Winter Sports Student-Athletes, Coaches Claim 17 NCAC Postseason Awards
A solid 2007-08 winter sports season wrapped up for the Wittenberg University Tigers over the last two weeks as the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) awarded 17 Wittenberg student-athletes and coaches with postseason honors.
Natalie Koukis
Springfield, Ohio — A solid 2007-08 winter sports season wrapped up for the Wittenberg University Tigers over the last two weeks as the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) awarded 17 Wittenberg student-athletes and coaches with postseason honors. Five Wittenberg student-athletes were selected to the men's and women's basketball All-NCAC teams, while another 11 claimed their awards based on individual finishes at championship events for men's and women's swimming and diving (Feb. 14-16) and men's and women's indoor track and field (Feb. 29-March 1).
The Tiger women's basketball team tied for second in the NCAC regular season standings with a 12-4 record before bowing out of the NCAC Tournament in the championship game. Wittenberg finished the 2007-08 season with an overall mark of 15-11.
Katie Gregorevich
Post Katie Gregorevich, class of 2008 from Northfield, Ohio, garnered first-team All-NCAC honors for a second straight year after leading the Tigers in scoring for a second season in a row. Gregorevich led the NCAC in scoring and ranked among the league leaders in field goal percentage and rebounding as well.
In addition, post Stephanie Boardman, class of 2010 from Cincinnati, Ohio, and wing Carrie Dyer, class of 2010 from Copley, Ohio, also picked up postseason honors from the NCAC. Boardman, who led the NCAC in shooting percentage and ranked second on the Wittenberg team in points and rebounds, picked up second-team honors, while Dyer came on strong as the season went along to earn honorable mention in balloting done by the conference coaches. Boardman and Dyer were Wittenberg's representatives on the NCAC All-Tournament team as well.
The Tiger men's basketball team wound up with records of 16-10 overall and 12-4 in the NCAC, good for a second-place tie with eventual conference tournament champion Ohio Wesleyan.
Gregg Hill
Guard Gregg Hill, class of 2009 from Farmington Hills, Mich., moved up to first-team all-conference after earning second-team honors a year ago after leading the team and ranking the NCAC leaders in scoring and free throw percentage. In addition, wing Brandan Barabino, class of 2008 from Toledo, Ohio, made his appearance on the All-NCAC honor roll as he was selected to the second team. Barabino was among the team leaders in nearly every statistical category.
Track and swimming athletes earn All-NCAC recognition with a top-three finish in the NCAC championship meets.
In swimming and diving, the Tiger men moved up to fourth place - their best finish since 2000 - while the Tiger women slipped to sixth place.
Interestingly, the Tiger men turned in their strong team finish without the benefit of a single all-conference performance. Perhaps in recognition of that fact, Head Coach Natalie Koukis earned her first NCAC Men's Coach of the Year award. She previously picked up NCAC Women's Coach of the Year honors in 2005 after leading the Tigers to a program-best third-place finish in the always rugged conference competition.
The Tigers' lone individual swimming All-NCAC honoree was Megan Shubitowski, class of 2011 from Columbus, Ohio, who captured third place in the 1-meter diving competition.
All-NCAC honors also went to the 800-yard freestyle relay foursome of Kaitlin Clark, class of 2008 from Wakeman, Ohio, Janna House, class of 2010 from St. Thomas, Ontario, Kristin Elber, class of 2010 from Brunswick, Ohio, and Adeline Brym, class of 2010 from Mansfield, Ohio, which finished third in 7:57.12.
Nicole Bailey
In track, the Tiger men finished seventh in the championship meet, and the Tiger women finished fourth.
Nicole Bailey, class of 2008 from Cincinnati, Ohio, was the individual standout of the indoor season for the Tigers once again after she topped her performance of a year ago with four All-NCAC awards in the meet. She earned All-NCAC honors by placing third in the triple jump, second in the long jump and second in the 55 meters. In addition, she ran a leg of the second-place 4x200-meter relay.
Bailey was joined by Kristy Parker, class of 2009 from Hamilton, Ohio, Tara Osborne, class of 2009 from Oxford, Ohio, and Katie Shoemaker, class of 2009 from Arcanum, Ohio.
Rounding things out, Allison Walker, class of 2008 from Columbus, Ohio, took third place in the shot put.
The lone All-NCAC honoree for the Tiger men was Erik Larkin, class of 2009 from Cincinnati, Ohio, who claimed third place in the triple jump.