Salisbury University won a conference-best seven championships and finished second in four other sports during the 2009-10 year to repeat as winner of the Capital Athletic Conference’s annual Richard C. Cook All-Sports Award.

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In the point system approved by the CAC Board of Directors in 2008, Salisbury compiled 172 total points to capture the All-Sports Award, which was re-named in December 2007 to honor the 15-years of service to the CAC by former Commissioner Richard C. Cook.

It is the fifth-straight year, and eighth time since 1998-99, that Salisbury has won the CAC’s All-Sports Award. Salisbury’s total for the 19 championship sports was eight points less than its 2008-09 total.

The University of Mary Washington (168.50), which has claimed ownership of the CAC All-Sports Award a record 11 times (1992-98 and 2002-05), placed second in the 2009-10 all-sports standings for the fifth-straight year.

York College of Pa. increased its overall total 10 points compared to the final 2008-09 standings, the second-best improvement in the CAC. The Spartans finished third with 150 points, followed by St. Mary’s College of Md.(92.67), Wesley College (84.00), Stevenson University (76.67), Hood College (60.67), Marymount University (56.00) and Gallaudet University (33.50).

While the point totals changed, the overall order of finish for the Richard C. Cook All-Sports Award remained the same as in 2008-09. The largest improvement was by Gallaudet, which added 15 points to its 2008-09 score (18.50) in its last year of CAC membership. The Bison will move to the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) for the 2010-11 academic year and will be replaced in the CAC by Frostburg State University, which participated in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) this year.

Other increases were registered by Mary Washington (five points) and Wesley (four points).

Six of Salisbury’s seven championships were garnered by women’s teams, helping the Gulls win the Women’s Commissioner’s Award for the third-straight year. The Sea Gulls compiled 98.50 points to edge the University of Mary Washington (97.00) for the trophy. UMW challenged for the crown by winning two women’s championships and finishing second in four other women’s sports. York was third in the women’s chase with 74 points. Wesley jumped from eighth place in the women’s standings to sixth while Gallaudet improved 13 points to pack five teams in the women’s standings within 11 points.

York emerged from second-place last year to capture the Men’s Commissioner’s Award for the first time. The Spartans, boosted by a men’s soccer championship and second-place finishes in golf and men’s swimming, compiled 76.00 points to knock Salisbury (73.50) out of the top spot the Sea Gulls held the past two seasons. Mary Washington was third in the men’s standings (71.50). Fifth-place St. Mary’s and seventh-place Hood each moved up one position from the 2008-09 Men’s Commissioners Award final standings.

The 2009-10 academic year marked the first time in the CAC’s 20-year history that seven teams captured at least one conference crown. While Salisbury (seven) and Mary Washington (six) dominated, York (men’s soccer), St. Mary’s (men’s basketball), Marymount (women’s basketball), Stevenson (men’s lacrosse) and Wesley (golf) all climbed the championship ladder this year.

Stevenson’s championship was its first since joining the CAC, and the Mustangs registered a pair of second-place finishes in men’s and women’s soccer this year. Wesley’s golf title was the Wolverines’ third crown since joining the conference and second on the links since the sport was added to the CAC lineup in 2008.

In the 20-year history of the CAC, Mary Washington has captured 159 conference playoff championships, including all 20 in women’s swimming, 16 out of 17 in women’s track & field, 18 out of 20 in women’s tennis and 16 in men’s swimming and men’s tennis.

Salisbury boasts the second-highest championship total, capturing 117 crowns since joining the CAC in 1994. The Sea Gulls have won 15 championships in field hockey, softball, men’s lacrosse, 12 in men’s track & field and 10 in women’s lacrosse.

The point system approved by the Board of Directors in 2008 awards nine "base" points for the top team in the regular season, eight points for second place, seven points for third place, etc, down to one point for the last-place team. Teams can also score additional points (maximum three points) for success in CAC Championship Tournament.

In sports that have team titles decided only by post-season championship events, points are awarded based on the standings, similar to the sports with regular seasons and playoffs (nine points for first place, eight for second, etc.). Playoff points are awarded to the top four teams (three for first place, two for second place, one for third and fourth place), similar to the sports with regular seasons and playoffs based on the top seeds advancing through the tournament.

In all 19 sports, the top team can gain 12 a maximum of points, and the last-place team earns one point.

Of the active CAC members, Marymount and York have won 13 championships while St. Mary’s has 11. Eleven of Marymount’s championships are women’s basketball trophies, captured under the leadership of retiring coach and athletic director Bill Finney. York has won four men’s soccer and three baseball championships. SMC boasts three men’s basketball trophies, including two in the last three seasons, and three women’s lacrosse crowns.

In its 20 seasons as a charter member, Gallaudet owns five CAC championships - all in women’s volleyball - which ranks sixth among the nine current conference members. The Bison also appeared in several other championship contests, particularly in volleyball and women’s basketball during the playing career of CAC record holder and three-time Women’s Basketball Player of the Year Ronda Jo Miller (1997-2000). In its final season of CAC membership, GU played in the volleyball championship game and snapped lengthy CAC losing streaks in women’s basketball and baseball.

2009-10 RICHARD C. COOK ALL-SPORTS AWARD (overall standings): Salisbury 172.00, Mary Washington 168.50, York 150.00, St. Mary’s 92.67, Wesley 84.00, Stevenson 76.67, Hood 60.67, Marymount 56.00, Gallaudet 33.50

2009-10 MEN’S COMMISSIONER’S AWARD (third year of award): York 76.00, Salisbury 73.50, Mary Washington 71.50, Wesley 48.00, St. Mary’s 45.67, Stevenson 39.17, Hood 28.67, Marymount 24.50, Gallaudet 7.00

2009-10 WOMEN’S COMMISSIONER’S AWARD (third year of award): Salisbury 98.50, Mary Washington 97.00, York 74.00, St. Mary’s 47.00, Stevenson 37.50, Wesley 36.00, Hood 32.00, Marymount 31.50, Gallaudet 26.50