|
Ohio State Athletics Hall of
Fame
Class of 2011 Announced
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame will grow by 11
members this year, as six men and five women will be inducted the
weekend of Sept. 9 and 10 the Men's Varsity O Alumni Association and
the Women's Varsity O Alumnae Society announced Wednesday. The class
will be officially inducted Sept. 9 during a ceremonial dinner and
introduced to the public at halftime of the Ohio State home football
game against Toledo Sept. 10.
The 2011 class includes: Didi Albrecht (rowing), Raj Bhavsar
(men’s gymnastics), Mitch Clark (wrestling), Katy Craig
(women’s track and field), Mike Doss (football), Jessica
Marshall
(pistol), Orlando Pace (football), Leo Raskowski (football), Stacey
Roth (softball), Bobby Watkins (football) and Kristen White
(women’s golf).
Women were first inducted into the hall in 1993, with 91 women
enshrined through 2010. Marshall will be the first member of the pistol
team to be inducted into the hall of fame. Craig and White give
women’s track and field and women’s golf eight
inductees
each, while Albrecht and Roth both raise the rowing and softball
numbers to five.
The hall of fame was created in 1977 and has inducted 255 men through
fall of 2010. The addition of Doss, Pace, Raskowski and Watkins moves
the all-time number of former football players in the hall to 103.
Bhavsar will be the sixth gymnast, while Clark will be the ninth
wrestler enshrined.
Reservations are now being accepted for the Hall of Fame Dinners Sept.
9, with the men and women holding separate ceremonies in The Archie M.
Griffin Ballroom at the Ohio Union. Both the men’s and
women’s events begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m., with
dinner
and the ceremony starting at 6:30 p.m.
The cost to attend the women’s event is $50 per individual,
with
tables of eight available for $400. Reservations and payment are
required in advance, with the deadline Aug. 26. A printable reservation
form is available online at www.osuwomensvo.com. At the dinner Andy
Geiger will be presented with the Barbie Tootle Buckeye Spirit Award
and Tara VanDerveer will be honored with the Phyllis Bailey Career
Achievement Award.
Individual reservations for the men’s event are $75, with
tables
of eight available for $600. Visit www.osumensvo.com for online
reservations, a printable reservation form and payment options. Payment
cannot be accepted at the door and the reservation deadline is Aug. 26.
For questions about the dinners contact the Varsity O office
614-688-3707 or email VarsityO@osu.edu.
2011 Hall of Fame Class Biographies and Comments
Didi Albrecht
Rowing 2002-05
Diana “Didi” Albrecht was a member of the rowing
team from
2002-05. During her letterwinner seasons, Albrecht was named First Team
Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) All-America twice (2004
and 2005). Additionally, Albrecht was a First Team All-Central Region
and First Team All Big Ten selection during those seasons. The Buckeye
2005 team captain and most valuable player, Albrecht collected CRCA
National Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten laurels in 2003,
‘04 and 05. The Dresden, Germany, native added a 2005 Big Ten
Medal of Honor finalist recognition to her list of scholastic and
athletic awards.
Of note, Albrecht was part of an NCAA squad that finished fourth as a
team at the 2005 NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
Albrecht’s accomplishments as a student-athlete have helped
her
tremendously in her current role as the assistant coach of the Ohio
State rowing team, a capacity she has held since 2006. To date, one of
Albrecht’s greatest coaching achievements was guiding the
Second
Varsity Eight to a runner-up finish at the 2008 NCAA Championships.
Majoring in political science and communication, Albrecht graduated
from Ohio State in 2006. She is currently working on her
master’s
degree in public policy and management.
Albrecht on being selected for the hall of fame
“It is a great honor to be part of an amazing group of
athletes
who all had the privilege to represent Ohio State. This recognition is
such a personal honor, but it is also an honor for the entire rowing
program that has achieved so many accomplishments over the past 16
years.”
Raj Bhavsar
Men’s Gymnastics 2000-03
Raj Bhavsar, the 2002 OSU Male Athlete of the Year, won two NCAA
individual titles during his time at Ohio State, claiming the parallel
bars crown in 2001 before becoming the all-around champion in 2002. He
earned nine All-America honors during his career, finishing in the Top
8 at the NCAA championships on four events as well as in the
all-around. Bhavsar, a four-time first team All-Big Ten choice, was a
four-time Big Ten champion (2002 – all-around, pommel horse
and
floor exercise, 2003 – parallel bars) and was named Big Ten
Gymnast of the Year in 2002. He led the Buckeyes to an NCAA title in
2001 as well as conference championships in both 2001 and 2002.
