Sports association for community colleges
Northwest Athletic ConferenceFormerly | Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges |
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Conference | None |
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Founded | 1946 |
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Commissioner | Marco Azurdia |
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Sports fielded | |
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No. of teams | 36 |
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Headquarters | Vancouver, Washington |
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Region | Pacific Northwest |
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Official website | nwacsports.org |
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The Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC), formerly the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC), is a sports association for community colleges in the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho, along with the Canadian province of British Columbia.
The NWAC, now with 36 members, is the largest community college conference in the United States. It is not affiliated with the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), but acknowledges on the NWAC website athletes representing conference schools in the NJCAA wrestling tournament.
History
The NWAC ("En-Wack") was originally formed in 1946 as the Washington State Junior College Athletic Conference (WSJCAC). In 1961, the State Legislature removed a legal roadblock that had barred the establishment of junior colleges in counties with four-year colleges. After the Legislature took action, the number of schools in the WSJCAC nearly doubled. Three years later, the conference was renamed the Washington Athletic Association of Community Colleges (WAACC).
In 1970 the conference admitted its first non-Washington member, Mt. Hood Community College of Gresham, Oregon, which had left the Oregon Community College Athletic Association (OCCAA). At that time, the WAACC became the Northwest AACC, reflecting its two-state membership.
The NWAACC merged with its Oregon counterpart in 1983, resulting in a 26-member circuit stretching from southwestern Oregon to the Canada–US border.
On July 1, 2014, the conference announced that they were becoming the Northwest Athletic Conference.[1]
1946: WSJCAC birth
Although athletic competition between junior colleges existed in the 1930s, the first structured league and championship events in men's sports came in 1946 when the Washington State Junior College Athletic Conference (WSJCAC) was formed. Following the nine charter members, Columbia Basin College joined in 1955.
Initially, the conference offered football, basketball, baseball, tennis, track and golf. In 1963 wrestling was added, followed by cross country in 1965 and soccer in 1974.
The WSJCAC existed without bylaws until the spring of 1948, when Executive Secretary Jim Ennis of Everett JC, Dave DuVall of Skagit Valley and Maury Phipps of Grays Harbor, wrote the conference's original constitution. The document set forth the overall philosophy of the conference's athletic program, and prescribed scholarship limits and grade eligibility requirements.
1963: birth of Oregon's conference
In 1963, five Oregon schools joined to form the Oregon Community College Athletic Association (OCCAA). Charter members were Blue Mountain, Central Oregon, Clatsop, Southwestern Oregon and Treasure Valley community colleges. The conference more than doubled in size in the 1968–69 school year, when Chemeketa, Clackamas, Lane, Linn-Benton, Mt. Hood, Portland and Umpqua community colleges joined the circuit.
1970s: the NWAACC and the rise of women's athletics
During the 1970s, the newly renamed NWAACC saw the growth of women's sports at its member institutions. Women's athletics were governed by the Northwest College Women's Sports Association (NCWSA) until 1978, when the NCWSA was absorbed by the NWAACC.
Volunteer athletic directors had overseen conference functions and activities until the addition of women's athletics. The subsequent increased workload caused the NWAACC to convene a five-member hiring committee, which in 1979 appointed Frank Bosone as the conference's first executive director. Bosone retired in 1992 and was succeeded by Dick McClain, a longtime baseball coach in Corvallis, Oregon.
1983: merger
Community college athletics in the Pacific Northwest changed dramatically in 1983, when seven OCCAA members joined the NWAACC. The merger between the Washington and Oregon colleges has helped the NWAACC become a strong organization. Since 1984, nine other colleges have added intercollegiate athletics and/or became NWAACC members.
2014: renaming
The NWAACC was renamed the Northwest Athletic Conference on July 1, 2014 [2] and has 36 member schools.
