Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
Kelli (Butzin) Nitschke enters the Hall of Fame as a two-sport athlete at Heidelberg. She was a four-year letter winner in both volleyball and track and field.
Nitschke competed in both the outdoor and indoor seasons. Her outdoor track and field accomplishments include earning All-OAC honors on three separate occasions. In 1990 she earned All-American honors after finishing in third place at NCAA Division III Championships in the high jump. She was also an OAC high jump champion during the 1991 season, setting an OAC record at that time.
While competing in the winter, she received All-OAC high jump honors during each of her four track and field seasons. During the 1991 indoor season she was the OAC triple jump champion. Then, for the second time in her track and field career, she earned All-American honors in the high jump, taking fourth place at the 1991 NCAA Championships.
In her four seasons of volleyball, The Berg went a combined 79-46 with a .632 winning percentage. During her tenure, Nitschke worked extremely hard at excelling both in the classroom and in athletic competition. For her outstanding performance as a student athlete she was named to the Academic All-OAC Honorable Mention Team for both volleyball and track and field.
After graduating, she spent eight years (1992-1999) at McComb High School as a teacher and head volleyball coach. At McComb she compiled a 124-35 record, leading the volleyball team to five consecutive Blanchard Valley Conference championships including two regional appearances. For her accomplishments she was named Blanchard Valley Coach of the Year five times and District 8 Coach of the Year three times.
In 2000 Nitschke took a teaching and coaching position at Bowling Green High School. In August of 2002 she earned her master's degree from Bowling Green State University in curriculum and teaching. She is currently teaching and coaching at Bowling Green High School.
Kelli and Stephen Nitschke have been married for 12 years and now have three children, Madison who is 8, Drew who is 6, and newborn Chase who is one year old. The Nitschke family currently lives in Perrysburg, Ohio.
(This profile appeared in the Hall of Fame Banquet program.)