In 2008, Bhavsar claimed a bronze medal with the U.S. Olympic Team in
Beijing, China. As a member of the U.S. National Team, Bhavsar was an
alternate on the 2004 Olympic Team and helped the U.S. squad win a
silver medal at the 2001 and 2003 World Championships. Nationally, the
Houston, Texas, native was the 2004 rings and 2003 vault national
champion. Bhavsar finished second in the all-around at the 2008 Winter
Cup Challenge. At the 2008 Visa Championships, he tied for third on
vault and still rings and placed fifth in the all-around.
Bhavsar was a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete, a 2003 CGA Academic
All-American Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten
selection, earning his degree in business administration. Bhavsar, who
retired from competitive gymnastics in 2010, has been a part of the
Cirque Du Soleil show as a performer this past year.
Bhavsar on the honor of the hall of fame
“It is an incredible honor and I am humbled to be part of
such a
distinguished community. Years have gone by since my days at Ohio
State, but the memories are never forgotten. I must first thank my
parents and immediate family. Without their unconditional love and
support, no accolade would have seemed attainable. Thank you to all my
coaches, who not only shaped me into an incredible athlete, but also
forged my character. Lastly, I thank my teammates and dedicate this
honor to them. We toiled together through success and failure to
finally realize that anything is possible when we come
together.”
Mitch Clark
Wrestling (1994-98)
Mitch Clark lettered for Ohio State from 1994-98. It was in 1998 Clark
delivered one of the most impressive individual seasons in Ohio State
wrestling history under former head coach Russ Hellickson. As a senior,
the Canton, N.Y., native won the NCAA title (177 pounds) after
finishing second the previous season. En route to winning the
Buckeyes’ eighth individual national title, Clark defeated
Vertus
Jones by a technical fall (2:58) in the first period of the
championship match, becoming the first wrestler in NCAA history to
accomplish such a feat.
A two-time All-American, Clark finished his collegiate career with a
119-27 record. His 119 victories were good for seventh place all-time
at Ohio State upon the conclusion of the 1998 season. As well, the
two-time Big Ten champion and two-time All-Big Ten recipient (1997 and
1998) owned the eighth-best Buckeye winning percentage (.815) following
his senior season.
In 1998, Clark was named team captain for the second consecutive year
and went on to lead the squad in wins with 39 vs. one loss. With a .975
win percentage during the 1998 campaign, Clark finished third at Ohio
State in that category. Additionally, he set a program season record in
team points with 181.5, bringing his career total to 454.5, also an
Ohio State record.
The ninth wrestler to be inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of
Fame and fifth in the past 11 years, Clark graduated from Ohio State
with a bachelor’s degree in sports management. After his
championship season, Clark began the first of eight years as a
volunteer and assistant coach for the Scarlet and Gray in 1999.
Clark on his induction
“When I heard I was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this
September I was surprised, then overwhelmed by the news. After a couple
of minutes on the phone, it sunk in and I began to get very emotional.
It was hard to speak because the tears were starting to flow. When I
told my parents later that day, I once again was not able to hold the
tears back.
“I am extremely honored and humbled to be inducted into the
Ohio
State Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2011 inductees are a very talented
and elite class and I am proud to be in the midst of their company.
Winning the NCAA title my senior year after having lost in the NCAA
finals my junior year was a great way to finish off my career at Ohio
State. It was a blessing to wrestle under OSU head coach Russ
Hellickson. My two younger brothers also had the distinct honor of
wrestling for Russ at OSU. Coach Hellickson was no doubt the main
reason for my success at Ohio State. I owe this incredible achievement
to him.”
Katy Craig
Track and Field 1999-02
Katy Craig was a three-time All-American and four-time Big Ten champion
for the Buckeyes from 1998-2002. A two-year captain, Craig still ranks
among the top performers all-time at Ohio State in the weight and
hammer throws, including the second-best mark in school history in the
weight throw in 2002 at 69-3. She previously held Big Ten and meet
records in both the weight and hammer throws upon graduation and was
the Big Ten champion in both events in 2001 and 2002. She was a
two-time All-American in the weight throw (2001-02) and hammer (2002).
