Tiger Teams Prep For 2006 Fall Seasons
August 28, 2006
Posted by: Ryan Maurer
Posted by: Ryan Maurer
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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The 2006 fall sports season opens for Wittenberg intercollegiate teams on Friday, Sept. 2, when the nationally ranked Tiger volleyball squad travels to Juniata College for a two-day tournament. The next day, the other six teams all kick things off, literally in the case of the Tiger men's soccer team, which is scheduled to host the annual Wittenberg Invitational on Saturday and Sunday at Edwards-Maurer Field in Springfield.
What follows is a team-by-team look at the 2006 fall season, including links to season outlooks and any North Coast Athletic Conference preseason polls:
Men's and Women's Cross Country
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The Tiger men's and women's cross country teams are under new leadership in 2006 as Head Coach Craig Penney takes the reins. The season outlook offers evidence of larger teams than in past years. Mike Echols (pictured) is sure to be one of the leaders of the pack on the men's side. |
Field Hockey
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Winners of three of the last four NCAC titles, the Tiger field hockey team is always a contender. After a 10-8 overall record and the first NCAC Tournament loss in school history in 2005, Wittenberg is seeking a return to the top of the heap this year, even after being picked third in the coaches preseason poll. The team's season outlook gives Wittenberg fans plenty of reason for optimism as most the starting lineup returns intact, including senior Rachel Dunn (pictured). |
Football
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With the most wins in NCAA Division III history, the Tiger football team is no stranger to success. But after posting a 5-5 record in 2005, Wittenberg was picked to finish fourth in the North Coast Athletic Conference. While there are question marks, the Tigers' season outlook indicates there are answers, starting with senior linebacker and team captain Tyler Harmon (pictured). |
Men's Soccer
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Is this the year that the Wittenberg Tigers reach the top of the North Coast Athletic Conference men's soccer mountain? It's no small climb, considering the presence of perennial national title contender Ohio Wesleyan and numerous traditionally strong programs. Coming off a 7-6-6 campaign in 2005, the NCAC coaches seem to think that the Tigers are a force to be reckoned with. With eight starters returning, led by 2005 NCAC Newcomer of the Year Justin Jenkins (pictured), and another strong recruiting class now in the fold, the season outlook offers a glimpse as well. |
Women's Soccer
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After two years of knocking on the North Coast Athletic Conference men's soccer door, the Tigers hope to knock it in this year. The NCAC coaches think the Tigers will contend with nationally ranked powerhouses Denison and Ohio Wesleyan after Wittenberg posted a 14-5 record in 2005. With nine starters returning, including leading scorer Lisa Rusch (pictured), the season outlook does little to diminish that view. |
Volleyball
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The dynasty technically ended in 2005, as the Wittenberg volleyball strangehold on the North Coast Athletic Conference was eased slightly. But after losing a regular season match for the first time in nearly a decade, the Tigers rallied to win the conference tournament title and advance to the program's first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament Final Four. A powerhouse roster, including honorable mention All-American Emily Bell (pictured), has been bolstered by a tremendous recruiting class, and the season outlook indicates that the goals will be as high as ever in 2006. |
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Non-discriminatory Policy Web Use Policy & Disclaimer Privacy Policy
© 2007 Wittenberg University