Hanover College Athletics

Dietz selected in UFL's inaugural draft

Former Hanover College quarterback Brett Dietz was selected by Team San Francisco in the United Football League's "premiere" season draft.

Dietz, who remains under contract with the Tampa Bay Storm in the Arena Football League, led Hanover to three Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference titles and appearances in the NCAA playoffs during the early 2000s. As a senior, he led the nation in total offense (380.5 ypg) and was a two-time all-HCAC selection.

After his tenure at Hanover, Dietz earned rookie-of-the-year honors as a member of the Tampa Bay Storm and, earlier in his carrer, was the AFL2 rookie of the year with the Louisville Fire.

The United Football League currently has four teams and will play games in seven cities in the fall of 2009. In the recent draft, teams from San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas and Orlando each selected 24 players from a group who participated in workouts in Orlando and Las Vegas. The UFL now owns the rights to these players if they chose to play in the league, which opens action in October.

The United Football League's rules and style of play will be similar to the NFL. The UFL, which aims to cater to markets underserved by professional football, will play in NFL-quality stadiums on Thursday and Friday evenings in October and November. The league's championship game is slated for Thanksgiving weekend.

Former Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals head coach Dennis Green is the head coach for Team San Francisco.

Click here for more on the United Football League

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McLetchie and Vormohr attend NCAA development conference

Hanover College athletes Shawna McLetchie (Lexington, Ky.) and Joseph Vormohr (Portland, Ind.) were among nine Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference athletes who attended the annual NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference. The four-day event was recently held in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The annual NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference provides student-athletes with a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities. The gathering also provides the students with an opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
 
The National Student-Athlete Development Conference, which included just 185 NCAA III student-athletes from across the U.S., promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities.

The conference consists of daily color team sessions, exercises, speakers and activities to help the student-athletes develop as individuals and as contributing members to society. It takes place annually in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and is provided at no cost to all NCAA member institution student-athletes.

McLetchie, a junior, is a member of Hanover's cross country and track & field squads. Vormohr, a senior, plays for Hanover's football team.

Other Heartland Conference student-athletes at the conference include Defiance College's Anthony Brown and Ben Gates, Manchester College's Korey Bucher and Karla Conrad, Transylvania University's Sara Escobedo and Katie Kelly, and Anderson University's Courtney Smith-Powell.

Courtesy Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

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Walters, Thiems & Gantz lead athletic honorees
Basketball player Rachel Walters (Ladoga, Ind.), football player Tyler Thiems (Indianapolis, Ind.) and tennis player Ali Gantz (Greenwood, Ind.) led the award recipients at Hanover College's Athletic Honors Banquet. The annual ceremony was held Wednesday, May 13, in the Horner Health and Recreation Center.

Walters and Thiems were honored as Hanover's outstanding female and male senior athletes, respectively. Gantz, also a senior, earned the Millie Lemen Mental Attitude Award.

Walters was a four-year letterwinner and a three-time all-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference honoree for the Panthers. She helped propel the program to three winning seasons, including a school-record 18 victories as a senior.

She was a first-team selection for the first time in her collegiate career following the 2008-09 campaign. She averaged 11.0 points and 9.2 rebounds in 27 games for the Panthers.

Walters grabbed 249 boards during her senior season to push her career total 823 rebounds, making her the leading rebounder in school history.

Thiems, a four-year letterwinner with Hanover's football squad, was a two-time all-Heartland Conference honoree for the Panthers.

Parents' Association Scholar-Athletes    

Chelle Bentz	So.	Basketball
Mike Case	Fr.	Basketball
Geoffrey Darmstaedter	Sr.	X-Country/Track
Julianne Dietz	Sr.	Volleyball
Katie Fleschner	Sr.	Tennis
Torin Franz	So.	Basketball
Ali Gantz	Sr.	Tennis
Jake Inman	Jr.	Basketball
Lindsey Jump	So.	Soccer
Andrew Kinman	Fr.	X-Country/Track
Chris Koopman	Sr.	Football
Shawna McLetchie	So.	X-Country/Track
Callie Moore	Sr.	Soccer
Megan Oiler	So.	Volleyball
Angela Parry-Lemon	So.	Tennis
Sam Pollom	Jr.	Tennis
J.P. Presley	So.	Soccer
Abbey Schmahl	Fr.	Soccer
Paige Schroeder	Fr.	Golf
Abby Simpson	So.	Soccer
Tyler Thiems	Sr.	Football
Joseph Vormohr	Jr.	Football/Track
Rachel Walters	Sr.	Basketball

Following the 2008 season, he was a first-team all-HCAC selection and also was named the league's most valuable special teams player.

