Wittenberg University Student-Athletes Earn Academic Honors

Springfield, Ohio — While the Wittenberg University Department of Athletics can boast of a variety of outstanding team and individual athletic accomplishments again this academic year, another great source of pride is created by the performance of Tiger athletes in the classroom. It, too, has been exceptional.

For starters, Erin Slattery, class of 2010 from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and Michael Condon, class of 2010 from Powell, Ohio, earned North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Student-Athlete Awards, presented annually to Wittenberg student-athletes who perform with distinction both in the classroom and on the playing field. One male and one female student-athlete from each of the NCAC's 10 member institutions are selected for the award annually.

Slattery capped her collegiate career with 2009 honorable mention All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) after receiving her first All-Great Lakes Region award. In addition, Slattery was named 2006 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, 2008 and 2009 NCAC Tournament MVP and first-team All-NCAC in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In her career, the Tigers did not lose an NCAC regular season match.

Slattery also earned third-team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV honors in 2009, in recognition of the combination of her academic and athletic accomplishments. She served as a team captain for the Tigers in 2009, leading Wittenberg to its 12th NCAC regular season title in the last 13 years, its 12th NCAC Tournament crown in the last 13 years and its 15th NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. Wittenberg finished with a 24-8 overall record after bowing out of the national tournament in a first round loss to Calvin.

Slattery, president of Wittenberg's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and secretary of Student Senate in 2009-10, led the Tigers and ranked among the NCAC leaders with 555 assists on the season, in addition to a team-leading 26 aces and 181 digs, which ranked fourth on the team. Slattery ranks fifth in school history in career assists.

Condon was an ironman for the Tiger men's soccer team, a stalwart for teams that built toward one of the finest seasons in school history in 2008 and a steadying influence in 2009 as Wittenberg started the rebuilding process after perhaps the best graduating class in program history departed. Along the way, Condon started every game at several different defensive positions, contributing two goals and eight assists in his career while also serving as a team captain in 2009.

A 2008 Academic All-Ohio honoree, Condon capped his Wittenberg career recently by participating in the 2010 Ohio Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game. He was a second-team All-NCAC honoree in 2009 after the Tigers posted records of 3-13-2 overall and 2-6-1 in the NCAC. In 2008, Wittenberg went 16-4-1 overall and 6-3 in the NCAC, finishing second in the conference regular season and tournament before advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in 12 years.

A biology major, Condon is a member of several honoraries, in addition to the American Institute of Biological Sciences and the Pre-Health Professions Club at Wittenberg. He has been involved in numerous research projects with Wittenberg faculty members, and he even had a research paper on giant Madagascar hissing cockroaches published in a 2009 issue of the acclaimed scientific journal Symbiosis.

In addition, 26 Wittenberg student-athletes have been selected for induction into Chi Alpha Sigma, a National College Athlete Honor Society that recognizes student-athletes for their ability to excel in both academics and athletics. Nominees must have at least a 3.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale, have earned at least one varsity letter and have achieved junior or senior academic status.

Wittenberg's 2010 Chi Alpha Sigma inductees are:

• Allison Brown (Chillicothe, Ohio/Zane Trace), class of 2010 - Cross Country
• Emily Nash (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson), class of 2010 - Tennis
• Meghan O'Neil (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central), class of 2010 - Softball
• Sara Pirozzi (Akron, Ohio/Cuyahoga Falls Christian Academy), class of 2010 - Soccer
• Katherine Yuskewich (Columbus, Ohio/Watterson), class of 2010 - Volleyball
• Jordan Beauchamp (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville), class of 2011 - Lacrosse
• Patrick Beausejour (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier), class of 2011 - Golf
• Karen Bellanca (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island), class of 2011 - Track and Field
• Jeremy Block (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair), class of 2011 - Football
• Tori Casanta (Mason, Ohio/Cor Jesu Academy), class of 2011 - Field Hockey
• Brady Christensen (Medina, Ohio/Medina), class of 2011 - Lacrosse
• Mitch Cohagan (Pickerington, Ohio/North), class of 2011 - Lacrosse
• Amy Cox (Newark, Ohio/Catholic), class of 2011 - Volleyball
• Kelly Foley (Dublin, Ohio/Scioto), class of 2011 - Soccer
• Kevin Frick (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview), class of 2011 - Track/Cross Country
• Chris Gipson (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley), class of 2011 - Lacrosse
• Samantha Grasso (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial), class of 2011 - Cross Country
• Ben Hanf (Pickerington, Ohio/St. Charles), class of 2011 - Cross Country
• Kelley Herde (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart), class of 2011 - Field Hockey
• Kirsten Midgley (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman), class of 2011 - Cross Country
• Jayne Miely (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), class of 2011 - Women's Tennis
• Lindsay Pepper (Edina, Minn./Edina), class of 2011 - Cross Country
• Cailyn Roeble (Columbus, Ohio/DeSales), class of 2011 - Soccer
• Hannah Scheckelhoff (Blacklick, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls), class of 2011 - Field Hockey
• Daniel Whonsetler (Prospect, Ky./Sacred Heart), class of 2011 - Cross Country
• Keri Wisniewski (Erie, Pa./McDowell), class of 2011 - Track and Field

"These student-athletes have demonstrated brilliance outside their playing fields in attaining their high level of academic achievement," said Women's Basketball Head Coach Sarah Jurewicz, class of 1998, who also serves as Wittenberg's Chi Alpha Sigma advisor. "Congratulations to each of these student-athletes. Even more, I offer a sincere word of gratitude to them for representing our university as outstanding student-athletes - the founding philosophy of NCAA Division III athletics."

Written by: Ryan Maurer

023-10