Springfield, Ohio — Another successful fall sports season 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 were distributed separately by the conference office, while all-conference honors for men's and women's cross country were determined by individual finishes in the NCAC championship meet on Oct. 30 at Wabash College.
Multiple student-athletes and coaches earned special awards, starting with football quarterback Ben Zoeller, class of 2012 from Louisville, Ky., who was named Offensive Player of the Year. Football Head Coach Joe Fincham earned his second straight and seventh overall NCAC Coach of the Year designation, while volleyball Head Coach Paco Labrador earned the award for a third time and field hockey Head Coach Kelley Hubbell was honored in her first season at the helm.
The Tiger football team put together its second straight undefeated regular season in 2010 and won the league title for the second straight year and an NCAC-best 10th time since joining in 1989. Wittenberg finished 10-1 overall after losing in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament to Ohio Northern.
Ben Zoeller
In addition to Zoeller, who broke multiple school passing and total offense records in his first season as a starter, 10 other Tigers were named first-team All-NCAC: tailback Corey Weber, class of 2011 from Pataskala, Ohio; wide receiverJosh McKee, class of 2012 from New Carlisle, Ohio; offensive guard Jeremy Block, class of 2011 from Pittsburgh, Pa.; offensive guard Tony Eich, class of 2011 from Columbus, Ohio; offensive tackles Alex Burwell, class of 2011 from Sunbury, Ohio; defensive tackle Adam Kattoua, class of 2011 from Upper Arlington, Ohio; defensive end Eddie Vallery, class of 2011 from South Solon, Ohio; linebacker Brad McKinley, class of 2011 from Hilliard, Ohio; linebacker Zach Hurtt, class of 2012 from Fort Thomas, Ky.; cornerback Keenan Freeman, class of 2011 from Fairborn, Ohio; and safety Seth Parker, class of 2012 from DeGraff, Ohio.
Second-team honorees included running back Conner Warye, class of 2012 from Maineville, Ohio; defensive end Nic Wolfe, class of 2011 from Kettering, Ohio; linebacker Ben Maxwell, class of 2011 from Kettering, Ohio; punt returner Brendon Cunningham, class of 2014 from Kettering, Ohio; and kicker Sean Williams, class of 2013 from Plainfield, Ind. The honorable mention list included wide receiverAnthony Kralich, class of 2011 from Kettering, Ohio; safety Ty Whittington, class of 2011 from Sabina, Ohio; and punter Trevor Cochran, class of 2011 from Newark, Ohio. (NCAC Press Release)
Katie Sumner
The volleyball program was a national power again in 2010, finishing with records of 32-3 overall and 13-1 in the NCAC to capture a share of an NCAC-best 16th league title. The Tigers added their 16th NCAC Tournament and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Wittenberg lost to eventual national champion Calvin in the third round of the national tournament.
First-team all-conference recognition went to middle hitter Katie Sumner, class of 2012 from Dublin, Ohio; setter Amy Cox, class of 2011 from Newark, Ohio; and middle hitter Miranda Sagle, class of 2012 from Springfield, Ohio. Outside hitter Kimmie Dyer, class of 2012 from Copley, Ohio, was chosen for the second team. (NCAC Press Release)
Jenny Schaafsma
The Tiger field hockey program finished with records of 15-4 overall and a program-best 11-1 in the NCAC, good for first place in the regular season standings. Wittenberg advanced to the NCAC Tournament title game before suffering a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Wooster.
Three Tigers merited first team awards: forward Boo Vernon, class of 2011 from Lake Bluff, Ill.; defender Meredith Price, class of 2011 from Highland Park, Ill.; and goalkeeper Jenny Schaafsma, class of 2012 from Grand Rapids, Mich.Elizabeth Dwyer, class of 2012 from St. Louis, Mo.; midfielder Tori Casanta, class of 2011 from Mason, Ohio; Kelley Herde, class of 2011 from Louisville, Ky.; and midfielder Kellen Morrissey, class of 2013 from Aurora, Colo., were second-team choices. (NCAC Press Release)
Erin McLeish
The women's soccer team put together another stellar season, finishing 13-5-1 overall and 5-2 in the NCAC, good for a second place tie in the regular season standings. The Tigers bowed out of the NCAC Tournament with a 3-2 loss at eventual national quarterfinalist Denison.
Defender Maggie Amorello, class of 2011 from Sutton, Mass.; midfielder Kailey Striebel, class of 2013 from Kettering, Ohio; and defender Erin McLeish, class of 2011 from Dublin, Ohio, earned first-team All-NCAC awards. Forward Sheryl Chambers, class of 2012 from Victorville, Calif. earned a spot on the second team, while forward Cailyn Roeble, class of 2011 from Columbus, Ohio, and midfielderAllie Keefer, class of 2012 from West Chester, Ohio, earned honorable mention awards. (NCAC Press Release)
Michael Lambeck
Wittenberg's men's soccer team finished 5-10-3 overall and 2-5-1 in the NCAC. Goalkeeper Michael Lambeck, class of 2012 from Dublin, Ohio, was the team's lone first-team All-NCAC selection. Honorable mention awards went to defenderSpencer Hogue, class of 2011 from Dublin, Ohio, and defender Alejandro Garcia, class of 2013 from Toledo, Ohio. (NCAC Press Release)
Mary Pfeifer
The Tiger cross country teams finished sixth and seventh in the NCAC Championship meet. Mary Pfeifer, class of 2012 from Dublin, Ohio, was the lone first-team All-NCAC honoree for either team, while Kevin Frick, class of 2011 from Columbus, Ohio, claimed his second straight honorable mention all-conference award. (NCAC Press Release)
Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photos By: Erin Pence
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