M e n ’s L a c r o s s e
2014-2015
Men’s Lacrosse
JAY DOLAN NICK BERGENT Y
2014 Quick Facts General
School Name.........................................Wittenberg University Location............................................. Springfield, Ohio 45501 Founded..........................................................................1845 Enrollment......................................................................1,950 Nickname......................................................................Tigers Home Field.......................................... Edwards-Maurer Field Capacity.........................................................................3,000 National Affiliation...................................... NCAA Division III Conference.......................... North Coast Athletic Conference President........................................... Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D. Alma Mater.................Loyola University New Orleans, 1986 Athletics Director.............................................Gary Williams Alma Mater...................................................Carthage, 1996 Athletics Phone............................................. (937) 327-6450
Coaching Staff
Head Coach.............................................................Jay Owen Alma Mater................................................... Salisbury, 1997 E-mail................................................ owenj@wittenberg.edu Record at Wittenberg.............................10-5 (2014-present) Career Record............................................................... Same Assistant Coach............................................. Jordan Shoger Alma Mater................................................ Wittenberg, 2014 Men’s Lacrosse Office.................................. (937) 327-6451 Athletic Trainer................................................. Ellen Crosbie Assistant Athletic Trainer.............................Greg Schneider Assistant Athletic Trainer............................... Molly Hopkins
Men’s Lacrosse History
First Year.......................................1968 (records begin 1983) All-Time Record.........................................................176-251 NCAC Championships.........................................................2 NCAA Tournament Appearances........................................2 Last NCAA Tournament Appearance............................ 2011 Result........................... W, 8-7 (OT) vs. Adrian (First Round) ..................................... L, 4-11 at Dickinson (Second Round)
SEAN KELLEHER
Team Information
2014 Overall Record........................................................10-5 2014 NCAC Record (Finish) .................................... 4-3 (4th) Letterwinners Returning....................................................27 Andrew Fuss, Riley Boehm, Matt Hugdahl, Ryan Parmater, John Haeling, David Strahm, Will Stocker, TJ Smith, Jay Dolan, Nick Bergenty, Conor O’Brien, Matthew Klever, Jeff Sherman, Aaron Blossey, Thomas Fuss, Brent Whitehead, Creighton Stephens, Alex Dankowski, Brett Wilson, Sean Kelleher, Nick Gregory, Zach Shy, Reid O’Neil, Joseph Crawford, Seth Caudill, Lewis Thompson, Ryan Spitzer
Letterwinners Lost...............................................................5 Jordan Shoger, Jack Bornhofen, Jacob Gilbert, Max Sturges, Hunter Bastian
Starters Returning................................................................8 Thomas Fuss, Andrew Fuss, Ryan Spitzer, Matthew Klever, Nick Bergenty, Riley Boehm, John Haeling, Jay Dolan
Starters Lost.........................................................................3 Jordan Shoger, Jack Bornhofen, Jacob Gilbert
Find the Tigers on Facebook www.facebook.com/WittenbergAthletics www.facebook.com/WittMensLax
RYAN SPITZER
CREDITS: Photography by university photographer Erin Pence ‘04
Coaching Staff Head Coach Jay Owen Jay Owen was named Wittenberg University’s new men’s lacrosse head coach in August 2013. In his first season at the helm, Owen led Wittenberg to an overall record of 10-5, including a mark of 4-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The Tigers finished fourth in the 2014 NCAC regular season title chase, earning the program’s first-ever berth in the NCAC Tournament. Owen arrived at Wittenberg after a lengthy affiliation with Salisbury University in Maryland, starting as a player from 199497 and continuing as an assistant coach for much of the last 15 years. A player on teams that won two national championships and three conference titles, Owen served as an assistant coach for Salisbury teams that won nine Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) championships and five NCAA Division III national titles
between 1999 and 2007. A native of Brownville, NY, Owen was involved in all facets of the Salisbury program, even while working in private business. During his time as a coach at Salisbury, Owen guided 25 All-Americans, two national Player of the Year award-winners and 10 national position Player of the Year award-winners. As a student-athlete at Salisbury, Owen earned All-CAC honors in 1996 and 1997, and he earned academic awards from the university and conference following each of his four seasons in the program, in addition to serving as a team captain in 1997. As a player, Owen contributed to a then-NCAA record 47-game winning streak, bested only by Salisbury teams that he coached to 69 wins in a row a decade later. Owen holds a pair of bachelor’s degrees from Salisbury in communication arts and history. He and his wife Gwen reside in Springfield with their three children, Andrew, Molly and Landon.
Assistant Coach Jordan Shoger Former Wittenberg standout Jordan Shoger, class of 2014, joins the Tiger coaching staff for the 2015 season. An attackman for the Tigers, Shoger scored 46 goals in his career in the Red & White and registered nine assists, scoring a career-best 25 goals on the season as a full-time starter in 2014.
A graduate of the Wittenberg business department with a minor in sport management, Shoger was a three-year letterwinner, and was named a team captain prior to the 2014 season and the team’s most valuable offensive player and co-overall MVP after the season.
Head Coaching Ledger Name
Seasons
Tot. Seasons
G
W
L
T
Pct.
