General | 4/29/2015 10:14:00 AM

Rock Hill, S.C.----For the ninth consecutive year, Wingate University is the winner of the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award, which annually recognizes the athletic department with the highest point total based on cumulative final standings in each of the conference's 18 sports. Wingate piled up 182 points in the 2014-15 year, winning by a record 49 points. It is the highest margin of victory ever, topping last year's 44-point margin.  Before that, the largest margin came in 2010-11, when the Bulldogs won by 29 points.

"I am so excited for our athletes, coaches and fans, because all are so dedicated to excellence," Wingate University president Dr. Jerry McGee says. "This is another indication that hard work pays off. I couldn't be happier for everyone involved."

The ninth consecutive victory breaks a record which was set by Elon, who won eight in a row from 1989-97. In Wingate's nine-year run, the Bulldogs have accumulated 265 points more than the next closest school. Wingate has won by 20 or more points in each of the past five years, starting with the 29-point win in 2010-11. The Bulldogs won by 20.5 in 2011-12, while winning by 20 in 2012-13. Wingate accumulated a record 184 points to win by 44 last year, while extending the margin by 5.5 points this year. Before Wingate's 29-point win, the highest margin of victory was 12.5 set by Elon in 1996-97. The Bulldogs now have more Excellence Cup Awards (nine) than the other 11 current conference schools combined (five).
 
"We are thrilled to receive the Echols Athletic Excellence Award again this year," Wingate University vice-president and director of athletics Steve Poston says "The South Atlantic Conference has many outstanding athletic programs. For Wingate University to be recognized as the best is certainly a high achievement."
 
Excellence Cup points are based on final regular season standings in all conference sports except men's cross country, women's cross country, men's golf, women's golf, men's track & field and women's track & field, where tournament standings are used. The trophy is presented at the SAC Annual Business Meeting at the conclusion of each academic year. The trophy is named in honor of former SAC Commissioner Doug Echols.

Wingate got off to a quick start, winning conference titles in volleyball, men's soccer and women's cross country in the fall. Volleyball would go on to win its third straight NCAA Southeast regional championship. The women's soccer team finished second in the regular season, then went on to win the SAC tournament for the second year in a row. The men's cross country team finished third while football finished tied for fourth.

The Wingate women's basketball team finished second in the regular season, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Wingate men's basketball team added a fifth-place finish.  

The spring season was highlighted by regular season conference titles from men's and women's tennis. Both teams would go on to win SAC Tournament titles. Men's and women's track and field both finished second, as did the men's golf team. The women's golf team was third, while softball was fourth. Wingate baseball finished fifth in the regular season, then won the conference tournament. Both lacrosse teams also registered fifth-place finishes.

"The Echols Athletic Excellence Award is a testament to the hard work of our student-athletes and coaches, as well as the support we receive from the entire Wingate University family," Poston says. 

Lenoir-Rhyne finished second with 132.5 points, finishing 2.5 points ahead of third-place Queens. Lincoln Memorial was fourth, with Carson-Newman rounding out the top five.

2014-15 SAC Excellence Cup Standings
 

SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award Standings (since 2006)
 

1. Wingate	1051
2. Carson-Newman	786
3. Lenoir-Rhyne	785.5
4. Tusculum	769.5
5. Newberry	692.5
6. Catawba	689.5
7. Lincoln Memorial	665.5
8. Mars Hill	627.5
9. Anderson (4 yrs)	459.5
10. Brevard (5 yrs)	298.5
11. Queens (2 yrs)	268
12. Coker (2 yrs)	165