Member schools
Current members
The NWAC currently has 36 full members, all are public schools:
Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Division |
Bellevue College | Bellevue, Washington | 1966 | Public[a] | 37,000 | Bulldogs | ? | Northern |
Big Bend Community College | Moses Lake, Washington | 1962 | Public[a] | 5,400 | Vikings | ? | Eastern |
Blue Mountain Community College | Pendleton, Oregon | 1962 | Public[b] | 10,600 | Timberwolves | 1983[c] | Eastern |
Centralia College | Centralia, Washington | 1925 | Public[a] | 4,803 | Trailblazers | 1946[d] | Western |
Chemeketa Community College | Salem, Oregon | 1969 | Public[b] | 50,000 | Storm | 1983 | Southern |
Clackamas Community College | Oregon City, Oregon | 1966 | Public[b] | 25,029 | Cougars | 1983 | Southern |
Clark College | Vancouver, Washington | 1933 | Public[a] | 14,000 | Penguins | 1946[d] | Western |
Columbia Basin College | Pasco, Washington | 1955 | Public[a] | 13,000 | Hawks | 1955 | Eastern |
Douglas College | New Westminster, British Columbia | 1971 | Public | 25,000 | Royals | ? | Northern |
Edmonds College | Edmonds, Washington | 1967 | Public[a] | 12,000 | Tritons | ? | Northern |
Everett Community College | Everett, Washington | 1941 | Public[a] | 19,666 | Trojans | 1946[d] | Northern |
Grays Harbor College | Aberdeen, Washington | 1930 | Public[a] | 2,088 | Chokers | 1946[d] | Western |
Green River College[e] | Auburn, Washington | 1963 | Public[a] | 9,212 | Gators | ? | Western |
Highline College | Des Moines, Washington | 1961 | Public[a] | 18,993 | Thunderbirds | ? | Western |
Lane Community College | Eugene, Oregon | 1964 | Public[b] | 18,678 | Titans | 1983 | Southern |
Linn-Benton Community College | Albany, Oregon | 1966 | Public[b] | 12,360 | Roadrunners | 1983 | Southern |
Lower Columbia College | Longview, Washington | 1934 | Public[a] | 8,465 | Red Devils | 1946[d] | Western |
Mt. Hood Community College | Gresham, Oregon | 1966 | Public[b] | 8,370 | Saints | 1970 | Southern |
North Idaho College | Coeur d'Alene, Idaho | 1933 | Public | 7,800 | Cardinals | ? | Eastern |
Olympic College | Bremerton, Washington | 1946 | Public[a] | 12,285 | Rangers | 1946[d] | Northern |
Peninsula College | Port Angeles, Washington | 1961 | Public[a] | 10,000 | Pirates | ? | Northern |
Pierce College[f] | Lakewood, Washington | 1967 | Public[a] | 21,643 | Raiders | ? | Western |
Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon | 1961 | Public[b] | 50,000 | Panthers | ? | Southern |
Rogue Community College | Grants Pass, Oregon | 1970 | Public[b] | ? | Ospreys | ? | Southern |
Shoreline Community College | Shoreline, Washington | 1964 | Public[a] | 13,795 | Dolphins | ? | Northern |
Skagit Valley College | Mount Vernon, Washington | 1926 | Public[a] | 5,136 | Cardinals | 1946[d] | Northern |
South Puget Sound Community College | Olympia, Washington | 1962 | Public[a] | 4,665 | Clippers | ? | Western |
Southwestern Oregon Community College | Coos Bay, Oregon | 1941 | Public[b] | 14,500 | Lakers | 1983[c] | Southern |
Spokane Community College | Spokane, Washington | 1963 | Public[a] | 38,600 | Sasquatch | ? | Eastern |
Tacoma Community College | Tacoma, Washington | 1965 | Public[a] | 15,000 | Titans | ? | Western |
Treasure Valley Community College | Ontario, Oregon | 1962 | Public[b] | ? | Chukars | ?[c] | Eastern |
Umpqua Community College | Winchester, Oregon | 1964 | Public[b] | 13,300 | Riverhawks | 1983 | Southern |
Walla Walla Community College | Walla Walla, Washington | 1967 | Public[a] | 13,000 | Warriors | ? | Eastern |
Wenatchee Valley College | Wenatchee, Washington | 1939 | Public[a] | 3,353 | Knights | 1946[d] | Eastern |
Whatcom Community College | Bellingham, Washington | 1967 | Public[a] | 11,457 | Orcas | ? | Northern |
Yakima Valley College[g] | Yakima, Washington | 1941 | Public[a] | 10,000 | Yaks | 1946[d] | Eastern |
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Part of the Washington Community and Technical Colleges system
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Part of the Oregon Community College Association.
- ^ a b c Charter member of the OCCAA.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Charter member of the WSJCAC/WAACC/NWAACC/NWAC.
- ^ Formerly known as Green River Community College until 2014.
- ^ Formerly known as Fort Steilacoom Community College until 1986.
- ^ Formerly known as Yakima Valley Community College until 2022.
