Heidelberg University Athletics

It's been 20 years, but it really doesn't seem that long since Steven Farnsworth wore the colors of Heidelberg College in basketball and track.

Farnsworth's career began at Antwerp High School where he lettered four years in track and baseball and two years in cross country, while adding three more letters in basketball.

In 1967 he won four events at the Paulding County Track Meet, the pole vault, the 440-yard dash, high jump and mile relay and established school records in the pole vault and mile relay in the process.

Selected as a representative to Buckeye Boys State and also participating on the Scholastic Team at Antwerp High School, he was a standout on the hardcourt where he earned first team All-County honors two straight years, while finishing his high school career as the all-time leading scorer in Antwerp history.

His success continued as he wore the colors of Heidelberg College, earning earning four letters in basketball and two in track.

Farnsworth. noted for his driving power, was the captain of the 1971 basketball team, a team that would honor him as the Most Valuable Player.

He was named to the Ohio Athletic Conference first team in 1970 and 1971 and was the all time leading scorer for the college at that time. He currently holds the school marks in scoring average for a career of 17.1 points per game in 84 games (1967-71) and free throw attempts in a career with 715. He scored 1439 career points.

Off of the athletic field, Farnsworth was extremely active on the Heidelberg College campus. serving as President of Tower Men and the junior class. He also held membership in the Student Senate and Student Christian Association.

Farnsworth earned the coveted Prugh Prize and Hoernemann Award in his senior year at Heidelberg. The Prugh Prize is awarded annually to the graduating student who is judged to have excelled all others in leadership and performance in several branches of in several  branches of intercollegiate athletics.

The Hoernermann Award is given annually to the graduating student who most nearly exemplifies the characteristics of mind, body and spirit to which Paul Hoernemann (Class of 1938) dedicated his own life - high ethical character, scholarship, proficiency in athletics and loyalty to the spirit of Heidelberg College.

Graduating from Heidelberg in 1971. Farnsworth began his career as a teacher and coach while earning his master's degree in education and his education specialist degree from Dayton in 1981 and 1983. Steve taught and coached at Mendon-Union, Hopewell-Loudon and Celina before becoming director of athletics and principal of New Knoxville and then principal at Cambridge.
 
Active in the community. Farnsworth has been involved in many civil projects. including serving as the educational representative of Rotary International. In 1983, he toured Turkey as a member of the Rotary's group Study Exchange Program.

He also has collaborated with Wright State Teacher's Institute in the writing of 'Classroom Strategies for Dealing with the Problem Child."

Steve and his wife, Sarah, have two children. Christina (13) and Ben (10).

(This profile appeared in the 1990 Hall of Fame Banquet program.)