Tristan Murray
Aaron Huffman
Erin Slattery
Joe Fincham
Paco Labrador
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — One of the most successful fall sports seasons in Wittenberg history was capped by a tremendous haul of postseason awards from the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC).
Announcements regarding All-NCAC teams for field hockey, football, men's soccer, women's soccer and volleyball have been sent out separately from the conference office over the last two weeks. All-conference honors for cross country were determined by individual finishes in the NCAC championship meet on Oct. 28 at Earlham College.
Three student-athletes and two coaches earned special awards for their performances to headline the parade of all-conference selections. In volleyball, Erin Slattery, class of 2010 from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, earned NCAC Newcomer of the Year, while Head Coach Paco Labrador garnered the first NCAC Coach of the Year award in his four years at the helm of the program. On the gridiron, tailback Tristan Murray, class of 2006 from New Carlisle, Ohio, picked up Offensive Player of the Year honors, quarterback Aaron Huffman, class of 2010 from Newark, Ohio, was named Newcomer of the Year and Head Coach Joe Fincham was picked as Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his illustrious career.
The Tiger FOOTBALL program returned to prominence in 2006, winning the program's first conference title in five years and earning the school's first NCAA Division III Tournament berth since 2002. Wittenberg finished the season with a 7-4 overall record, including a mark of 6-1 in the NCAC. The Tigers made their 12th appearance in the national competition before falling in the first round at fourth-ranked Capital by a 32-14 score.
Murray set a school record with nine straight 100-yard rushing games - breaking the marks for consecutive 100-yard games and 100-yard games in a season - and he topped the NCAC in rushing yards and points per game for a second straight season. His 1,517 rushing yards was the third-highest total in school history.
Murray was joined on the first team by offensive tackleTed Londot, class of 2007 from Utica, Ohio, center Tim Funke, class of 2007 from Indianapolis, Ind., linebackerTyler Harmon, class of 2007 from Indianapolis, Ind., and safety Will Block, class of 2007 from Troy, Ohio.
Second-team honorees included offensive tackle Mark Mandich, class of 2007 from Miami, Fla., linebacker Joe Swanson, class of 2007 from Germantown, Ohio, and safety Adam Hewitt, class of 2007 from Piqua, Ohio. Honorable mention went to defensive tackle Lance Phillips, class of 2009 from Wellsville, Ohio, fullbackAndy Vanover, class of 2008 from Tipp City, Ohio, and safety Mitch Fonseca, class of 2007 from Miami, Fla. (NCAC Press Release)
The VOLLEYBALL program was a national power again in 2006, finishing with records of 35-8 overall and 16-0 in the NCAC to capture an 11th league title in the last 12 years. After their run of 10 consecutive NCAC Tournament titles was snapped, the Tigers got back on track in the NCAA Division III Tournament to win four matches before losing in the national semifinals to eventual champion Juniata College for a second straight year.
In addition to the two special award-winners, three Wittenberg players earned spots on the All-NCAC teams. First-team recognition went to outside hitters Emily Bell, class of 2008 from Fort Wayne, Ind., and Jackie Williams, class of 2009 from Rocky River, Ohio. Setter Sarah Matesich, class of 2008 from Granville, Ohio, was a second-team honoree.
Bell became the 10th Wittenberg player in school history to reach 1,000 kills in her career and she finished the season ranked fifth in the school record books in career digs. Williams led the Tigers in kills and attack percentage for a second straight year, while Matesich has been the team leader in assists in 2005 and 2006. (NCAC Press Release)
The WOMEN'S SOCCER team put together the best season in school history, finishing 15-3-4 overall and 5-1-2 in the NCAC, good for second place in the regular season standings. The Tigers won the first NCAC Tournament title in program history before bowing out in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Three first-team honorees headlined the selections for Wittenberg. Defensive backJamie McIntyre, class of 2007 from Columbus, Ohio, earned that recognition for a third straight year (she also was a second-team award-winner in 2003). She was joined by steady midfielders Suzanne Medwid, class of 2009 from Columbus, Ohio, and Amanda Farrell, class of 2008 from Loveland, Ohio, the team's leading scorer in 2006.
Second-team awards were handed out to goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke, class of 2008 from Columbus, Ohio, and forward Sydney Bates, class of 2008 from Loveland, Ohio. O'Rourke broke the school record for career shutouts during her junior season.
Rounding things out, honorable mention awards were given to midfielder Lindsey Rusch, class of 2008 from Columbus, Ohio, and defender Jamie Mack, class of 2009 from Rochester, NY. (NCAC Press Release)
The Tiger FIELD HOCKEY program finished 11-7 overall and 9-3 in the NCAC, good for second place in the regular season standings. Midfielder/defender Rachel Dunn, class of 2007 from Pittsburgh, Pa., was the Tigers' lone selection to the first team for the second time in her career and earned all-conference mention for the fourth straight year. Dunn finished with career-highs of three goals, 10 assists and 16 total points. Her 10 assists led the team.
Second-team honorees were forward Caroline Mason, class of 2008 from New Canaan, Conn., and midfielder Holly McHugh, class of 2007 from Randolph, N.J.Katy Barrett, class of 2007 from Powell, Ohio, Whitney Marshall, class of 2009 from Barre, Mass., and Beth Vonderbrink, class of 2009 from Cincinnati, Ohio, all made honorable mention all-conference. (NCAC Press Release)
The MEN'S SOCCER team finished with an 8-8-2 overall record, including a mark of 4-4-1 in the NCAC, good for sixth place. First-team recognition went to midfielder Matt Borland, class of 2009 from Kettering, Ohio, after he led the Tigers in total points for a second straight year.
Second-team honors went to defensive back Justin Jenkins, class of 2009 from Dublin, Ohio, and forward Shane Price, class of 2009 from Minford, Ohio. Jenkins, the 2005 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, spearheaded a defensive effort that was responsible for five shutouts, while Price led the squad with six goals on the season. Midfielder Joe Zeller, class of 2008 from Springfield, Ohio, ranked second on the team with five goals and goalkeeper Ben McAnnis-Entenman, class of 2008 from Portland, Ore., had a 1.40 goals against average to make honorable mention. (NCAC Press Release)
Finally, the Wittenberg MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY teams finished ninth and seventh in the NCAC Championships. No individual runners qualified for all-conference honors.
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