May 22, 2012

SPOKANE, Wash. - Western Washington University scored 180 points - one off its own conference record - in winning its fourth consecutive GNAC All-Sports title, according to final official figures released by the conference office Tuesday.

For the second year in a row, the Vikings also won both the men's and women's crowns scoring nearly identical point totals to last season. A year ago, the men earned 76 points and the women had 105 points. This year the men matched last year's 76-point total, while the women netted 104.

Points are awarded (on a two-point increment) based on the final finishes in each of the conference's 16 sports - football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, men's and women's outdoor track & field, men's and women's golf, baseball and softball.

The Vikings, who have now won eight all-sports titles in the 11-year history of the conference outpointed Western Oregon 180-144 for the overall title. They also edged the Wolves 76-74 for the men's title and outscored Seattle Pacific 104-94 for the women's crown.

WWU won three team titles though one of the three was not in men's basketball where it won the NCAA Division II national title. WWU was the men's and women's golf champion and also won the men's outdoor track and field title. In men's basketball, WWU was the regular-season GNAC champion, but lost to eventual champion Montana State Billings in the conference tournament before bouncing back to win the national title.

Seattle Pacific won the most team titles claiming four - all on the women's side (volleyball, soccer, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field).

WWU and Alaska Anchorage (men's cross country, women's cross country, women's basketball) each won three titles, Western Oregon (men's indoor track and field and baseball) and MSU Billings (men's basketball, softball) won two each. Simon Fraser (men's soccer) and Humboldt State (football) each won one.

Final 2011-12 GNAC All-Sports Standings:

Men - Western Washington 76, Western Oregon 74, Northwest Nazarene 57, Saint Martin's 54, Central Washington 53, Alaska Anchorage 52. MSU Billings 46, Seattle Pacific 42, Simon Fraser 36, Humboldt State 10, Alaska Fairbanks 4, Dixie State 2.

Women - Western Washington 104, Seattle Pacific 94, Alaska Anchorage 73, Western Oregon 70, Simon Fraser 67, Northwest Nazarene 63, MSU Billing 62, Central Washington 46, Saint Martin's 41, Alaska Fairbanks 20.

Conference Champions: Titles Won (Men-Women) - Seattle Pacific 4 (0-4), Western Washington 3 (2-1), Alaska Anchorage 3 (1-2), Western Oregon 2 (2-0), MSU Billings 2 (1-1), Simon Fraser 1 (1-0), Humboldt State 1 (1-0). Football - Humboldt State. Men's Cross Country - Alaska Anchorage. Women's Cross Country - Alaska Anchorage. Men's Soccer - Simon Fraser. Women's Soccer - Seattle Pacific. Volleyball - Seattle Pacific. Men's Indoor Track - Western Oregon. Women's Indoor Track - Seattle Pacific. Men's Basketball - MSU Billings. Women's Basketball - Alaska Anchorage Men's Golf - Western Washington. Women's Golf - Western Washington. Softball - MSU Billings. Men's Outdoor Track - Western Washington. Women's Outdoor Track - Seattle Pacific. Baseball - Western Oregon.

GNAC ALL SPORTS CHAMPIONS - Year By Year

Year    Overall                 Men                     Women2001-02 Western Washington 160  Western Washington 66   Western Washington  942002-03 Western Washington 147  Western Washington 58   Western Washington  892003-04 Western Washington 160  Western Washington 76   Seattle Pacific     922004-05 Western Washington 161  Western Washington 76   Seattle Pacific     962005-06 Seattle Pacific    157  Western Washington 58   Seattle Pacific     852006-07 Seattle Pacific    138  Central Washington 57   Seattle Pacific     922007-08 Western Oregon     158  Western Oregon     72   Seattle Pacific     992008-09 Western Washington 151  Western Washington 73   Western Washington  782009-10 Western Washington 167  Western Washington 78   Seattle Pacific     942010-11 Western Washington 181  Western Washington 76   Western Washington 1052011-12 Western Washington 180  Western Washington 76   Western Washington 104