FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Hudson, Old Dominion
Phone: (757) 683-3372

June 19, 2008


Virginia Captures '08 VaSID All-Sports Championship

NORFOLK, Va. -- The University of Virginia won over 61 percent of its intercollegiate athletic contests in 2007-08 to win the 30th annual Virginia Sports Information Director’s Association Division I All-Sport championship.  This is the Cavaliers 10th overall title.

2008 VaSID University Division All-Sports Survey

Old Dominion was second overall at .602 and James Madison was third at .601.  Virginia won 69 percent of its men’s contests and James Madison won 62 percent of it’s women’s.

Virginia was paced by men’s tennis and men’s lacrosse, both of whom reached the NCAA semi-finals.  Women’s rowing placed fifth at the NCAA national championships, and individually, Somdev Devvarman repeated as the NCAA men’s tennis singles champion. The Cavaliers led the state in top 30 team finishes with 12.

Virginia Tech followed with its men’s soccer team reaching the NCAA College Cup semi-finals, and softball squad reaching the College World Series. Women’s indoor track and field finished 10th at the NCAA National Championships. The Hokies ACC Championship football squad ranked ninth in the final polls. ODU was paced by its men’s soccer team and women’s basketball team who both advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament, while women’s sailing had two top five finishes in the single-handed division.   James Madison’s field hockey squad reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA’s, and Richmond reached the semi-finals of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.

Joining Virginia’s Somdev Devvarman on the individual national championship list is Liberty’s Josh McDougall, who captured the NCAA Cross Country National title.

Liberty led the state with eight conference championships, followed by Virginia with six ,Virginia Tech, and William and Mary followed with four each. Overall, Virginia Division I schools compiled a 2331-2067-58 record for a winning percentage of .530. Men’s teams were 1114-928-34 for a .545 percentage while the women’s teams were  at .516 with a 1217-1139-24 mark. There were 16 sports that won over 50 percent of their events led by wrestling (.630), football (.620), and men’s tennis (.604).

The survey began in 1978-79 and includes winning percentages of only those sports with NCAA sponsored championships. Old Dominion won seven of the first eight titles, then again in 1993-94, 1995-96 and 1998-99. Virginia won five straight years from 1988-89 to 1992-93, then again in 1996-97, 1997-98, and 2003-04 and 2004-05.  George Mason won in 1986-87, and James Madison in 1981-82, 1987-88 and 1994-95. Hampton University won in 2000 and 2001, while Richmond took first in 2002 and VCU followed in 2003. Old Dominion won the past two years.

All-State teams are selected by active members of the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.  For more information, please visit the VaSID site at http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/vasid.