BELLINGHAM, Wash. - For the eighth consecutive year Western Washington University is the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Sports Champion according to final official figures for the 2015-16 season released by the conference office today in Portland.

The Vikings tallied 203 of a possible 290 points in winning their 12th overall GNAC all-sports title in 15 seasons. This is also the sixth consecutive year that WWU has been the women's all-sport champion garnering 124 points. The men's teams tied for second with 79 points, snapping its streak of seven consecutive winning years.

"This award is a validation of an excellent comprehensive athletic program. Our program as a whole has overcome some adversity to once again have an outstanding year. I am very proud of all of our student-athletes, coaches and support staff for representing Western Washington University at the highest level," said WWU Director of Athletics Steve Card. "The GNAC as a whole is a premier athletic conference with wonderful student-athletes. I look forward to the continued competition and excellence from all conference members."

The Vikings tallied 203 points in the all-sports standings, 22 points ahead of second-place Alaska Anchorage. Central Washington (167 points), Simon Fraser (159 points) and Western Oregon (145 points) rounded out the top five in the conference.

WWU outscored Alaska Anchorage 124-102 to win the women's crown, while Western Oregon took home the men's title with 92 points.

Points are awarded in two-point increments based on final regular season finishes in football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball and conference meet finishes in men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field and men's and women's golf.

Nine different schools won the league's 16 team championships. Alaska Anchorage won an unprecedented seven championships in volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's indoor track and field, women's basketball and men's outdoor track and field. Western Washington (women's soccer and men's golf) and Seattle Pacific (men's soccer, women's outdoor track and field) each won two championships. Central Washington (softball), Montana State Billings (baseball co-champion), Northwest Nazarene (baseball co-champion), Simon Fraser (women's golf), Western Oregon (men's basketball) and affiliate member Humboldt State (football) all won one championship.

In addition, Western Washington (women's soccer), Alaska Anchorage (women's basketball), Western Oregon (men's basketball), Northwest Nazarene (baseball) and Central Washington (softball) won postseason team tournament championships.

The success of GNAC programs carried over to NCAA competition, led by the run of Alaska Anchorage's women's basketball program to the Division II championship game. Four other programs had top-four NCAA finishes: Western Washington women's soccer and volleyball, Alaska Anchorage men's cross country and Western Oregon men's basketball.

The Vikings will wrap up the 2015-16 sports season the weekend of May 26-29 with the NCAA II Championships in Women's Rowing (Gold River, CA) and Track & Field (Bradenton, FL).