Tiger Field Hockey Student-Athletes Claim National Academic Awards

Springfield, Ohio – A whopping 16 Wittenberg University field hockey student-athletes have been recognized for their performance in the classroom by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), led by sophomore Victoria Robertson (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), who was honored as a Scholar of Distinction. 

The accolades start with seniors Beth Warning (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame), Kim Loofbourrow (Prospect, Ky./Ballard) and Megan Loofbourrow (Prospect, Ky./Ballard), juniors Paige Vanerstrom (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and Andrea Mattingly (Louisville, Ky./Mercy Academy), sophomores Sydney Lang (Dresher, Pa./Upper Dublin), Laura Jansing (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame), Clare Grady (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual), Sarah Brownell (Ocnomowoc, Wis./University Lake School), Michelle Murray (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) and Robertson, and freshmen Kayla Burkhardt (Novi, Mich./Novi), Bridgid Kortyna (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland), Zara Tickner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), Carlijn van den Berg (Zwolle, The Netherlands/Thorbecke), Perrine van Loef (Haarlem, The Netherlands/Atheneum College) and Maddie Goelz (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), all of whom were selected to the NFHCA National Academic Squad. Student-athletes who earned a 3.3 grade point average or better through the first semester of the 2013-14 school year were eligible to receive the honor. 

Robertson was additionally named a Scholar of Distinction in recognition of her nearly perfect performance in the classroom. Student-athletes are eligible for the Scholar of Distinction honor by posting a grade point average of 3.9 or higher. 

As a team, Wittenberg earned an NCAA Division III National Academic Team Award, which is given to programs that post a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. The Tigers posted one of the best team grade point averages for the fall 2014 semester, finishing at a sparkling 3.38. 

Wittenberg concluded the 2014 season with records of 9-11 overall and 7-7 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). Five Tigers earned All-NCAC honors and two gained All-Great Lakes Region awards following the season.

Written By: Ryan Maurer