Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
Throughout the rich, storied history of Heidelberg Athletics, no women’s program struck as much fear into their opponents as the Women’s Soccer teams of the early 1990s. Hoisting a combined 10 Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament trophies during the decade, the program was downright dominant. And, at the center of it all was Trista Van Guilder Flanagan.
Hailing from Westerville, Ohio, the St. Francis de Sales alum made an immediate impact upon her arrival in the Fall of 1990. She scored 14 goals and collected 9 assists, finishing with 34 points and helping the unbeaten Student Princes (16-0-1) win the OAC title that season.
As a sophomore, Trista continued her ascent into greatness. Flanked by 2021 Hall of Fame inductee Jenny Koth Thompson, the pair both eclipsed the 20-goal milestone. Trista’s 20 goals and 14 assists helped Heidelberg amass a 16-1-0 record and clinch another OAC title.
Named a First Team All-OAC honoree in 1992, she picked up 21 goals and 11 assists. Though a loss to Baldwin Wallace derailed their hopes of a three-peat, Heidelberg shutout Mount Union and John Carroll to win the first-ever OAC Women’s Soccer tournament.
The 1993 team, Trista’s senior season, became the first team to sweep the OAC trophies -- finishing 16-5 overall and a flawless 9-0 in conference action (outscoring league foes, 42-3). After beating Mount Union in the semifinals, the Student Princes -- led by Hall of Fame Coach Des Lawless -- walloped Ohio Northern in the finals, 4-0. Trista capped her career with 21 goals and 14 assists, a performance that garnered All-American and All-OAC accolades.
In total, Trista notched exactly 200 points -- just one of two players in OAC history to reach the milestone. She is the program’s all-time leading goal scorer (76) and third in assists (48).
Today, Trista and her husband of 27 years, Mike, reside in Cape Coral, Florida, where they moved a few years ago. Their oldest son, Avery, is a successful real estate agent in Columbus, Ohio. Ayden, their youngest, is a junior at Florida State University. In addition to recently getting her real estate license in Florida, Trista stays active boating, running, biking, and traveling.
This profile appeared in the Hall of Fame Induction program.
