OSU Athletics
Hall of Fame Class Marked by Lasting Ties to OSU
By John PorentasThe 2008 Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame class was announced yesterday at a press conference held in the Varsity O room in Ohio Stadium. This year's class consists of 12 athletes including six men and six women, six of which were on hand for the press conference on Tuesday.
Members of the class include Drew Durbin (gymnastics), John Edwards (baseball), Bobby Hoying (football), Fred Keller (lacrosse and soccer), Bob Todd (baseball coach), Jeff Uhlenhake (football), Krista Keir (track and field), Amy Langhals (golf), Maxi Meissner (rowing), Megan Mirick (lacrosse), Carolina Moraes (synchronized swimming) and Isabella Moraes (synchronized swimming). A listing of the athletic accomplishments of each of the inductees is given below.
Of the six member on hand for the press conference, a remarkable three are currently employed by OSU as coaches and at least two more are making their homes in Columbus. Uhlenhake is a strength and conditioning coach for the OSU football program while Mirick is an assistant coach on the OSU lacrosse team and Langhals and assistant on the OSU golf team. Hoying and Durbin also have elected to reside in central Ohio after their OSU careers.
Bobby Hoying
Photo by Jim Davidson"I just care about it (OSU)," said Hoying.
"A lot of guys care about it, they want to stay involved, a lot of my friends and teammates are here. Luke Fickell and I married sisters so our kids are first-cousins, so I'm still very connected to the University through him.
"A lot of my NFL buddies would ask why I was building a house back in Columbus, especially when I was playing for the Raiders, why I wouldn't settle down in California. I'd say 'You've just got to come to Columbus and see it for yourself.' We love it here. We've been in Dublin for nine years and and don't ever see myself leaving."
Hoying always kept a toe-hold in Columbus even during his NFL career.
"I've always had a place back here. I lived down in Victorian Village for a couple of years then I moved out to Dublin about nine years ago," said Hoying.
Uhlenhake is currently serving on the OSU coaching staff, a position he describes as a dream job.
Jeff Uhlenhake
Photo by Jim Davidson
"I went to school here, my sister and brother went here, my parents come to every game. I first came to an Ohio State game when I was in the third grade, so this is awesome, this is the most exciting thing," Uhlenhake said.
"Its been a little bit of a coaching carousel for me.
"I've been around in high school, college, the NFL, and enjoyed every place where I've been, but in particular Ohio State holds a special place in my heart because I grew up in Columbus and ended up going to high school in Newark.
"I've been around Ohio State and the Ohio State campus my whole life."
Langhals is currently an assistant coach on the OSU golf team following her retirement from professional golf due to injury.
Amy Langhals
Photo by Jim Davidson"I just kind of fell into it. I've really enjoyed this job. I'm pretty lucky," Langhals said.
"I'm an Ohio girl and you know how passionate Ohioans are about the Buckeyes. For myself playing here and being a student-athlete here at Ohio State, this is a dream come true."
Uhlenhake and Langhals are native Ohioans who have realized their dream of pursuing a professional coaching career at Ohio State. Mirick, however, is originally from Virginia, but feels the same attachment to the Buckeyes State and to OSU.
Megan Mirick
Photo by Jim Davidson"I think it's an amazing thing to be able to work for your alma mater, especially as a coach," Mirick said.
"Recruiting is such a big thing and its easy to sell something you're so passionate about and that's what Ohio State is to me. For me, it's pretty much the only school there is.
"I'm originally from Northern Virginia right outside of Washington D. C.
"Both my parents were from Upper Arlington and both were Buckeyes, so I was born to bleed Scarlet and Gray from the very beginning.
"I knew I was supposed to not like Michigan and all these things as a little kid, so when I started getting recruited it wasn't such a far stretch for me," Mirick explained.
Class of 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees
Bob Todd: In 21 seasons as OSU's baseball coach he has won 831 games, most in school history. His teams have won 14 Big Ten conference or tournament championships and have made 12 NCAA appearances. He has coached Ohio State to 30 or more wins every season he has been at Ohio State. His teams have made a record 12-consecutive Big Ten tournament appearances. He was chosen national coach of the year by the Columbus Touchdown Club in 1994 and will be inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009.
Drew Durbin: Competed in Gymnastics from 1994 through 1997. He was a six-time All-American and a four-year letter winner at OSU. He was named the Big Ten Gymnast of the year in 1994, his freshman season. In 1996 he was a member of OSU's national championship team. In that season he set the program record on the pommel horse recording a 9.975 at the NCAA East Regional. In his career he won five Big Ten individual championships; two each on pommel horse and parallel bars and one in the all-around.
Bobby Hoying: Competed in football from 1994-97. A three-year starter at quarterback, During his career he was 30-7-1 and rewrote the passing book at OSU. In 1995 he set the season-record for passing efficiency (163.4) and games with 200 yards passing in a season (11). His career marks included records for total offense in a single season (3,290 yards), career touchdown passes (57), and career completions (498). He is second in OSU history in career offense with 7,151 yards. As a senior he was elected team captain and was named first team All-Big Ten.
John Edwards: Edwards was a standout catcher for the OSU baseball team in 1958. That season he made only three errors and led the team in hits. He went on to have a successful 14-year career in the major leagues where he was a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. He competed in two World Series, in 1961 with the Cincinnati Reds and 1968 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jeff Uhlenhake: Uhlenhake was a four-year letter winner in football as an offensive lineman from 1985-88. He was a first-team All-American and team MVP in 1988. In 1986 he was first team All-Big Ten and helped the Buckeyes to a share of the Big Ten championship. He played 10 seasons in the NFL and is currently on the OSU coaching staff as a strength and conditioning assistant.
Fred Keller: Keller was a two-sport star at OSU earning six letter, three each in soccer (1955-57) and lacrosse (1956-58). He was named All-American in lacrosse in both 1957 and 1958.
Carolina and Isabela Moraes: Twin sisters from Brazil who helped OSU to three national championships during their careers. Each was an 11-time national champion in various events. Each were four-time OSU scholar-athletes and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selections. They competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics for their native country of Brazil.
Amy Langhals: As a golfer at OSU from 1994-97, Langhals was a three-time All-Big Ten honoree and was the 1997 Big Ten Player of the Year. A four-year letter winner, she was a two-time captain at OSU. Her senior season she helped lead OSU to a Big Ten championship and captured the individual championship as well. She played professional including two years on the LPGA tour and is currently an assistant coach at OSU.
Krista Keir: A track athlete from 2000-2003, Keir was a three-time NCAA women's track and field qualifier and the 2002 Big Ten discus champion. She also finished third in the Big Ten in shot put that season. During her career at OSU she set the OSU and Big Ten indoor shot put records and the OSU discuss record.
Megan Mirick: A lacrosse player from 1999-2002, Mirick was a four-year letter winner. As a senior, she was the American Lacrosse Conference Player of the Year and OSU's first-ever first-team All-American. She was a three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and an Academic All-American Lacrosse Conference honoree. She is currently a member of the OSU coaching staff.
Maxi Meissner: Competed in rowing from 2000-03. The two-time captain was a two-time first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten rower. She was named MVP of the rowing team in 2001 and 2003. She was a four-time OSU Scholar Athlete and three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient.
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