Steve Ritzenthaler
1983-93
11
109
28
81
0
.257
Bruce Reid
1994-00
7
97
37
60
0
.381
Vinnie Lang
2001-05
5
70
20
50
0
.286
2006-2013
8
107
65
42
0
.607
2014-Present
1
15
10
5
0
.667
George Harris Jay Owen
2014-2015 MEN’S LACROSSE
CAMPUS Wittenberg’s stunning 95-acre, rolling, wooded terrain is situated in the heart of Springfield, Ohio. An impressive blend of traditional European classicism and contemporary architecture is abundant amongst the 26 buildings throughout campus.
The University
ADMISSION Wittenberg consistently selects academically strong students. Of entering freshman, approximately 65 percent graduated in the top fifth of their high school classes. Each new class combines National Merit Scholars, Ohio Academic scholars and Lutheran Scholars. STUDENTS What strikes most people when they visit Wittenberg is the genuine friendliness and welcoming nature of the campus and its residents. There are more than 1,950 full-time students currently enrolled, representing more than 37 states and approximately 23 foreign countries; 45 percent of students are male, 55 percent are female. FACULTY Wittenberg’s 195 outstanding classroom instructors all consider students their top priority. With an average class size of 20 and a student-faculty ratio of 12-to-1, Wittenberg faculty and students have numerous opportunities for meaningful interaction both in and out of the classroom. PROGRAMS OF STUDY Wittenberg has more than 60 majors, minors and special programs from which to choose. Among these majors are such outstanding interdisciplinary programs as East Asian Studies, Russian and Central Eurasian Studies and Biochemistry/Molecular Biology.
MYERS HALL OFF-CAMPUS STUDIES Wittenberg encourages off-campus opportunities that complement the classroom experience: pursuing an internship, studying abroad, and getting involved in the community through volunteer programs and community service. STUDENT LIFE More than 150 campus organizations offer opportunities not only to have fun, but to gain management and leadership experience while at Wittenberg. These include 11 national fraternities and sororities, the Outdoors Club, WUSO radio station, Residence Life, Campus Ministries, Student Senate, Pre-Health Club and many more. ATHLETICS Wittenberg enjoys a long-standing reputation as an athletics powerhouse, fielding winning teams in many different sports. Wittenberg competes annually against the best competition that NCAA Division III has to offer. The athletics department offers 23 varsity intercollegiate athletic teams for men and women.
THE HOLLOW
RESIDENTIAL LIFE Wittenberg students live on campus in residence halls their first two years. Upperclassmen may choose to stay in the residence halls or move into Wittenberg’s campus housing, which includes apartments, houses and fraternity and sorority houses. FINANCIAL AID More than 98 percent of students are awarded financial aid at Wittenberg, thanks to the generosity and loyal support of more than 26,000 living alumni.
WEAVER CHAPEL
Athletics Facilities
ROSENCRANS FITNESS CENTER
EDWARDS-MAURER FIELD
Wittenberg Athletics Facilities Wittenberg’s athletics facilities are a unique blend of old and new, providing opportunities for a wide variety of recreational and fitness activities. The Health, Physical Education and Recreation Center (HPERC) is the centerpiece of the complex and hub of activity throughout the year. The main unit can be converted to three full-sized basketball courts or three volleyball courts. It seats 3,000 spectators for intercollegiate athletic events, and 4,300 for concerts and other public events. A second unit houses four racquetball courts with an upper balcony for instruction and two golf practice rooms with state-of-the-art equipment. Wittenberg’s Natatorium features a 25-meter by 25-yard swimming pool with one- and three-meter diving boards and a spectator viewing area. The Kremchek Family Athletic Training Room was completed in 2012 and includes more than 2,000 square feet of space and the latest in training equipment. The HPERC also includes the historic Wittenberg Field House, home to Tiger teams since 1929, the Heinzen Strength Center, and the Bob Rosencrans Hall of Honor Fitness Center, which was built in 2005. The strength center and the fitness center house the latest in training equipment to accommodate the wide range of needs of the entire campus. Edwards-Maurer Field and Earl F. Morris Track were renovated in 2005. EdwardsMaurer Field features an artificial playing surface and Earl F. Morris Track is a 400-meter
track outfitted with a cutting-edge surface. The entire complex is lighted, and it serves as home to the Tiger football, track, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. The David and Georgiana Albright Tennis Complex was completed in 1997. It houses 12 tennis courts that were re-surfaced in 2012. Six of the courts are lighted, including two sunken center courts with space for seating. Situated a few blocks from campus are Bill Edwards Field, which offers playing and practice fields, and Betty Dillahunt Field, home of the Tiger softball team. Less than two miles from campus is Carleton Davidson Stadium, which opened in 2004 and is the home of Tiger baseball. Owned and maintained by the City of Springfield, Carleton Davidson Stadium has seating capacity of 1,061, nearly half of which is under cover, a media center, locker rooms with showers and secured storage. The Tigers share the facility with the Champion City Kings, a collegiate summer baseball franchise that started play in the Prospect League in 2014. In 2014, Wittenberg embarked on an upgrade of its athletics facilities, with the commitment to build a new indoor multipurpose athletics and recreation facility. Once completed, the facility will provide year-round opportunities that will benefit the entire campus community, including varsity athletic teams, club teams and intramural sports.
