Eddie Vallery

Brad McKinley

Keenan Freeman

Anthony Kralich

Springfield, Ohio — Four student-athletes who played key roles in the recent resurgence of the Wittenberg University football program have been selected to play one more collegiate game.

Defensive end Eddie Vallery, class of 2011 from South Solon, Ohio, linebacker Brad McKinley, class of 2011 from Hilliard, Ohio, cornerback Keenan Freeman, class of 2011 from Fairborn, Ohio, and wide receiver Anthony Kralich, class of 2011 from Kettering, Ohio, were part of a senior class that led the Tigers to back-to-back North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championships and posted undefeated regular seasons in 2009 and 2010. They will compete for the South team in the second annual OhioCollegeFootball.com Bowl at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

The OhioCollegeFootball.com Bowl features two 45-man rosters comprised of student-athletes from NCAA Division I, II and III, and NAIA football programs throughout the state. The event, organized by Columbus-based GameDay Management, Inc., also includes an awards banquet at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 22, at the Columbus Airport Marriott Ballroom. At last year’s banquet, Vallery was named Division III Defensive Player of the Year and Tiger Head Coach Joe Fincham garnered Division III Coach of the Year honors.

Vallery won every award and made every All-America team possible in 2009 after recording 73 tackles, including 22 for a loss, which ranks second in school history. He led the NCAC and all of NCAA Division III with a school record 16.5 sacks, in addition to forcing two fumbles and blocking two kicks. In 2010, Vallery overcame a preseason injury to finish third on the team with 76 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and six sacks. He finished his collegiate career ranked in the top five in program history in career tackles for loss and sacks.

McKinley, a four-year all-conference selection and the 2007 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, led the Tigers in tackles in 2010 for a fourth consecutive year, finishing with 108 on the season to go along with a team-high 11.5 stops for loss and five sacks. He became just the third Wittenberg player to top 400 career tackles.

Freeman overcame two season-ending injuries during his collegiate career to make first-team All-NCAC in 2010. He was credited with 38 tackles and a team-high nine passes defended in 2010. A two-year team captain, Freeman also contributed two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Kralich finished with 36 receptions, 632 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns in 2010 to rank second on the team in all three categories. A four-year starter, Kralich contributed 89 receptions, 1195 yards and six touchdowns to the Tigers’ offensive attack in his career.

The Tigers posted a 6-0 record in the NCAC in 2010 to win the program's league-best 10th title in 22 years as a member. Wittenberg also finished 10-0 in the regular season, the 19th undefeated regular season in program history. The outright title advanced the Tigers to their 14th NCAA Division III Tournament since its inception in 1973, where they suffered a 37-14 road loss to Ohio Northern in the first round.

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Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photos By: Erin Pence

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