Craig also excelled in the classroom as a two-time Academic All-Big Ten
honoree and OSU Scholar-Athlete. She has remained involved in track and
field after graduation, serving as a volunteer assistant at OSU, throws
coach at a local middle school and private coaching. Craig is married
to former Purdue thrower Nick Swathwood and resides in Hilliard, Ohio,
with their two sons, Abraham and Isaac.
Craig on her Ohio State experience
“I am so proud to be a former Buckeye student-athlete and I
am
eternally grateful for the opportunities that resulted from my
participation in athletics at Ohio State. On the most basic level, I
wouldn’t have met my husband had I not been on the track
team. On
a deeper level, I truly believe that my participation in track and
field at Ohio State gave me the confidence and drive that continue to
help me in my various roles as wife, mother and professional. My
experiences at Ohio State truly changed my life forever. Being inducted
into the Hall of Fame is one of the proudest experiences of my
life.”
Mike Doss
Football 1999-2002
Mike Doss, a three-time first team All-American, was co-captain of the
2002 National Championship team and was chosen as Defensive MVP of the
Fiesta Bowl, where Ohio State captured its first consensus national
championship since 1968 with a thrilling 31-24 double-overtime victory
over Miami. A three-year starter from Canton, Ohio, Doss became just
the seventh three-time All-American in Ohio State history. During his
career, Doss played in 50 games, starting 40 of those contests and
colleting a combined total of 331 tackles. Doss started the last two
games of his freshman season and from that point on, he was a regular
starter. As a sophomore, he finished the season with a team-best 94
tackles and was named to a first-team berth on The Sporting News
All-America team. He also led the team in tackles as a junior with 87
total stops and was again named to a first-team spot on The Sporting
News team, as well as the Walter Camp squad. As a senior, Doss
collected a personal high 107 tackles and was named to first-team
All-America berths on the Associated Press, Football Writers, Football
Coaches, Sporting News and Walter Camp teams. A three-time All-Big Ten
selection, Doss was named the 2002 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
as a senior. In each of his last two years, he was a leading candidate
for the Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in college football.
Following his time at Ohio State, Doss went on to play six seasons in
the NFL on three teams, including the Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota
Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals. Doss was a part of the 2006
Indianapolis Colts team that won Super Bowl XLI.
Doss, who earned his degree in communication, and his wife Jasmine, who
also graduated from Ohio State, are raising his 8-year-old brother,
Anthony Kick Jr. Doss created the Michael A. Doss Foundation and was
honored with the Canton Jaycees Distinguished Service Award in 2010.
Doss on earning a spot in the hall of fame so soon after his career
“I’m very humbled to have this opportunity to be
inducted
at such an early age. To be inducted in the first place is great, but
for it to happen this soon is an honor and a privilege.”
Jessica Marshall
Pistol 2001-04
A 12-time All-American, Jessica Marshall won six individual national
championships during her four years with the Buckeyes. In 2003 and 2004
she claimed the national titles in women’s air and sport
pistol
and two-gun aggregate. A four-year letter winner, she helped win the
2004 women’s national championship and was a part of four
other
national championships. As a senior she earned four All-America
accolades, picking up three in both 2001 and ’03 and two in
2002.
Marshall was a member of the USA Shooting Olympic Development team in
2003 and 2004 and was a member of the 2004 USA Shooting National Team.
The 2004 Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor and the Corwin A. Fergus
Memorial award recipient, she was a three-time team captain, a
four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Academic All-Big
Ten honoree. She earned a bachelor’s in psychology in 2004
and a
master’s degree in public policy and management from the John
Glenn School of Public Affairs in 2008.
Marshall on being inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame
“I was elated to learn that I will be inducted into the Ohio
State Athletics Hall of Fame. It was such an honor to be given the
opportunity to compete for Ohio State as a student-athlete with the
best coaches and teammates that anyone could ever hope for. And now to
be selected to represent the pistol team one last time as a hall of
fame inductee is absolutely unbelievable and a great honor.”
Marshall on what she learned as an Ohio State student-athlete
“Ohio State certainly gave me the foundation for my life and
where I am today. Being on that team taught me about teamwork and
leadership, which are skills that have certainly gotten me where I am
and will continue to help me in the future.”
Marshall on a memorable Ohio State moment
“Definitely when I found out that the women’s team
had won
the national championships in 2004. That was an amazing moment for all
of the girls. It was so exciting and something I’ll never
forget.”
