Sarah Yuskewich

Andy Bonar

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — While the Wittenberg University athletic department can boast of volleyball, field hockey and men's basketball conference championships and numerous outstanding individual accomplishments in the 2004-05 school year, another great source of pride is created by the performance of Tiger athletes in the classroom. It has been exceptional again this year.

For starters, two Wittenberg students were awarded scholarships for postgraduate work from the local chapter of the National Football Foundation at the organization's March banquet. Brad Kassner of Circleville, Ohio, class of 2005, and Jenny Burns of Dublin, Ohio, class of 2005, were awarded scholarships to be applied toward planned graduate studies.

In addition, Sarah Yuskewich of Columbus, Ohio, class of 2005, and Andy Bonar of Lancaster, Ohio, class of 2005, earned the North Coast Athletic Conference 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 athlete from each of the NCAC's 10 member institutions are selected for the award annually.

Yuskewich holds most of the university's setting and blocking records in volleyball and became the first player in school history to earn All-America honors three straight years, including first-team honors in 2003 and 2004. She was a three-time NCAC Player of the Year, and she led the Tigers to a school-record 35-3 overall record in 2004. Yuskewich, a management major, carries a 3.20 grade point average.

Bonar is the most accomplished Tiger men's golfer of the last 15 years with three All-NCAC awards already to his credit heading into next week's 2005 NCAC Championship Tournament hosted by Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. Bonar, an education major who also worked four years as the men's basketball team's student manager, has led the Tigers in scoring average all four years in the Red & White. He carries a 3.44 grade point average.

Finally, 11 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 grade status.

Wittenberg's 2005 Chi Alpha Sigma nominees are Ann Delaney of Buffalo Grove, Ill. (women's golf); Joyce Dindo of Akron, Ohio (women's basketball); Anna Finkelstein of Whitehall, Mich. (women's cross country and track and field); Ann Lutz of Marysville, Ohio (women's lacrosse); Chris Petrik of Highland Heights, Ohio (men's cross country); Sarah Schick of Bloomington, Ind. (women's swimming and diving); Betany Yeakley of Wilmington, Ohio (women's swimming and diving); Kevin McAninch of Canal Winchester, Ohio (men's swimming and diving); Julia Wickham of Columbus, Ohio (field hockey); and Sebastian and Eduardo Missura of Quito, Ecuador (men's soccer). All are members of the class of 2006, although Sebastian and Eduardo Missura are sophomores in terms of athletic eligibility.

"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' success in the classroom and on the playing field demonstrates the balance that these individuals have accomplished in their lives during their collegiate careers. Through hard work, dedication and discipline they continue to achieve the goals they have set for themselves as students and as athletes."