FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Illustrating yet another record-breaking campaign across the board for the Captains, the Christopher Newport University Department of Athletics swept the Capital Athletic Conference All-Sports Awards for the second consecutive season. For the fourth time in five years as a member of the CAC, Christopher Newport hauled in the league's top honor by securing the 2017-18 Richard C. Cook All-Sports Award with a record-shattering 233.0 points. CNU captured the Men's Commissioner Cup by 11.5 points and the Women's Commissioner Cup by a comfortable 28.5 points to sweep the three postseason awards.

In the 27-year history of the All-Sports Awards, CNU posted the highest point total with a 233.0-point effort. With last year's record-breaking performance, the Captains now own the top two scoring finishes in the award's history. Mary Washington (193.0 points) finished second overall this year, while also taking second in the Men's Commissioner Cup. York (Pa.) finished second in the Women's Commissioner Cup standings, with 101.5 points.

Over the course of the 2017-18 season, the Captains secured 10 team conference championships and eight more top-three finishes in league play. The Captains captured team championships in men's cross country, field hockey, women's soccer, volleyball, men's indoor track & field, women's indoor track & field, women's golf, men's outdoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field, and softball. The women's golf title was the first in CAC history as the league added it's 22nd championship sport this year. .

It marks the fourth CAC all-sports trophy for Christopher Newport since joining the conference in 2013-14. The Captains won the trophy in 2013-14 and shared the award with Salisbury in 2015-16 before winning outright in back-to-back seasons the last two years. The Women's Commissioner's Award is the third-straight and fourth overall for the Captains, while they secured the Men's Commissioner's Award for the second time. 

The 40-point margin of victory is the most lopsided win for the All-Sports Trophy in league history and marked the second straight dominant victory by the Captains. After the 2016-17 season, the Captains had captured 34 conference championships, ranking third all-time in league history despite having only been members for four seasons. With this year's 10 added, the CNU Department of Athletics now has 44 CAC titles in five years, trailing only charter member Mary Washington (200 league championships in 27 years) and Salisbury (168 CAC titles in 25 years). CNU is currently averaging 8.8 league championships per year, marking the highest frequency in CAC history. 

The CAC All-Sports Award was named in December 2007 to honor the 15 years of service by former CAC Commissioner Richard C. Cook. Mary Washington secured six league championships this year to power their way to the second place finish. Behind them, York College of Pennsylvania (188.5 pts), Salisbury (183.5 pts), and Frostburg State (98.0 pts) rounded out the top five.

With five programs still competing in the coming weeks, the Captains are putting a punctuation mark on one of the greatest years in department history. Christopher Newport has posted an overall record of 252-76-2 for a winning mark of 76.7%. That is currently second best in program history, behind only 2010-11 (77.5%) and edging out 2012-13 (76.4%). That mark includes football (not included in the CAC All-Sports Award) and does not include the coming postseason record for baseball. 

The overall success was bolstered primarily by a stellar fall season, including the program's finest finish ever by the men's cross country team. The CNU men's cross country team captured a 3rd place finish at the NCAA DIII National Championship, headlining a fall that saw women's soccer, field hockey, and volleyball all advance in the NCAA Tournament. In the winter, the Captains' men's track & field team put together a strong showing, while the CNU Women's Basketball team reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the fifth time in six years under head coach Bill Broderick. This spring, the men's lacrosse team shattered the record book with the best year in program history, which included the first NCAA Tournament victory in program history. The Captains' baseball team was nationally ranked all season and earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012, and the CNU softball team continued it's trend of excellence, reaching the NCAA Regionals for the 12th straight year. 

In league action, the Captains posted a sensational 84.5% winning percentage in CAC play. The Captains were 117-21-1 against the Capital this year, led by an undefeated seasons for women's soccer and volleyball (9-0-0) and an unbeaten men's soccer season (8-0-1). Women's Basketball added a 16-2 effort, softball was 13-1, and both tennis teams finished with just one loss as well, going 6-1 against the Capital. 

For a complete release of the 2017-18 Capital Athletic Conference Richard C. Cook All-Sports Award winners and full breakdown of the points, please click here. 

2017-18 CAC All-Sports Award Standings
(Final Standings - through 22 sports)

Richard C. Cook All-Sports Award Standings	Men's Commissioner's Cup Award (10 sports)	Women's Commissioner's Cup Award (12 sports)
1. Christopher Newport - 233.0	1. Christopher Newport - 104.0	1. Christopher Newport - 129.0
2. Mary Washington - 193.0	2. Mary Washington - 92.5	2. York - 101.5
3. York - 188.5	3. York - 87.0	3. Mary Washington - 100.5
4. Salisbury - 183.5	4. Salisbury - 83.5	4. Salisbury - 100.0
5. Frostburg State - 98.0	5T. Frostburg State - 41.5	5. Frostburg State - 56.5
6. Southern Virginia - 79.0	5T. Wesley - 41.5	6. Southern Virginia - 42.0
7. St. Mary's - 73.0	7. Southern Virginia - 37.0	7. St. Mary's - 41.0
8. Wesley - 69.5	8. Penn State Harrisburg - 35.0	8. Marymount - 34.5
9. Penn State Harrisburg - 58.0	9. St. Mary's - 32	9. Wesley - 28.0
10. Marymount - 55.5	10. Marymount - 21.0	10. Penn State Harrisburg - 23.0