Orlando Pace
Football 1994-96
Orlando Pace, a two-time first team All-American and two-time All-Big
Ten selection, started in every game for the Buckeyes between the
1994-1996 campaigns. During his time at Ohio State, Pace became one of
the most dominant offensive linemen ever to play the game. Playing one
of the most challenging positions in football, Pace did not allow a
sack in either of his last two years. He was known for his famous
“Pancake Block” his junior year, finishing the
season with
80 of those (knocking his defender to the ground and on his back). He
redefined the role of an offensive lineman with his amazing downfield
blocking. In 1995, he made college football history by becoming the
first sophomore to win the Lombardi Award. As a junior, he again made
history by becoming the first two-time winner of the trophy. Pace also
was awarded the Outland Trophy and finished fourth in the Heisman
Trophy balloting in 1996 – the highest finish by a lineman
since
a second-place finish by Ohio State’s John Hicks in 1973.
Pace
was the Football News Offensive Player of the Year in 1996 and received
the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Football as the Most Valuable
Player
in the Big Ten. As a freshman, Pace was the Big Ten Freshman of the
Year and the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1995 and 1996.
The native of Sandusky, Ohio, also was a finalist for the Maxwell Award
in 1996. Pace was selected by his teammates as Ohio State’s
MVP
in 1996 after leading the squad to a co-Big Ten championship and a
20-17 victory over Arizona State in the 1997 Rose Bowl.
After his three years at Ohio State, Pace entered the 1997 NFL Draft
and was selected first overall by the St. Louis Rams –
becoming
the third Buckeye in program history to be taken No. 1 overall. The
five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection played in 13
seasons in the NFL, including 12 with the Rams, which was highlighted
by a Super Bowl ring in 1999 after the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV.
Leo Raskowski
Football 1926-28
Leo Raskowski, a two-time All-American and two-time All-Big Ten
selection, was team captain of the 1928 Buckeyes that went 5-2-1
overall, including a 19-7 win over Michigan at Ohio Stadium. Overall,
Raskowski, a tackle for the Buckeyes, helped lead the Scarlet and Gray
to 16 victories in three seasons, highlighted by a 7-1 mark in 1926.
Raskowski, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, was the first team captain to
be elected at the close of the season after a rule passed by the
athletic board at the beginning of the 1928-29 academic year.
Following his time at Ohio State, Raskowski went on to play three
seasons in the NFL on four teams, including the Staten Island
Stapletons, Brooklyn Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia
Eagles. Following his NFL career, Raskowski moved to Vancouver as a
recreation director in 1943. He passed away in 1952 at the young age of
46 after battling a long illness.
Jeff Logan, Men’s Varsity O member, on Raskowski
“We as Pioneer committee members are charged with the
responsibility of recognizing certain deserving and appropriate
candidates with election to the Hall of Fame. Leo Raskowski was a
two-time All-American and a two-time All-Big Ten honoree while at Ohio
State. He was also team captain for the Buckeyes. Two-time
All-Americans are deserving of recognition and we are proud to support
his legacy with this honor.
Stacy Roth
Softball 1999-2002
Stacy Roth, a 2002 Third Team All-American and First Team All-Big Ten
selection, is OSU’s career record holder in several
categories.
Roth re-wrote the batting record books in 2002, tallying a
single-season record 66 RBI in her final season as a Buckeye. Roth is
currently second in OSU history with 166 RBI and still holds the
single-season RBI record. The two-time OSU Most Valuable Player posted
near 1.00 RBI per game average, which ranked among the best in the
nation while also leading the Big Ten. Roth helped lead the Buckeyes to
the program’s second NCAA regional appearance in team
history,
posting a .374 batting average with 71 hits, 15 home runs and a .684
slugging percentage. Roth also was selected as a second team All-Big
Ten honoree in 2000 and 2001 as well as a third team All-Big Ten
performer in 1999 during her freshman season. She ranks in
the
Top 10 in multiple categories in OSU softball history. On the career
list, Roth sits seventh in batting average (.348), fourth in hits
(221), third in doubles (45), fifth in home runs (29) and sixth in
walks (70). Roth also holds several Top 10 single-season records,
including seventh in batting average (.386), fourth in hits (71),
seventh in doubles (14) and fourth in home runs (15).
