Tigers Perform Their Best At The NCAC Outdoor Championships


Joe Rumschlag

The Wittenberg men's and women's track and field teams performed to the best of their abilities last weekend at the 2005 North Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships at Ohio Wesleyan. The Tiger men placed third, while the women's team finished seventh.

The story of the meet, from a Wittenberg perspective, was senior Joe Rumschlag (Maumee, Ohio/Toledo Christian), who was named NCAC Outdoor Field Events Athlete of the Year for his exploits. He earned All-NCAC recognition by virtue of a top-three finish in seven different events, five individual and two as a member of relays. Now with more than 20 All-NCAC designations to his credit, Rumschlag also was the NCAC Indoor Field Events Athlete of the Year in 2004 and 2005.

Rumschlag earned All-NCAC honors with a third place finish in the 100 meters, second in the 200 meters, first in the long jump, first in the triple jump and first in the decathlon. In addition, Rumschlag ran the third leg on the 400-meter relay and the 1600-meter relay, both of which placed second.

Individually, the Tiger men had four other all-conference performances turned in during the outdoor meet. Freshman David Emrath (Elsmere, Ky./Lloyd) placed third in the 400 meters for his first career all-conference designation, freshman Mike Echols (Springfield, Ohio/North) took third in the 800 meters, sophomore Andy Karcher (Oceola, Ohio/Bucyrus Wynford) placed third in the hammer and sophomore Mark O'Brien (Shavertown, Pa./Dallas Senior) took third place in the decathlon, good for his first all-conference award.

In the relay events, Wittenberg's men placed second in both the 1600- and 400-meter events. In the 400-meter relay, junior David Bazzel (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe), junior Gregg Carter (Wellsville, Ohio/Wellsville), Rumschlag and Emrath teamed up for the All-NCAC finish. In the 1600-meter relay, Emrath, Echols, Rumschlag and senior Chad Kresser (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) comprised the all-conference quartet for the Tigers.

On the women's side, the team leader was precocious freshman Nicole Bailey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Summit Country Day), who earned three All-NCAC honors at the 2005 Indoor Championships. Bailey placed second in the 100 meters, third in the long jump and second in the triple jump, all of which were good for all-conference designations.

The only other All-NCAC honor was earned by freshman Allison Walker (Columbus, Ohio/Academy), who placed third in the hammer throw.

Next: 5/6-7 @ Ohio State