By 1808Delaware
Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) finished in fourth place in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) All-Sports title chase, as announced recently by the NCAC.
Spring 2024 Performance Highlights
Ohio Wesleyan accumulated 70 points this spring, excelling in several sports. Notably, OWU secured second-place finishes in both men’s and women’s lacrosse, along with a third-place finish in women’s track & field. These accomplishments contributed significantly to their overall standing.
Denison University claimed the all-sports title with an impressive 202.5 points. The Big Red’s success was fueled by conference titles in women’s golf, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, men’s tennis, and a shared championship in baseball. DePauw University followed in second place with 196 points, while Wittenberg University secured third with 192.5 points.
NCAC All-Sports Championship History
The NCAC All-Sports Championship, established to recognize the best overall athletic program within the conference, awards the Dennis M. Collins All-Sports Trophy annually. The scoring system allocates 11 points for a first-place finish, 10 for second, nine for third, and so on, with men’s and women’s performances combined. This system underscores the NCAC’s dedication to equity and balance across all programs.
Historically, Wooster won three of the first four all-sports championships, with Denison interrupting their streak in the second year. Ohio Wesleyan then dominated with a six-year winning run, followed by titles from Wooster, Wittenberg, and nine from Denison. OWU reclaimed the trophy twice more and tied with Denison in the 2008-09 season. Denison currently holds the defending champion title.
Dominance and Competitiveness in the NCAC
Denison leads the NCAC with a total of 176 team championships over 40 playing seasons, demonstrating their sustained excellence. Ohio Wesleyan follows closely with 161 titles, showcasing their consistent performance across various sports. Kenyon (141), Wittenberg (123), Wooster (85), DePauw (45), Wabash (35), Oberlin (26), and Hiram (2) round out the list, reflecting the competitive nature of the conference.
Spring 2024 Standings and Performances
Denison University’s strong performance in the 2023-24 academic year was marked by four outright league titles in women’s golf, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and men’s tennis, as well as a shared title in baseball. Additionally, Denison posted 16 top-five finishes, solidifying their position with 202.5 points.
DePauw University earned second place with 196 points, achieving top-five finishes in 18 championship sports, including titles in football, softball, and their first volleyball crown, along with a shared women’s basketball title. Wittenberg University secured third place with 192.5 points, excelling in women’s cross country, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, and women’s outdoor track & field, among other sports.
Ohio Wesleyan’s fourth-place finish with 172 points was bolstered by 13 top-five finishes, including the league title in field hockey and shared titles in women’s soccer and women’s basketball.
