Wittenberg Announces Athletics Hall Of Honor Class of 2007

July 11, 2007

Springfield, Ohio — Seven Wittenberg University greats will be inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Honor during 2007 Homecoming Weekend ceremonies, Oct. 19-21. Earl Fry '58, Jim Ingledue '56, Jim Kincaid '84, Jodi Bennyhoff Orr '90, Verna Tullis Rees '52, Alex Turner '66 and Steve Whitman '76 will join 165 other athletes who have previously been inducted into the university's Athletics Hall of Honor.

The honorees will be formally inducted into the Athletics Hall of Honor at a banquet on Friday, Oct. 19. They will also be honored by Wittenberg's loyal fans during halftime at the Homecoming football game against Ohio Wesleyan University the next day, which kicks off at Edwards-Maurer Field at 3:30 p.m.

As a 3-year football letterwinner, Earl Fry was a tough all-around athlete who started on both sides of the ball at center and linebacker. Fry served as team captain his senior year and received numerous honors, including team MVP, first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), first-team UPI All-Ohio and honorable mention All-America. Fry's contributions to Tiger athletics include the founding of the Wittenberg wrestling program. A native of Belleville, Ohio, Fry currently lives in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

Jim Ingledue was a football and baseball standout in his four years at Wittenberg. As a four-year starter and letterwinner in baseball, Ingledue posted a career batting average above .300 and helped lead the Tigers to an OAC regular season title in 1955. Ingledue was also a three-year football starter and letterwinner, playing both offense and defense. He was named second-team all-conference as a junior in 1954. A native of Springfield, Ingledue currently lives in Elgin, S.C.

Jim Kincaid was a four-year men's golf letterwinner in the Red & White from 1981-84. An honorable mention All-America and team MVP as a senior in 1984, Kincaid served as team captain and earned medalist honors in four tournaments that year, including the OAC Tournament as he led the Tigers to a second-place finish. Kincaid, who has served as a volunteer assistant coach with the program the last three years, earned All-OAC honors three times in his collegiate career, and he was one of a select few players to participate in four NCAA Division III Tournaments. A native of Springfield, Kincaid currently lives in his hometown.

One of the finest women's lacrosse players in Wittenberg history, Jodi Bennyhoff Orr concluded her career as the program's leading scorer, and she remains No. 2 in career goals, assists and total points. Orr was awarded honorable mention All-America honors three consecutive years (1988-90), first-team All-Midwest District in 1988-89, first-team Regional All-America three times (1988-90) and first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference in 1990. A native of Wayne, Pa., Orr currently lives in Berwyn, Pa.

Verna Tullis Rees was a multi-sport standout at a time when women's athletics were not widely promoted. She partipicated in numerous athletic competitions, including field hockey, basketball and softball, during her collegiate career, and she received the Sweater Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Women's Athletic Association at the time. Off the field, Rees was an active member in Outdoor Club from 1950-52, participating in hiking and camping activities. A native of Centerville, Ohio, Rees currently lives in her hometown.

Alex Turner was one of Wittenberg's first track and field All-Americans after placing fourth in the steeplechase at the 1966 NCAA College Division national championship meet. He graduated with school records in the mile (4:21), two-mile (9:26), three-mile (14:33) and the steeplechase (9:36). Turner was also the league champion in cross country as a senior in 1965 after he was one of the founding members of the program in 1964. A native of Sylvania, Ohio, Turner currently lives in Indianapolis, Ind.

A four-year starter and letterwinner for the Tiger men's lacrosse program, Steve Whitman played the all-important goalkeeper position as well as anyone in the nation. Named team MVP his senior year in 1975, Whitman was a two-time second-team All-Midwest District honoree and a Division II-III honorable mention All-America as a senior. His 29 saves in an upset victory at Morgan State in 1975 ranks as the second-highest total in a game in school history, and he holds multiple season and career goalkeeping school records. A native of South Orange, N.J., Whitman currently lives in LaJolla, Calif.

Written by: Holly Shaw '08