Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University’s women’s lacrosse team was one of 261 programs to earn recognition as a 2015 Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Honor Squad, and four Tiger student-athletes were additionally named to the IWLCA/Zag Sports Division III Academic Honor Roll.
The Academic Honor Squad is an award that annually goes to women’s lacrosse teams that display excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.0 cumulative team grade-point average. Wittenberg is one of128 NCAA Division III programs to earn Academic Honor Squad, and the Tigers are among four North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) squads to make the list in 2015.
“The student-athletes in the women’s lacrosse program did a tremendous job in the classroom and on the field in 2015, exemplifying the best ideals of NCAA Division III and the mission of Wittenberg’s Department of Athletics,” said Head Coach Nicholle St. Pierre. “I am proud of their achievements, and I look forward to building upon that success both academically and athletically in the coming years.”
Individually, 256 student-athletes from 80 different colleges and universities across NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA made the Academic Honor Roll. Student-athletes were nominated by their schools after achieving at least junior status academically and compiling a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or greater. Wittenberg was represented on the Academic Honor Roll by Sara Ellis (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./Grosse Pointe South), Carrie Kubasta (Medina, Ohio/Medina), Megan Loofbourrow (Prospect, Ky./Ballard) and Mary Ann White (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral).
Not only did the Tigers excel in their classes in 2015, but they enjoyed another outstanding season on the field. Wittenberg posted a sparkling overall record of 11-4, which included a fourth consecutive undefeated record in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). After winning a second straight NCAC regular season title, the Tigers saw their season end in the NCAC Tournament semifinals.
Wittenberg heads into the 2016 season with 12 letterwinners expected to return to the roster, led by all-conference standouts Olivia Lash (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Cleveland Heights) and Carrie Kubasta (Medina, Ohio/Medina), a pair of senior midfielders, and senior goalkeeper Katie Reuter (Cleveland, Ohio/Hathaway Brown), a two-year starter between the pipes.
Written By: Ryan Maurer