Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
Moving the Heidelberg track and field team into new territory was the 1999 outdoor men's program. A combination of speed, distance running, jumping and throwing led to the program's first Ohio Athletic Conference Championship. In the end, Heidelberg ranked seventh in the final national poll, which marks the highest ranking ever.
The Berg topped Mount Union College, who was the defending champion and winner of 14 of the last 17 championships, including seven straight. Under the direction of head coach Larry Brown, Heidelberg totaled 123 points at the OAC Championships to distance itself from runner-up Baldwin-Wallace College, who had 85 points. Paced by 17 individual All-OAC performers, and one all-league relay, including seven championships, Heidelberg swept its league foes.
Earning multiple OAC Titles was junior Seth Hothem in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter runs, as well as junior Adam Koppin in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter runs. Ben Korman was victorious in the 110-meter hurdles, while Matt O'Diam won the pole vault and the team of Todd Gerwig, Greg Tuttamore, Jason Maus and Koppin won the 3,200-meter relay.
Koppin added another all-league performance in the 5,000-meter run. Also adding to their championship with another top-three finish, and subsequent all-league honors, was Korman in the 400-meter hurdles and Gerwig in the 800-meter run. Rounding out the list of All-OAC honorees was Jason Perez in the 1,500-meter and 10,000-meter runs, Chad Cutlip in the high jump, Darren Nelson in the high jump and pole vault, Aaron Hay in the 10,000-meter run and Joe Conduah in the triple jump.
For their outstanding efforts on the track, Hothem and Koppin were tabbed Co-Jim Wuskie Award winners at the OAC Championships, which honors the most outstanding runner.
Heidelberg also brought home a title at the prestigious All-Ohio Championships and the OAC Quad. Claiming championships at All-Ohio was Koppin (1,500-meter run and the 800-meter run), Korman (110-meter hurdles), Conduah (triple jump) and Hothem (10,000-meter run).
Four individuals qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships hosted by Baldwin-Wallace College. Leading the way was Koppin who took home All-American honors in the 1,500-meter run after a fourth place finish. Hothem finished in 13th in the 10,000-meter run and Gerwig and Korman also represented the Berg at nationals in the 800-meter run and the 110-meter hurdles, respectively.
At the close of the season, Koppin was tabbed the Great Lakes Region Runner of the Year and a host of student-athletes picked up academic honors. Hothem, Perez and Conduah were named to the Academic All-OAC First Team, while Jim Thayer, Koppin and Gerwig were honorable mention selections. During the month of March Koppin was named the OAC Student-Athlete of the Month.
Contributing to the successful season was four-year letter winners Jason Brock, Dennis Bruck, Korman and Andrew Zoric. Three-year letter winners were Conduah, David Hensinger, Hothem, Chad Hyacinth, Koppin, Eric Marshall, Michael Mechtenberg, David Norris, Perez, Jim Thayer and Jamie Whittimore. Second-year award winners were Will Arter, James Denegall, Jeremy Dreger, Gerwig, O'Diam, Jonathon Otterbacher and Tuttamore. First-year letter winners were Charlie Carpenter, Jon Craddock, Joseph Craddock, Chad Cutlip, Joe DeVaul, Aaron Hay, Jason Maus, Darren Nelson, Scott Wisniewski and John Wooldridge. Earning participation honors was Paul Flory, Paul Grahl, Nate Irwin, Russell Petersen, Tony Tahy and Nick Weber.
(This profile was published in the Hall of Fame Banquet program.)
