Tigers Head To NCAC Championship Meet With Great Momentum

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Anna Finkelstein

The Wittenberg men's and women's track and field teams are heading into the North Coast Athletic Conference Championship meet with a great deal of momentum, created by strong finishes by several Tiger athletes in the decathlon and heptathlon events hosted by Wittenberg last weekend.

Battling through the elements - rain, snow, high winds, cold temperatures - was no problem for senior Joe Rumschlag (Maumee, Ohio/Toledo Christian), who earned his first conference decathlon title after finishing second a year ago. He continues an amazing run of success in the event - four Wittenberg athletes have won the last seven NCAC decathlon titles (Josh Guerreri in 1999, 2000 and 2001; Brian Gehle in 2002; Tim Gaal in 2003 and 2004; Joe Rumschlag in 2005).

Wittenberg athletes took three of the top four places in the decathlon, giving the Tigers 21 points toward the conference championship standings. Sophomore Mark O'Brien (Shavertown, Pa./Dallas Senior) finished third and senior Chad Kresser (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay) took fourth.

In the heptathlon, Wittenberg picked up seventh and eighth-place finishes from junior Anna Finkelstein (Whitehall, Mich./Reeths-Puffer) and freshman Alissa Goble (Sunfield, Mich./Lakewood) respectively. It was the first collegiate heptathlon for each.

The rest of the team was supposed to compete at the Wilmington Invitational, but that event was cancelled due to the strange weather. It was the second meet of the spring called off due to freak snowstorms this year.

The Tigers are back in action Friday and Saturday in the NCAC Championships. Wittenberg placed fourth in the indoor men's competition and seventh in the indoor women's competition in early March.

Next: 4/29-30 NCAC Championships @ Ohio Wesleyan