Springfield, Ohio — Following a successful 2008 season in which the Wittenberg University field hockey team turned in a 19th consecutive winning record, the performance of eight student-athletes in the classroom has also been recognized.

Alyssa Ashbaugh, class of 2012 from Gahanna, Ohio, Darcey Caciano, class of 2012 from St. Louis, Mo., Kelley Herde, class of 2011 from Louisville, Ky., Jenny Schaafsma, class of 2012 from Grand Rapids, Mich., Tori Vogelgesang, class of 2010 from Cincinnati, Ohio, Whitney Marshall, class of 2009 from Barre, Mass., Tori Casanta, class of 2011 from Mason, Ohio, and Hannah Scheckelhoff, class of 2011 from Blacklick, Ohio, were selected to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Academic Squad. Student-athletes who earned a 3.3 grade point average or better through the first semester of the 2008-09 school year were eligible to receive the honor.

Marshall is now a four-time NFHCA Academic Squad honoree, while Casanta and Scheckelhoff were both honored for a second straight year. The other five players were selected for the first time.

All eight players played key roles for the Tigers in 2008 as Wittenberg finished with records of 11-8 overall and 7-5 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The Wittenberg field hockey program has not had a losing season since 1980 and is one of just two NCAC squads to reach the conference tournament in each of the seven years it has been played.

Written By: Ryan Maurer