SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - While the Wittenberg University athletic department can boast of football, volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball team championships and numerous individual accomplishments in the 2001-02 school year, perhaps the greatest source of pride is created by the performance of Tiger athletes in the classroom. It has been nothing short of exceptional in many instances again this year.

For starters, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association has named four Wittenberg student-athletes Academic All-America for the 2002 season. Senior Emily Duh (Hellertown, Pa./Saucon Valley), senior Heather House (Dayton, Ohio/Oakwood), sophomore Carrie Happ (Pittsburgh, Pa./Vincentian) and sophomore Jenny Meyer (Solon, Ohio/Hathaway Brown) were named to the national honor after earning a minimum grade point average of 3.30. Each was a starter on the 2002 North Coast Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championship squad, the other key criteria to be nominated for Academic All-America.

Duh and senior men's soccer standout Brian Armstrong (Delaware, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) earned the North Coast Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Award, which is presented annually to Wittenberg student-athletes who perform with distinction both in the classroom and on the playing field. Duh was a record-setting attacker for the Tiger field hockey team and a first-team All-America and Academic All-America selection following the 2002 season. Armstrong led the Tigers and the NCAC in goals last fall in his third season as a starting forward.

Two Wittenberg students have been awarded academic scholarships from the local chapter of the National College Football Hall of Fame. Senior women's cross country and track athlete Natasha Malackany (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry) and senior football player Josh McCoy (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) were awarded scholarships to be applied toward planned graduate studies.

Finally, 25 Wittenberg student-athletes have been nominated for 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 grade status.


"Congratulations are in order to all of these fine student-athletes," said Pam Smith, associate athletic director/senior woman administrator and head women's basketball coach. "Our student-athletes work hard in the classroom and on the athletic fields. This society and these national awards recognize their high academic and athletic achievements. Their commitment to excellence is a quality that will benefit them for a lifetime."