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2017 SUMMER NEWSVARSITY O
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Fellow Varsity O Members and Buckeyes,
If you’ve visited the campus where we all wore the scarlet and gray in the last decade, you may have seen the beautiful Lane
Avenue Bridge. Opened in 2003, it serves as a scarlet-lit welcome gate to The Ohio State University.
Recently, while driving over that bridge on a visit to campus, I considered how our relationships with the University, our sport’s
coaching sta and our fellow alums are kind of like a bridge. Passing seasons and changing characters can make our bridge feel
weakened or even seem as if it’s disappeared.
Many members have told me that they feel they have lost their connection to their sport. A new coaching sta is there. If this alum
took their family to a game or approached a coach, would they be welcomed? Would anyone know about this alum’s place in the
history of the sport?
I felt this way myself once. After having a very enjoyable and successful athletics career, I moved twenty minutes away and spent a
decade starting a family and a career. During that time, the entire athletic department changed and all of my coaches were gone. I
felt like I lost a home I once had. I lost my bridge.
So how did my bridge get rebuilt? It happened when I became more involved with VO. VO helped me connect with my sport
coaches and other alums from my sport. I don’t feel alone if I go to a competition and I am welcomed by the coaches who see me
as an engaged and enthusiastic alumna.
So how is your bridge? If it needs repair- we want to help! We’d love to discuss how we may be able to help you feel like you have a
“home” on campus. You wore the scarlet and gray and you are part of the history.
Reach out to me or any of our board members if you are interested in strengthening your University connection. Maybe you are
even interested in helping VO? We are also always looking for hard-working volunteers to serve as sport liaisons or board members.
You don’t have to be an all-american…just a letterwinner who is willing to work hard towards our motto, “Athletes helping Athletes”.
Go Bucks!
Katy (Craig) Swathwood, President
Varsity O Board
Track & Field (’99-’03)
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CHAMPIONSHIPS
IN COLUMBUS
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Ohio Dominican will host the final three rounds of the NCAA
Division II Women’s basketball tournament in 2019 and 2021.
Ohio State will play host to the Division I Women’s golf regionals
in 2021 and Men’s regionals in 2022, Division I Men’s lacrosse
quarterfinals in 2022 and Men’s volleyball and rifle national
championships in 2021. Capital University will host the Division
III Women’s basketball and volleyball finals in 2020. Wayne
Webb Columbus Bowl will host the Women’s Bowling National
Championship in 2022.
The next NCAA championship event coming to Columbus will
be the 2018 Women’s Division I Final Four although bids to host
regionals at St. John Arena in 2019 and ’21 were not selected.
The Women’s Division I Final Four will begin March 30th, 2018 at
Nationwide Arena.
No matter what your sport of choice may be, there is lots to
celebrate and watch in the years ahead!
For more information about NCAA host cities, visit >
go.osu.edu/FutureNCAA
On May 6th, the Ohio State men’s volleyball team captured
their second consecutive NCAA championship. The icing on the
cake was capturing it here at home in St. John Arena! But these
Buckeyes are not the only local athletes to have the opportunity
to make their mark right here in Columbus. In the next 5 years,
Columbus will play host to over 12 NCAA events.
In mid-April the NCAA announced more than 600 host sites
for championships over the next four years beginning with the
2018-2019 school year. Columbus was waiting to hear its fate
on 47 dierent bids. This was the second four-year cycle where
the NCAA chose championship locations all at once. In 2013,
Columbus had 30 bids in and received nine of those bids.
Some of the headline events to be hosted here in Columbus
include the first and second rounds of the 2019 Division I Men’s
basketball tournament and the Division I Women’s volleyball finals
in 2021. Both of these events will be held at Nationwide Arena.
VARSITY O NEWS SUMMER 2017
Men’s Volleyball celebrates back-to-back National Championships.
Ohio State hosted five dierent championships just this spring.
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PETE ALLEN
by Robert J. Roman
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When football finally appeared in 1890, the first football uniforms
would be exact duplicates of those that Allen bought for his
baseball players two years earlier.
As manager Allen also arranged a four-game schedule, winning
two and losing two. (The school’s media guide currently puts the
record that year as 0-3, but that figure is demonstrably incorrect.)
The Lantern did not blame Allen for the two losses, noting a
decided lack of run support. The newspaper went on to say that, if
Allen and his catcher both returned, “next year we shall have the
finest college battery in the West.”
The next year, however, Allen – still captain – recruited a pitcher
named Sam Bennett whom liked even better than himself. Allen
moved himself to catcher, and the team had a record of 3-1. The
following September the Lantern announced that Allen had
left school and was “playing ball in the Ohio Association.” Sam
Bennett captained the team that year, and the team finished 11-3.
By this time baseball was firmly back in place at Ohio State.
