UMD, Winona St., & Southwest St.
Finish at Top of 2000-2001 NSIC All-Sports Competition

The University of Minnesota-Duluth Athletic Program displayed its prowess on the field of play this year en route to winning the 2000-2001 NSIC All-Sports Competition. The Bulldogs, perennially strong in athletics, used top finishes in several sports to take first place in the final standings. In women's sports, UMD took home NSIC championships in cross-country, indoor and outdoor track & field. The women's softball, tennis and volleyball teams finished second, respectively. The Bulldogs' women's soccer team managed a tie with Winona State in regular season play while capturing third place at the NSIC Championship Tournament. UMD then went on to compete in NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament. Speaking of NCAA tourney appearances, Minnesota-Duluth women's basketball proved to be clutch in postseason play as they took home the NSIC tournament trophy earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. UMD, who finished third in the NSIC's regular season, lost to eventual national runner-up North Dakota in the NCAA region final game.

In men's athletics, Minnesota-Duluth earned a conference championship in cross country, while finishing second in outdoor track & field, third at the indoor track & field championships, and fourth in football and men's basketball during the 2001-2002 sports season.

The Winona State Warriors came up just short in the All-Sports Standings finishing very strong in several men's and women's sports. In the fall season, WSU won the conference title in football earning a birth in the first-ever Division II Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Mo. where the Warriors went on to defeat nationally-ranked Missouri Western of the MIAA conference in a triple overtime thriller. Winona State women's soccer downed a tough Wayne State team in the NSIC Championship Game after tying UMD for first place in the regular season standings. Meanwhile, the Warriors wrapped up the NSIC fall sports season, finishing second in men's and women's golf while taking fourth in women's cross country.

Winter in the Minnesota River Valley brought success for the men's basketball team, as WSU finished second to Southwest State in the regular season. The Warrior-Mustang Rivalry was not over with the end of the regular season as they met in the NSIC tournament championship and WSU earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with a victory. However, no more than a week later, the two conference foes did battle on the hardwood in the NCAA region tournament and this time it was the Mustangs who extracted some revenge by defeating WSU and ending the Warriors successful season. WSU finished fourth at the NSIC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship. The spring season brought more Winona State success on the athletic fields as the school finished fifth and fourth in women's outdoor track & field and softball, respectively. WSU also captured the league baseball championship finishing 9-1 in conference play and earned the NSIC Women's Tennis Championship on home soil as well.

Southwest State, a sponsor of 10 NSIC sports, also competed with resolve in the Northern Sun this year. The Mustangs, who finished third in the All-Sport Standings, brought home NSIC titles in women's golf, men's basketball, women's basketball and wrestling. SSU's men's and women's basketball teams garnered the most success for the school by both gaining NCAA tournament appearances. The Mustangs men's squad finished the regular season with a No. 9 national ranking then went on to capture the NCAA North Central Region Championship to secure an appearance at the Elite 8 in Bakersfield, Calif. where they lost to perennial power and eventual national champion, Kentucky Wesleyan.

Final 2000-2001 NSIC All-Sports Competition Standings

1. University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs - 87.0 points, 14 sports

2. Winona State University Warriors - 84.5 points, 14 sports

3. Southwest State University Mustangs - 70.0 points, 10 sports

4. Wayne State College Wildcats - 68.75 points, 15 sports

5. Northern State University Wolves - 64.5 points, 16 sports

6. Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons - 59.5 points, 15 sports

7. Bemidji State University Beavers - 57.75 points, 15 sports

8. Concordia University-St. Paul Golden Bears - 46.5 points, 13 sports

Tie 9. University of Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles - 28.5 points, 10 sports

Tie 9. University of Minnesota-Morris Cougars - 28.5 points, 15 sports