Sports
The NWAC sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition in the following sports:
Yearly football standings
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| 1969 Washington Community College Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Eastern Division | Spokane Falls xy | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Yakima | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Columbia Basin | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | Wenatchee Valley | 0 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 0 | – | 9 | – | 0 | Western Division | Grays Harbor xy$ | 5 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | Olympic | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Everett | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | WCCC championship game: Grays Harbor 16, Spokane Falls 12 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
| | 1970 Northwest Community College Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Eastern Division | Columbia Basin xy$ | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | Spokane Falls | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Yakima | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Walla Walla | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Wenatchee Valley | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Western Division | Grays Harbor xy | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | Everett | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Mt. Hood | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | Olympic | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | | | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | NWCCC championship game: Columbia Basin 26, Grays Harbor 14 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
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1971 Northwest Community College Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Eastern Division | Wenatchee Valley xy$ | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | Columbia Basin | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | Spokane Falls | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Yakima | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Walla Walla | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | | | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | Western Division | Grays Harbor xy | 5 | – | 2 | – | 1 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 1 | Mt. Hood | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Olympic | 3 | – | 3 | – | 2 | | | 3 | – | 4 | – | 2 | Everett | 0 | – | 8 | – | 0 | | | 1 | – | 8 | – | 0 | NWCCC championship game: Wenatchee Valley 35, Grays Harbor 14 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
| | 1972 Northwest Community College Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Eastern Division | Columbia Basin xy$ | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | | | 8 | – | 1 | – | 1 | Spokane Falls | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Walla Walla | 3 | – | 3 | – | 2 | | | 4 | – | 3 | – | 2 | Yakima | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | Wenatchee Valley | 2 | – | 5 | – | 1 | | | 3 | – | 5 | – | 1 | Western Division | Grays Harbor xy | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | | | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Everett | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Olympic | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | Mt. Hood | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | | | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | NWCCC championship game: Columbia Basin 26, Grays Harbor 13 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
| | 1973 Northwest Community College Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Eastern Division | Spokane Falls xy$ | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | | | 8 | – | 1 | – | 1 | Walla Walla | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Wenatchee Valley | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Yakima | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | Columbia Basin | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | | | 1 | – | 8 | – | 0 | Western Division | Everett xy | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | | | 7 | – | 2 | – | 1 | Mt. Hood | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | | | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | Grays Harbor | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Olympic | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | NWCCC championship game: Spokane Falls 7, Everett 3 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
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1974 Northwest Community College Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Eastern Division | Spokane Falls xy$ | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | | | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | Walla Walla | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Columbia Basin | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Yakima | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Wenatchee Valley | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | | | 1 | – | 8 | – | 0 | Western Division | Olympic xy | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | | | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Grays Harbor | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Mt. Hood | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | Everett | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | NWCCC championship game: Spokane Falls 7, Olympic 3 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
| | 1975 Northwest Community College Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Eastern Division | Columbia Basin xy | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Spokane Falls | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Walla Walla | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Wenatchee Valley | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Yakima | 0 | – | 8 | – | 0 | | | 0 | – | 9 | – | 0 | Western Division | Mt. Hood xy$ | 8 | – | 0 | – | 0 | | | 10 | – | 0 | – | 0 | Grays Harbor | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | | | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | Olympic | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Everett | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | NWCCC championship game: Mt. Hood 12, Columbia Basin 8 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
| | 1976 Northwest Community College Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Eastern Division | Spokane Falls xy$ | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Walla Walla | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Columbia Basin | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Wenatchee Valley | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Yakima Valley | 1 | – | 8 | – | 0 | | | 1 | – | 8 | – | 0 | Western Division | Mt. Hood xy | 9 | – | 0 | – | 0 | | | 9 | – | 1 | – | 0 | Clackamas | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Grays Harbor | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Treasure Valley | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Olympic | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | | | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | NWCCC championship game: Spokane Falls 19, Mt. Hood 7 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
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1977 Northwest Community College Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Eastern Division | Columbia Basin xy | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Yakima Valley | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Spokane Falls | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Wenatchee Valley | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Walla Walla | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | Western Division | Mt. Hood xy$ | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 8 | – | 1 | – | 0 | Clackamas | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | Olympic | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | | | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | Treasure Valley | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | | | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | NWCCC championship game: Mt. Hood 21, Columbia Basin 6 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
| | 1978 Northwest Community College Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Northern Division | Spokane Falls xy^ | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | Wenatchee Valley | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | Yakima Valley | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Olympic | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | Southern Division | Columbia Basin xy$^ | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | | | 10 | – | 0 | – | 0 | Mt. Hood ^ | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 7 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Treasure Valley ^ | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | Walla Walla | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | NWCCC championship game: Columbia Basin 20, Mt. Hood 10 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
- ^ – NWCCC playoff participant
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| 1981 Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Northern Division | Spokane Falls xy | 4 | – | 1 | – | 2 | | | 5 | – | 3 | – | 2 | Olympic | 4 | – | 1 | – | 2 | | | 5 | – | 2 | – | 2 | Wenatchee Valley | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | Southern Division | Walla Walla xy$ | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | Yakima Valley | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | Columbia Basin | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | NWAACC championship game: Walla Walla 10, Spokane Falls 0 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
| | 1982 Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Northern Division | Spokane Falls xy$ | 4 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Olympic | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Wenatchee Valley | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | | | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | Southern Division | Walla Walla xy | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | | | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | Yakima Valley | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | Columbia Basin | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | | | 1 | – | 5 | – | 0 | NWAACC championship game: Spokane Falls 23, Walla Walla 19 | - $ – Conference champion
- x – Division champion/co-champions
- y – Championship game participant
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| | 1985 Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges football standings | Conf | | | Overall | Team | W | | L | | T | | | W | | L | | T | Walla Walla + | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | | | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | Spokane Falls + | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | | | 7 | – | 2 | – | 0 | Wenatchee Valley | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | | | 6 | – | 4 | – | 0 | Yakima Valley | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | | | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | Olympic | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | | | 2 | – | 7 | – | 0 | | - + – Conference co-champions
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References
- ^ NWAACC becomes NWAC, Marco Azurdia, Executive Director, NWAC website,
- ^ NWAACC becomes NWAC, Marco Azurdia, Executive Director, NWAC website, July 1, 2014
External links
Northwest Athletic Conference |
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