The North Central Athletic Conference was created in the spring of 1986 when six former Big Ten Athletic Conference members formally withdrew from that league and announced plans to create an all-sports conference. The NCAC's first year of competition was the 1986-87 school year and the charter members were Buckhannon-Upshur, East Fairmont, Elkins, Fairmont Senior, Morgantown and North Marion. Lewis County became the 7th school to join the conference in the winter of 1991 and University became the 8th team to join in the spring of 1992. Lewis County withdrew after the 1999-2000 school year and Preston joined the conference in the fall of 2000. The conference recognizes champions and all-conference teams in 18 sports - wrestling, boys' basketball, girls' basketball, boys' cross country, girls' cross country, football, golf, boys' tennis, girls' tennis, boys' track, girls' track, volleyball, softball, baseball, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, boys' swimming, and girls' swiming. Near the end of each school year the NCAC honors its all-conference performers, coaches of the year and players of the year in each sport with an all-sports ceremony.