-Sports Championship. The Big Red stood a close second after the winter season, five points behind then-leader Wittenberg, but recovered their lead with a strong spring performance. Denison earned three championships and three second-place finishes this spring to total 167.5 points. Denison, winners of five consecutive All-Sports crowns (six overall), also won the title in the 1985-86 season. Wittenberg, which won the award in 1995-96, totaled 164 points to earn second place. The Tigers won five championships overall, including one this spring, to improve last year's third-place finish. Former champions Ohio Wesleyan and Wooster (149) tied for third, followed by Allegheny (146.5) in fifth. Kenyon (137.5), Oberlin (91.0), Wabash (61.0), Earlham (57.0) and Hiram (53.5) took positions six through ten. Denison's championship campaign featured three NCAC titles -- men's lacrosse, softball and women's tennis. The Big Red picked up nine second place finishes to cement their All-Sports win. In addition to Wittenberg, two teams advanced one spot in the standings: Wabash improved from ninth to eighth and Wooster moved from fourth into a tie for third. 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 (five times) over the past eight seasons. Ohio Wesleyan leads the way with 83 team championships during the NCAC's 18 playing seasons. Allegheny, Denison and Kenyon are next with 73 titles, followed by Wooster (48) and Wittenberg (46). North Coast Athletic Conference 2001-2002 All-Sports Final Standings   School Points 1.   Denison University 167.5 2.   Wittenberg University 164.0 3.   Ohio Wesleyan University 149.0    College of Wooster 149.0 5.   Allegheny College 146.5 6.   Kenyon College 137.5 7.   Oberlin College 91.0 8.   Wabash College 61.0 9.   Earlham College 57.0 10.  Hiram College 53.5 Click for complete 2001-2002 All-Sports chart