ROCK HILL, S.C. – Following the conclusion of the fall seasons, the Trojans are fourth in fourth place in the 2017-18 South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award standings, as announced by the conference office Thursday morning.
Wingate leads the standings after winning a pair of championships to garner 550.5 points as the Bulldogs took home the conference title in men's soccer and football. Wingate also placed second in volleyball and tied for second in women's soccer to go along with its highest finish ever in program history in men's cross country as the Bulldogs came in at No. 2.
In second place in the standings was Carson-Newman with 417.5 points. The Eagles claimed the SAC crown in women's soccer, while finishing the season tied for second in men's soccer and football.
Fueled by a pair of league titles in men's and women's cross country, Queens came in at No. 3 in the Echols standings with 413.5 points. The Royals also tied for second in women's soccer, while placing third in volleyball. Anderson took home the SAC volleyball championship to stand at No. 4 in the standings with 383 points, while Lenoir-Rhyne rounded out the top five with 317 points.
Tusculum landed at No. 6 in the standings with 290.83 points and Lincoln Memorial came in at No. 7 with 282 points. Catawba posted a No. 8 finish in the fall standings with 255.5 points to finish ahead of Mars Hill, which posted 216 points.
Newberry finished the fall season at No. 10 in the fall standings with 155.83 points and Coker rounded out the list with 122 points.
The Echols Athletic Excellence Award is presented annually to the member athletic department that earns the highest point total based on cumulative final standings in each of the Conference's 20 sports. Regular season finish is used in the sports of men's and women's soccer, volleyball, football, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's lacrosse, baseball and softball, while SAC Championship results are used for men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track.
In the Echols Athletic Excellence Award formula, the champion will always receive 100 points and last place will receive 10 points regardless of the number of schools that sponsor that championship sport. The points earned for all other place finishes will vary based on the number of schools that sponsor that particular sport.
2017-18 SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award Standings
Rank School Total
1. Wingate 550.5
2. Carson-Newman 417.5
3. Queens 413.5
4. Anderson 383.0
5. Lenoir-Rhyne 317.0
6. Tusculum 290.83
7. Lincoln Memorial 282.0
8. Catawba 255.5
9. Mars Hill 216.0
10. Newberry 155.83
11. Coker 122.0