In the classroom, Roth was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, a
2002 First Team Academic All-District IV honoree and a four-time OSU
Scholar-Athlete. She earned her bachelor’s degree in family
and
human development in the School of Human Ecology.
Roth on her induction
“There is nothing like growing up in Ohio and getting a
chance to
be a Buckeye. I would like to thank the coaching staff for giving a
small town kid a chance to live out her dream.”
Bobby Watkins
Football 1952-54
Bobby Watkins, a native of New Bedford, Mass., led the Scarlet and Gray
in scoring in both the 1953 and 1954 campaigns. Watkins played a major
role in helping Ohio State claim the 1954 national championship
–
the second national crown in program history. During the 1954 season,
the Buckeyes went a perfect 10-0 highlighted by a 20-7 victory over
Southern California in a rainy, mud-soaked 1955 Rose Bowl game. Watkins
rushed for 67 yards on 16 carries, while posting three receptions for
43 yards with a touchdown vs. the Trojans. With the help of Watkins,
the Scarlet and Gray were voted No.1 in the final Associated Press poll
in 1954 after outscoring their opponents, 289-75. Entering the final
regular season game of the 1954 season, Watkins led the Buckeyes with
596 yards and eight touchdowns in 104 attempts. One of Woody
Hayes’ first recruits and one of the first African-Americans
to
play football for Ohio State, Watkins, an all-state performer in high
school, rushed for 1,724 yards between 1952-1954. In 1953, the Buckeye
back led the team with 875 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Following
his three seasons, Watkins was drafted in the second round by the
Chicago Bears in 1955, playing in four seasons before a knee injury
ended his career.
After his playing career, Watkins, who earned his bachelor’s
degree in business administration, used his education to become the
vice president of marketing and sales for John E. Seagram and Sons. In
2000, Watkins moved backed to his hometown area after he retired. Since
then, the former Buckeye has been involved with UMass Dartmouth through
various volunteer opportunities, including chair of the UMass Dartmouth
Blue Ribbon Commission on Athletics and recently as a member of the
Board of Directors for the UMass Dartmouth Foundation. In 2007, he
established the Bobby and Rillis Watkins Scholarship Fund, which helps
support students who participated in high school football receive an
education at UMass Dartmouth.
Kristen White
Golf 2002-05
A three-time All-American for the Buckeyes, Kristen White concluded her
collegiate career as one of the most decorated players in the
women’s golf program’s history. White competed on
the
course for the Scarlet and Gray from 2002-2005 and finished her career
as the only Buckeye to be a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year (2003,
2005) and a four-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree. Her senior
season, White captured the Big Ten medalist title and led Ohio State to
a conference tournament crown in 2005. While on the team, the Buckeyes
won four-consecutive Big Ten titles (2002-2005) and finished in the top
10 at the NCAA tournament all four years. In 2002, she became the fifth
Buckeye to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year laurels and in 2003, White
led Ohio State to a first-place finish at the Lady Buckeye Invitational
as she took medalist honors as a sophomore, shooting a course-record 66
on the Scarlet Course in the second round..
Just as she was successful on the course, White was also successful in
the classroom. She is the only Buckeye to earn four NGCA Academic
All-America honors and is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and
a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete. White earned her bachelor’s
degree in marketing in 2006. The 2005 Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor
winner becomes the seventh women’s golfer to be inducted into
the
Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.
White on the hall of fame and her Ohio State career
“This is without a doubt the greatest achievement I've had
the
honor to accept, and I am extremely grateful and proud. To be
associated with such a first class institution, to have made so many
meaningful relationships during my time at Ohio State, and the fact
that all of my hard work as a member of the women's golf team has been
recognized by the athletic department to this degree is just a dream
come true.
“I am also very thankful to have had the opportunity to
benefit
from the world class facilities and coaching staff that Ohio State
provides for its student athletes. I truly can't say I would have had
nearly the same level of success at any other school.
“During my time at Ohio State, I learned so many valuable
skills
that reach far beyond the world of sports. I learned about what it
truly means to be part of a team that works together to achieve a
common goal. I also learned how to manage my time effectively and to
strike the proper balance between everything going on in your life -
whether it's school, work, athletics, family, etc.
“And perhaps most of all, Ohio State and its alumni
association
has been an amazing network to be a part of. Every day people are
making connections and helping each other out whenever possible and
also giving back to the school and the community on a regular
basis.”
|
