Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
Building off a national championship appearance from a season prior, the 1998 Heidelberg men's cross country team ran Heidelberg back into the national spotlight via the top spot in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
Paced by four All-OAC performers, Heidelberg improved on its third place finish in the league standings to take home the 1998 crown, marking the first OAC Men's Cross Country Championship at Heidelberg. Heidelberg teamed up to unseat Mount Union College and Otterbein College, who had combined to win 14 consecutive titles. Its 1998 title marked the first of three straight to find a home in Tiffin.
Leading the way to the championship were juniors Adam Koppin, Seth Hothem and Jason Perez, along with Aaron Hay. The group claimed second through fifth place en route to earning all-league accolades. In the final team standings, Heidelberg distanced itself from runner-up Otterbein by 43 points. Heidelberg finished with 25 points, while the Cardinals had 68. Along the way head coach Larry Brown was tabbed the OAC Coach of the Year.
In addition to its OAC championship, Heidelberg ranked among the nation's elite, finishing the year standing 19th. The Berg finished runner-up at the Great Lakes Regional at Albion College to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Hay finished 21st at the regional to qualify as an individual for nationals. He marked the first freshman at the Berg to accomplish such a feat. Also among the ranks of the Great Lakes Region, Brown was tabbed the coach of the year and Hay was the runner of the year. According to the Ohio Cross Country Coaches Association, Hay was named the freshman runner of the year and Brown picked up his third coach of the year honor for the season.
In preparation for the OAC Championships and its solid postseason accomplishments, Heidelberg ran in a variety of invitationals. Highlighting the list of accomplishments was its All-Ohio Championship for Division III institutions, as well as its 12th place finish at the predominately Division I Mel Brodt Invite hosted by Bowling Green State University. At BG, the Berg claimed the top Division III spot.
Also working towards the championship season for Heidelberg was Andrew Zoric, David Hensinger, Michael Mechtenberg, Mike Norris, Russell Peterson, Jeremy Dreger, Jayson Depuis, Todd Gerwig, Nick Weber, Jason Maus, Jonathan Burroughs, Charlie Carpenter, Nate Irwin, John Johns, Steve Smith and Jim Thayer.
(This profile was published in the Hall of Fame Banquet program.)