PAM EVANS SMITH ARENA
HEINZEN STRENGTH CENTER
CARLETON DAVIDSON STADIUM
2014-2015 MEN’S LACROSSE
SCHEDULE/RESULTS 2/22
at Sewanee +
W, 13-7
3/1
at Transylvania
W, 13-4
3/4
vs. Aurora$
3/8
at St. Vincent
3/12
vs. Rensselaer%
3/18
Otterbein
3/22
at Kenyon *
3/29
Wooster *
4/2
at Mount St. Joseph
W, 17-1
4/5
at Hiram *
W, 21-0
4/8
Oberlin *
W, 13-9
4/12
Denison *
L, 14-8
4/16
DePauw *
W, 17-6
4/19
at Ohio Wesleyan *
L, 16-4
4/23
at Denison
L, 18-3
2014 Season
W, 11-10 W, 13-3 L, 8-4 W, 11-8 L, 6-5 W, 7-5
* NCAC Game
MAT THEW KLEVER
+ at Pope John Paul II H.S.
Hendersonville, Tenn.
% Spring Break Game at IMG Academy
Clearwater, Fla.
$ Ultimate Soccer in Pontiac, Mich.
POSTSEASON AWARDS All-NCAC Second Team – Nick Bergenty, Thomas Fuss Honorable Mention – Andrew Fuss, Sean Kelleher,
Matthew Klever
RILEY BOEHM
In 2013-2014, the Wittenberg Tigers... • Won 5 North Coast Athletic Conference regular season championships in football, women’s soccer, volleyball, women’s lacrosse and men’s golf. • Finished in the top 5 in the final North Coast Athletic Conference standings in 16 of 23 sports • Finished 3rd in the final standings for the NCAC Dennis Collins Memorial All-Sports Trophy • Earned 6 NCAC Player of the Year trophies • Earned 4 NCAC Coach of the Year trophies • Placed 104 student-athletes on All-North Coast Athletic Conference teams • Placed 21 student-athletes on all-region teams and 8 on All-America teams • Earned 3 CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America awards • Finished 91st in the NACDA Director’s Cup (NCAA Division III all-sports comparison) thanks to postseason appearances by 4 teams
2014 Season 2015 Men’s Lacrosse Schedule 2/21
at Hampden-Sydney
1:00 PM
2/28
at Otterbein
1:00 PM
3/7
at Adrian
1:00 PM
3/11
at Sewanee
7:00 PM
3/14
at Hiram *
2:00 PM
3/17
Albion
7:00 PM
3/21
Oberlin *
3:00 PM
3/25
Capital
7:00 PM
3/28
at Denison *
3/31
Ohio Wesleyan *
7:00 PM
4/4
Kenyon *
1:00 PM
4/8
DePauw *
4:00 PM
4/11
at Wooster *
4:00 PM
4/15
at Wabash *
4:00 PM
4/18
vs. Aurora
12:00 PM THOMAS FUSS
TBA *NCAC Game
Recruiting Visits To schedule a visit during a home game, contact Coach Owen at owenj@wittenberg.edu or 937-327-6451 ANDREW FUSS
WIT TENBERG MEN’S LACROSSE
2014-2015 MEN’S LACROSSE
Statement of Responsibility for Balance Between Academics & Athletics
Wittenberg Athletics Philosophy
Student-athletes are primarily responsible for balancing academics and athletics. However, recognizing the pressure that studentathletes face from competing time demands placed upon them by both professors and coaches, we establish the following statement of responsibility. The statement assumes that the student’s primary responsibility is to academic coursework and that practice sessions are always subordinate to class attendance. Students should work with advisers to schedule courses so that practices and contests are not in conflict with academic courses. Student-athletes are expected to contact professors in advance in order to resolve conflicts between class attendance and participation in athletic contests. It is recommended that student-athletes miss not more than four sessions of any class in a semester for regular season athletic contests. Permission of a Faculty Athletic Representative is required before additional excused absences will be permitted. Coaches will, as necessary, establish and maintain communications with the professors of team athletes regarding academic progress. Professors should feel free to contact coaches regarding the academic responsibilities of student-athletes.
The Wittenberg Athletic Department is an integral part of the university that strives to achieve the same standards of excellence that exist within various academic disciplines at the university. Further, the athletic department embraces the concept that the student-athletes are first and foremost students, possessing individual rights, academic abilities, personal interests and ambitions comparable to those of other members of the general student body. Wittenberg University is committed to the principles and practices of amateurism, student-athlete welfare, gender equity, sportsmanship and fair play, cultural diversity and overall athletics excellence, and this commitment shall reflect in every aspect of the athletics departmental operations.
The North Coast Athletic Conference and Wittenberg University work together to encourage good sportsmanship on the court, on the field and in the stands. The Wittenberg Athletics Department expects all competitors and spectators to help maintain an open, accepting and competitive environment in order to promote positive, enjoyable experiences for all involved with Division III athletics.