In just nine games, he set a Hanover single-season record with 117 receptions for 1,025 yards. His 13.0 receptions per game were the most in the nation.

He also led the Heartland Conference with 113.9 receiving yards and 154.9 all-purpose yards per contest, as well as 12.5 yards per punt return.

Thiems' 117 catches surpassed John Agan's mark of 108 catches set in 12 games during the 2000 season.

Gantz was a four-time all-Heartland Conference selection for Hanover's tennis squad. She collected 55 match victories during her collegiate career, including 34 singles wins and 21 doubles triumphs.

Gantz posted an 8-2 singles record and a 5-6 doubles mark to help Hanover earn the HCAC's 2008 regular-season championship. She was undefeated in eight regular-season conference singles matches.

The Lemen Award is presented annually to the female athlete who best combines outstanding mental attitude, leadership and athletic ability.

Lemen, a 1952 graduate, participated in three sports at Hanover. She served the College as a professor and chair of physical education from 1954 to 1963 and worked as a professor of physical education from 1963 to 1994 at Indiana State University.

Longtime Hanover athletics supporter Lou Knoble was presented with the Eleanore Watts Moyer Volunteer of the Year Award at the close of the ceremony.

The Moyer Award recognizes individuals who have given exemplary voluntary service to the College.

Moyer, a 1942 Hanover graduate, grew up on campus where her mother worked as a dietitian. She was a noteworthy athlete for the Panthers and later volunteered in the Office of Alumni Relations from 1983 until her passing in 2002.

Knoble, a retired high school art teacher and cross country coach, has been a fixture in Hanover's athletic department for more than 10 years. During that span, he has performed such roles as assistant cross country coach, head men's tennis coach, sports information assistant and art instructor.

Knoble has been key figure during Hanover's hosting of the 2003 and 2008 NCAA III national cross country championships and three NCAA Great Lakes Regionals.

He continues to be a driving force in connecting Hanover's athletes and events with members of the local community.

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HCAC honors top athletes at "Decade Celebration"
The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference recognized 18 athletes as the conference's
"Athletes of the Decade" at the league's "Decade of Excellence" luncheon, April 13, in Indianapolis.

The conference celebrated the 10-year anniversary of becoming the Heartland Collegiate Athletic
Conference. The HCAC formed before the 1998-1999 season when the former Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference saw significant changes in membership. Bluffton University (Ohio) and the College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) joined original ICAC members Anderson University, Franklin College, Hanover College and Manchester College, to form the HCAC.

Each member institution selected one male and one female athlete to represent their school during HCAC competition and be honored at the celebration.

Leah Peelman (2002-2006) and Brett Dietz (2000-2003) were honored as Hanover College's outstanding athletes of the period.

Peelman earned Academic All-American and All-American honors in track and field and cross country during her four years at Hanover. She was named Great Lakes Region Athlete of the Year
by U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and holds HCAC track records in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter runs. The Cincinnati native finished seventh at the NCAA Division III Cross Country nationals.

Dietz, a quarterback for the Panthers, led Hanover to three conference titles and appearances in the NCAA playoffs. He led the nation in total offense (380.5 ypg) as a senior and was a two-time All-HCAC selection. After his tenure at Hanover, Dietz earned rookie-of-the-year honors as a member of the Tampa Bay Storm in the Arena Football League.

Anderson's Lisa Nicholson (2000-2004) and Joel Steele (2000-2003) were selected as the Ravens' representatives.

Nicholson was a three-time All-American and HCAC champion in cross country and was a two-time All-American in track and field during her four years.

Steele was named HCAC offensive post valuable players in football three times and earned All-North Region honors three years during his career. The quarterback ranks first all-time in NCAA Division III in 200 yard passing games (34) and also ranks third on the all-time lists in total offense (11,348) and passing yards (11,539).

