ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference has released the updated standings for the Kruse Award following the completion of the winter sports season, and the University of Northwestern is second in the seven-member field.

The full UMAC press release can be accessed here.

The award, which is named after Jerome Kruse, a longtime athletic director at the former Northwestern College (Wis.) and Martin Luther College, is awarded to the full-member institution with the most points accumulated by the place finishes of the college's athletic teams in the final standings of 18 conference-sponsored sports.

Northwestern currently sits in second place with 53 points in the UMAC standings, highlighted by an impressive fall season. After holding a lead over UW-Superior in the fall, the two programs have since traded positions in a competitive race, with Northwestern now just four points back as they head into the Spring seasons.