Wittenberg is always well represented at the Ohio Am, especially in recent years as Roope has transformed the program into a perennial Division III power. But this is the biggest group it’s had at the event.
There are five current Tigers competing: seniors Alex Andrews and John Chaney, both of Gilmour Academy; junior Sam Geise, of Springboro; sophomore Mark Wright, of Tree of Life Christian School in Columbus; and sophomore Garrett Brickley, of Pickerington North.
Wittenberg’s other representatives are: Andy Bonar, a 2005 Wittenberg graduate and former Springfield City Amateur champion who’s now an assistant coach under Roope; David Wetterich, a Cincinnati LaSalle graduate who finished his Wittenberg career this past spring; and Jordan Millice, a 2012 Wittenberg graduate from Triad.
“Between the eight of them, that’s probably as well represented as any program in the state of Ohio, if not more so,” Roope said.
Of the group, Andrews and Chaney had the best finishes last year at the Ohio Am, placing 11th and tied for 22nd, respectively.
“When you play tournaments like this, it really resonates over the course of the rest of the season because you’ve been there,” Roope said. “It gives you a competitive edge you can’t get just by going out and hitting balls or playing with your buddies at the club. It’s valuable and a major reason for our success.”
Shawnee graduate Clark Engle, a sophomore at Ohio State, and Kenton Ridge graduate Clay Portz, a sophomore at Northern Kentucky University, are also competing in the tournament.
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