Bluffton had Sarah Betts (2002-2006) and Scott Bergman (2002-2006) honored at the celebration.

Betts, a softball pitcher for the Beavers, finished her career with school records in career earned run average (1.36), opponent batting average (.176), strikeouts (749), shutouts (22), wins (60), and complete games (80). She tossed three no-hitters during her career and was the HCAC most valuable player.

Bergman, a guard for Bluffton's men's basketball team, finished his career third on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,660 points. He set a single-game school record with 50 points against Anderson during the 2005 season and also earned the conference's most valuable player award and first-team All-District honors his junior year.

Meghann Savard (2002-2006) and Nate Schaublin (1998-2001) were elected by Defiance College.

Savard, a four-time all-HCAC women's basketball player, notched back-to-back seasons with more than 450 points and finished her career third on the career scoring list with 1,553 points. She was named HCAC freshman of the Year and also earned the conference's most valuable player award.

Schaublin, a linebacker for the Jackets' football team, led Defiance to a HCAC title and an appearance in the NCAA playoffs. He was named second-team all-American and also earned the conference's defensive player of the year honor.

Franklin College selected Katie Tewell (2005-2008) and Jason Sibley (1995-1999) as its honorees.

Tewell was a standout for the Grizzlies' women's golf team and was named the HCAC most valuable player all three years she competed in the conference. Tewell was a two-time NGCA Division III player of the year and was selected first-team all-American all three seasons at Franklin.

Sibley, a guard for the Franklin basketball team, was selected twice to the all-American squad. He was also honored as the Midwest Region's player of the year and the conference's most valuable player. The Terre Haute, Ind. native was the first Franklin basketball player to have his number retired and finished his career 10th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,469 points.

Manchester had Kelley Meiklejohn (2005-2009) and Darrell Carr (1997-2002) named athletes of the decade for their institution.

Meiklejohn, a forward for the women's basketball team, led the Spartans to two HCAC titles and three HCAC tournament championships. Manchester made three-straight NCAA tournament appearances during her time at the school and she finished her career second on the school's all-time scoring list (1,503 points). Meiklejohn started all 111 games in her four years.

Carr won the NCAA Division III National Championship in the 149-pound weight class wrestling for the Spartans. He won three straight conference championships and guided Manchester to three conference titles and two national top-10 finishes.

The College of Mount St. Joseph saw Betsy Owens (1998-2001) and Mike Lowell (2004-2007) receive the honor at the luncheon.

Owens, an outside hitter for the Mount's volleyball squad, was a two-time first-team all-American selection and a three-time all-region selection. She earned the HCAC most valuable player award three times during her career and led Mount St. Joseph to four NCAA tournaments.

Lovell, a standout running back for the Lions, was a two-time all-region and honorable mention all-American recipient. He earned the HCAC offensive most valuable player award and led Mount st. Joseph to a 24-2 conference record, including three conference titles.

Rose-Hulman's Sam Danesis (2006-current) and Thomas Reives (2004-2008) represent the Engineers on the prestigious list.

Danesis is a three-time conference most valuable player in women's tennis and holds a career record of 30-0 in HCAC action at No. 1 singles. She holds career school records for singles wins (55), doubles wins (49), and combined wins (104) and has been regionally ranked by ITA each of her three years at Rose.

Reives, a two-sport athlete in football and track, was a four-time conference champion in track and field and was a two-time NCAA national championship provisional qualifier. He holds the HCAC record in the triple jump (46-06) and was named academic all-American three times during his career. Reives was also an All-HCAC football selection and was a three-year member of the football program.

Erin Hunter (2000-2003) and Ethan Busald (2002-2005) represented Transylvania on the list.

Hunter was a two-time all-HCAC pitcher in softball and was also named the conference's most valuable player. She holds Transylvania career records in wins (69), starts (79), complete games (77), shutouts (39), innings pitched (557.1), strikeouts (687), and earned run average (0.87).

Busald was a four-time HCAC most valuable player in men's tennis and earned the conference title at No. 1 singles and doubles all four years. He led the Pioneers to three-straight HCAC regular season and tournament titles and never lost a conference match in singles or doubles during his career.

Courtesy Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

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