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 three 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. It was the first all-conference designation for each of them.

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

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Steve Less

The Wittenberg baseball team saw their 2005 season come to an end last weekend at nationally ranked Wooster in the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals. By losing the first two games of a three-game series at Wooster, the defending conference champion, by scores of 4-0 and 15-8, Wittenberg bowed out with records of 21-16 overall and 9-5 in the NCAC West Division.

That mark in the division was good for a second-place tie with Ohio Wesleyan, which was broken on tiebreaker criteria favoring the Tigers. It was Wittenberg's first appearance in the four-team NCAC Tournament in three years.

In the opener, the Tigers got a solid pitching performance from junior starter Steve Less (Sheffield, Ohio/Elyria Catholic), who allowed five hits and four walks in five innings before departing with an injury. He allowed two runs (one earned), but he took the loss as his teammates were unable to generate any offense. He was relieved by junior Jason Holmberg (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg), who went three innings and allowed three hits, one walk and two earned runs.

Offensively, the Tigers never got a leadoff hitter on base in the nine-inning game. All five hits, by five different players, were singles. No Tiger runner even passed second base.

Game 2 was decided relatively early, even though the Tigers did rally to make a game of it. Wooster's offense was just too much as the Scots pounded out 19 hits and pushed across 15 runs, including seven in a decisive second inning against senior Ryan Goldschmidt (Fort Loramie, Ohio/Fort Loramie).

Six of the Tigers' eight runs were scored in the final two innings but the rally was far too little, far too late. Junior Brian Hampp (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidson) and senior Matt Foster (Granville, Ohio/Granville) each collected three hits in the game, but again all 11 Tiger hits were singles.

Next: Season Complete

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Scott Aker

The Wittenberg men's golf team placed fourth in the competitive North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament last weekend at Harrison Hills Golf Club in Attica, Ind. Ohio Wesleyan, a top 10 in the nation a year ago, won the tourney, followed by nationally ranked NCAA Division III Tournament qualifier Allegheny and perennial powerhouse Denison. The Tigers finished four strokes behind the Big Red.

Sophomore Scott Aker (Springfield, Ohio/Shawnee) led Wittenberg with a two-day total of 153, good for an eighth-place tie. The finish earned him second-team All-NCAC honors, the first postseason award of his career.

Senior Andy Bonar (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) capped his collegiate career with another outstanding finish, carding a 154 for a tie for 11th place and earn second-team All-NCAC honors. Bonar wound up a three-time All-NCAC honoree, topped by his third place finish in 2004. Bonar led the Tigers in scoring average for a fourth consecutive year.

Junior Kris Schmelzer (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) and freshman Brandon Sweaney (Westerville, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) tied for 16th place with matching 158s to round out the Tiger scorers for the weekend.

Next: Season Complete

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Melissa Jackson

The 2005 Wittenberg University women's lacrosse team put the finishing touches on the season with an 18-6 loss at Denison on Saturday. The Tigers finished the campaign with a 6-8 overall record and a mark of 2-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference.

The Tigers hung tough through the first half and trailed just 7-4 at halftime against the NCAC regular season champions. But in the final 30 minutes, the Tiger defense was besieged as Denison poured in 11 goals on just 13 total shots.

Wittenberg picked up four goals from sophomore Melissa Jackson (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), the fourth time this season she has scored four or more goals in a game, and single tallies from sophomore Kari Thomas (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and junior Emily Hiscar (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial). Assists were credited to freshman Amber Cupples (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) and sophomore Michelle Hanners (New Albany, Ohio/Columbus School for Girls).

The six wins in 2005 were a significant improvement over the 2004 total of two, while the loss total of eight was a match for a year ago (with four extra games played).

Next: Season Complete

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Erin Collinsworth

The 2005 Wittenberg softball team had a week of mixed blessings to round out the season.

A doubleheader sweep on Senior Day at Betty Dillahunt Field over visiting Oberlin on Saturday pushed the Tigers' over .500 in the North Coast Athletic Conference at 7-6. However, the Tigers' wound up one-half game short of the four-team NCAC Tournament, missing out thanks to a rainout at Kenyon on April 20. The season concluded with a pair of losses to visiting Capital on Tuesday that pushed the Tigers' overall record to a season-ending 11-24.

Against Oberlin, the final scores were 15-0 and 8-2 in favor of the Tigers.

Wittenberg came out swinging and buried the Yeowomen almost immediately in Game 1. Three runs were scored in the first inning, six more in the second, one in the fourth and five scores in the fourth rounded things out. On the other hand, freshman Taryn Hensel (Marion, Ohio/Ridgedale) was taking care of business in the pitchers' circle for the Tigers, scattering just three hits en route to a complete-game (five inning) victory.

Offensively, the Tigers had many standouts, starting with sophomore Erin Collinsworth (Springfield, Ohio/Catholic Central), who went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in and her first collegiate home run. In addition, sophomore Stephanie Zorn (Grapevine, Texas/Colleyville) added a 3-for-3 performance with three runs scored.

In Game 2, senior Norah Gillam (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) allowed a pair of unearned runs in the first inning before settling down to allow just two hits the rest of the game. The Tigers again had their hitting shoes on, pounding out 13 more hits, including three for senior Ashley Lands (Dover, Ohio/Dover) and two each for Zorn, Collinsworth and freshman Sarah Fetters (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee). Zorn's five hits in seven plate appearances Saturday.

Against Capital, the final scores were 5-3 and 5-1.

In the opener, Gillam took the pitching loss, allowing seven hits, two walks and four earned runs (of five scored). It was her 16th appearance of the season, all starts, and her 14th complete game. She led the Tigers with a respectable 3.11 earned run average. Offensively, the Tigers managed seven hits off Capital pitching, led by Collinsworth and freshman Amy Myser (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) with multi-hit games.

In Game 2, Hensel started and worked 6.2 innings before giving way to Gillam, who got the final out in her final appearance in the home Red & White. Hensel allowed 10 hits and one walk but just three earned runs (of five total). Offensively, the Tigers scratched out just three hits, with their lone run coming in the first as Zorn drove in Lands in the bottom of the first inning.

Next: Season Complete

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Cory Windle

The 2005 Wittenberg University men's lacrosse team wrapped up the season with a heartbreaking 8-7 home loss to Wooster on Saturday. The defeat capped the Tigers' campaign at 2-11 overall and 1-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. After falling behind 4-1 by halftime, the Tigers scored three straight goals to open the second half and tie the score. Wooster jumped back in front with the final two goals of the third quarter before Wittenberg scored three unanswered to open the final stanza. That put the Tigers firmly in the driver's seat, and they even had possession of the ball several times in hopes of going up by two goals.

However, Wooster tied it on a goal with 4:24 remaining and then won it on a goal just 25 seconds later. Wittenberg had several golden opportunities in the final 1:40, but the Wooster defense packed it in, forcing three errant shots and then a turnover with just 13 seconds left.

For the game, Wittenberg was paced offensively by junior Cory Windle (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) with two goals and two assists. Sophomore Sammy Hong (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) added two scores, and single tallies were posted by senior Trevor Carlson (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Upper Arlington), sophomore Travis Moore (Columbus, Ohio/Wellington), sophomore Jay Shimko (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) and junior Michael Morrell (Ballwin, Mo./C.B.C.). The Tigers' only other assist was credited to Carlson. The Tigers won the shooting battle in the game, totalling 32 to Wooster's 26.

It was the final home appearance for Wittenberg seniors - Carlson and defender Bill Fortune (Grosse Pointe, Mich./South).

Next: Season Complete