Kathy Hittle

Tristan Murray

Springfield, Ohio — While the Wittenberg University department of athletics can boast of a variety of outstanding team and individual athletic accomplishments again this academic 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, Kathy Hittle, class of 2007 from Noblesville, Ind., and Tristan Murray, class of 2006 from New Carlisle, Ohio, earned North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) 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 student-athlete from each of the NCAC's 10 member institutions are selected for the award annually.

A three-year starter and four-year letterwinner at the post position for the Tigers, Hittle finished the 2006-07 season ranked among the team leaders in almost every statistical category after topping the squad in points and rebounds per game each of the previous two seasons. A three-time All-NCAC honoree, including first-team awards in 2005 and 2006, Hittle was the conference Player of the Year in 2006 after leading the Tigers to the regular season conference title.

A team captain in 2006-07, Hittle carries a 3.8 grade point average while majoring in English, with a minor in education. A member of Delta Gamma sorority, Hittle serves on the Student Judicial Board and is also involved in the Pre-Law Club and Wittenberg's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

A three-year starting tailback on the Tiger football team, Murray set a school record with nine straight 100-yard rushing games in 2006 - breaking the marks for consecutive 100-yard games and 100-yard games in a season - and he topped the NCAC in rushing yards and points per game for a second straight season. Murray posted three of the top 10 rushing and scoring seasons, two of the top 10 single-game rushing performances and two of the top 10 rushing plays from scrimmage in school history.

Murray, who earned his degree in management in 2006, ranks No. 2 in Wittenberg history in career rushing yards and career points. The 2004 NCAC Newcomer of the Year, Murray was a first-team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection in 2005 and 2006.

In addition, 20 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 2007 Chi Alpha Sigma inductees are:

"Congratulations are in order to all of these fine student-athletes," said Pam Smith, associate director of athletics/senior woman administrator and women's basketball head 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."

By: Ryan Maurer and Ross Mahaffey '07

015-07