PORTLAND, Ore. - For the first time in school history, Western Oregon captured the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men's All-Sport Championship, as announced by the league office on Tuesday (May 17). The all-sport trophy is presented at the end of each year of league competition to the conference member having demonstrated excellence in male sports throughout the athletic seasons.
 
With a score of 92 points, Western Oregon outdistanced Western Washington, winners in each of the last seven years, and Alaska Anchorage, each who tied for second place with 79 points. Northwest Nazarene claimed fourth (69) and Central Washington rounded out the top five (66).
 
"Finishing in first place for the GNAC Men's All Sports Standings is a tremendous honor for Western Oregon University Athletics," Barbara Dearing, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said. "It's a collective effort from our coaches, student-athletes and staff that demonstrates teamwork wins. It's also very exciting and rewarding to move from our men's sixth place finish last year to the top position this year."
 
The Wolves claimed just one conference title during the 2015-16 athletic year, in men's basketball. Two sports took second place finishes – football and indoor track & field. Baseball and outdoor track & field finished third while cross country placed fourth. The feat is more impressive when taken into account that the athletic program does not sponsor two GNAC men's sports in soccer and golf.
 
Western Washington won its 12th overall GNAC all-sports title in the conference's 15 years. The Vikings was also the women's all-sports champion for the sixth consecutive season, finishing with a total of 124 points.