Jackie Williams
Tori Casanta
Boo Vernon
Matt Borland
Brad McKinley
Paco Labrador
Diana Kuser
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.
Five student-athletes earned special awards to headline the parade of all-conference selections. A trio of standouts earned Player of the Year awards as Jackie Williams, class of 2009 from Rocky River, Ohio, took the award in volleyball, Matt Borland, class of 2009 from Kettering, Ohio, garnered the offensive award in men's soccer and Tori Casanta, class of 2011 from Mason, Ohio, took the offensive award in field hockey. In addition, Boo Vernon, class of 2011 from Lake Bluff, Ill., was selected as the field hockey Newcomer of the Year, and Brad McKinley, class of 2011 from Hilliard, Ohio, picked up football Newcomer of the Year honors.
In addition, Volleyball Head Coach Paco Labrador garnered his second straight NCAC Coach of the Year award and Field Hockey Head Coach Diana Kuser earned her first NCAC Coach of the Year award.
Labrador's teams have now won four NCAC regular season and four NCAC Tournament titles and appeared in three NCAA Division III Tournament Final Fours in his five seasons at the helm. He has a career record of 170-24.
Kuser led her team to the eighth NCAC regular season title in school history in 2007. She had a 33-22 overall record in three years as the program's head coach.
The VOLLEYBALL program was a national power again in 2007, finishing with records of 38-1 overall and 14-0 in the NCAC to capture a 12th league title in the last 13 years (and second straight with an unbeaten record). The Tigers added their 12th NCAC Tournament title in the last 13 years and then carried an unbeaten record and No. 1 ranking into the NCAA Division III Tournament. Wittenberg, which set a school record for wins in a season, advanced to the national semifinals for the third straight year before suffering a loss - this time to eventual national champion Washington University.
Williams, who ranked among the NCAC and NCAA Division III leaders in attack percentage, earned first-team all-conference for a second straight year to go along with her Player of the Year designation. First-team recognition also went to outside hitters Emily Bell, class of 2008 from Fort Wayne, Ind., and Jan Kehres, class of 2008 from Alliance, Ohio. An honorable mention award went to middle hitter Jessica Kimble, class of 2009 from Dennison, Ohio.
Bell, a three-time first-team all-region, three-time first-team All-NCAC and three-time All-America honoree, finished her career ranked in the top 10 in career kills, digs and aces. She also garnered NCAA Division III All-Tournament team honors for a second straight year. Williams owns the school record for career attack percentage, while Kehres also moved into the top 10 in school history for career kills, digs and aces. Kimble ranked among the team leaders in blocks and kills in 2007. (NCAC Press Release)
The WOMEN'S SOCCER team put together the best season in school history, finishing 18-3-3 overall and 6-0-2 in the NCAC and capturing both the regular season and tournament conference crowns. The Tigers advanced to their second straight NCAA Division III Tournament and advanced to the Round of 16 before a 1-0 loss to Ithaca on Nov. 17.
Three first-team honorees headlined the selections for Wittenberg. Midfielders Suzanne Medwid, class of 2009 from Columbus, Ohio, and Amanda Farrell, class of 2008 from Loveland, Ohio, the team's top two scorers in 2007, both earned spots for a second straight year. They were joined by goalkeeper Meghan O'Rourke, class of 2008 from Columbus, Ohio, who moved up from second team a year ago. O'Rourke now holds the school and NCAC career shutouts records.
Second-team awards were given to midfielder Lindsey Rusch, class of 2008 from Columbus, Ohio, and defender Margaret Amorello, class of 2011 from Sutton, Mass. They were key players on one of the stingiest defensive units in all of NCAA Division III, one that allowed just eight goals in 24 games during the 2007 season.
Forwards Lisa Rusch, class of 2008 from Columbus, Ohio, and Corey Shubitowski, class of 2009 from Columbus, Ohio, rounded out the Wittenberg women's soccer All-NCAC selections. Both earned spots on the honorable mention list. (NCAC Press Release)
The Tiger FIELD HOCKEY program moved back to the head of the NCAC class in 2007 with records of 12-7 overall and 8-4 in the NCAC, good for a three-way tie for first place in the regular season standings. Casanta, who ranked second on the team with 12 goals and 30 points and led the Tigers with six assists, and Vernon, the NCAC leader in scoring with 18 goals and 39 total points, were first-team selections.
Midfielder Florine Dunki Jacobs, class of 2011 from Heemstede, The Netherlands, and defensive back Meredith Price, class of 2011 from Highland Park, Ill., were both second team choices. Midfielder Sadie Mummert, class of 2008 from Hanover, Pa., and defensive back Beth Vonderbrink, class of 2009 from Cincinnati, Ohio, made honorable mention all-conference. (NCAC Press Release)
The MEN'S SOCCER team The men's soccer team finished its best season in nearly a decade with records of 12-4-3 overall and 6-2-1 in the NCAC, good for third place. Borland, who ranked second on the team and fifth in the NCAC in points scored and goals, added first-team all-conference for a second straight year.
Borland was joined on the first team by forward Shane Price, class of 2009 from Minford, Ohio, the team leader in goals with 13, and goalkeeper Ben McAnnis-Entenman, class of 2008 from Portland, Ore., who recorded a sparkling 0.68 goals against average in 2007.
Second-team honors went to defensive back Justin Jenkins, class of 2009 from Dublin, Ohio, and midfielder Joe Zeller, class of 2008 from Springfield, Ohio. Jenkins, the 2005 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, spearheaded a defensive effort that compiled nine shutouts, while Zeller was a versatile player who added six goals to the offensive attack in 2007. (NCAC Press Release)
The Tiger FOOTBALL The Tiger football program posted records of 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the NCAC in 2007. The second-place team in the conference, Wittenberg lost its two games by a combined total of 20 points to nationally ranked Wabash and Capital, a pair of NCAA Division III Tournament qualifiers.
McKinley was a revelation at inside linebacker, stepping into a unit depleted by graduation the last two years to lead the Tigers in tackles with 120, including 53 solos, both good for No. 2 in the NCAC.
Tiger players who made the first team included by fullback Andy Vanover, class of 2008 from Tipp City, Ohio, tight end Mat Guida, class of 2010 from LaGrange, Ky., offensive guard Dan Smith, class of 2008 from Springfield, Ohio, defensive tackle Lance Phillips, class of 2009 from Wellston, Ohio, linebacker Joe Swanson, class of 2008 from Germantown, Ohio, cornerback Brandyn Brown, class of 2010 from Louisville, Ky., and kicker Mark Porter, class of 2008 from Loveland, Ohio.
Second-team honorees included quarterback Aaron Huffman, class of 2010 from Newark, Ohio, offensive guard Dillon Hollin, class of 2010 from Prospect, Ky., defensive end Anthony Oliver, class of 2010 from Toledo, Ohio, and McKinley. The honorable mention list included wide receiver Patrick Williams, class of 2009 from Plainfield, Ind., safety Tim Flammer, class of 2008 from Cincinnati, Ohio, and tailback/return specialist Rod Belcher, class of 2011 from Covington, Ga. (NCAC Press Release)
Finally, the Wittenberg MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY teams finished eighth and seventh, respectively, in the NCAC Championships. No individual runners qualified for all-conference honors.
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