Robert J. Roman is the author of Ohio State Football: The Forgotten
Dawn where additional stories such as this one can be found.
Jesse Hall Allen became a major league baseball player in the
1890s, and soon afterward he became the baseball coach at the
University of Pennsylvania. Before those stops he played college
ball at Amherst College, and both Amherst and Penn claim him as
an alumnus. Even earlier, however, Allen spent time at Ohio State,
but that fact seems to be forgotten, which is surprising given that
few students played a greater role in the school’s athletic history.
“Pete” Allen, as he was always known, enrolled at Ohio State
at age 19. He wanted to play baseball at Ohio State, but in 1887
that ambition faced a problem. The OSU baseball team had gone
broke in 1884 after a mishandling of finances. It sputtered along
for another year or so before disappearing altogether. In 1887 the
Lantern declared Ohio State baseball dead. In the spring of 1888
Allen took the matter into his own hands.
He formed a “Baseball Committee,” roping in two of the school’s
more veteran athletes to give it credibility. Those three then
organized a new team, with Allen as their pitcher. Allen arranged
to be appointed both team captain and team manager. As
captain, he placed a student named William Clark at third base.
Clark would be Ohio State’s first African American athlete. As
manager Allen ordered the team scarlet and gray uniforms, the
first time one of the school’s teams had embraced the school
colors so emphatically.
VARSITY O NEWS SUMMER 2017
In 1912 the Ohio State University found an entrance into the elite of college athletics with admission
to the Western Conference (AKA the Big Ten). Soon afterward Chic Harley and his extraordinary
undefeated 1916 football team led the university through that doorway. Before reaching this point,
however, the Ohio State athletic program needed to earn the right to it. Robert J. Roman, author of
Ohio State Football: The Forgotten Dawn, highlights the rise of OSU sports to greatness with this
series exploring the university’s outstanding, but overlooked, pre-1916 athletes.
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VARSITY O NEWS
BUCKEYES AT WATERSHED
On March 15th Varsity O members gathered for a Buckeyes After
Work social networking event at Watershed Distillery. The evening
created an opportunity for former athletes and teammates alike to
gather around cocktails and heavy hors d’œuvres at the recently
opened Watershed Kitchen & Bar.
The venue, co-owned by Greg Lehman (former Varsity Men’s
Volleyball player, 1996-2001), hosted an educational component to
start o the evening, discussing the history of the distillery, how their
famous Gin, Vodka, and Bourbons are distilled, and how the recent
renovations to open a Kitchen & Bar have transformed.
Thank you to all that joined us this evening and we look forward
to hosting you again in the future. Be on the look out for our next
Buckeyes After Work event and if you have any ideas for a future
event please email [email protected]
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WINTER LETTERJACKETS
VARSITY O NEWS
MEN’S LACROSSE BIG TEN TOURNAMENT
Wrestling captains Nathan Tomasello, Myles Martin, Kyle Snyder and Bo
Jordan with Varsity O Board Member Steve Chappelear
Wolstein Leadership Academy where Katy Swathwood, VO president, spoke on leadership. Katy is pictured with some of the senior team members.
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MEN’S LACROSSE ALUMNI WEEKEND
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626 SCHOLARATHLETES
HONORED
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Davidson was the recipient of the Pierce Phoenix Award, which
is given to a student-athlete who has excelled in academics,
athletics and personal growth attained through perseverance
and hard work. The award is to be used to attend graduate
or professional school at Ohio State, with preference given to
someone who intends to enroll in the Fisher College of Business.
In addition to being Fergus scholars, Blough and Ralph were
recipients of the Varsity O Scholarship Award. The Varsity O award
provides each scholar-athlete with a one-time stipend of $4,000
for postgraduate studies at Ohio State. The ideal candidate
maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher during undergraduate studies,
earned a varsity letter and performed community service.
Baranski received the Leann Grimes-Davidge Award, which is a
tribute to Grimes-Davidge’s contributions to athletics at Ohio State.
The honor is given annually to a female athlete who reflects Grimes-
Davidge’s outstanding qualities of athletic performance, scholarship,
character, campus or community involvement and leadership.
The men’s diving team was honored for having the most
improved team grade-point average and the men’s tennis team
was recognized for having the top team GPA among the men’s
programs. On the women’s side, the diving team earned both the
most-improved and the top team GPA among all women’s teams.
The Ohio State Department of Athletics held the 50th-annual
Scholar-Athlete Dinner in the Archie M. Grin Ballroom at the
Ohio Union to honor its student-athletes for their academic
and athletic accomplishments. At the event, a record 626 Ohio
State Scholar-Athletes were recognized and a number of senior
awards were given out.
The Ohio State finalists for the Big Ten Medal of Honor were
Seth Bearjar (pistol), Christy Blough (volleyball), Jake Martin
(gymnastics), Donovan Robertson (track and field) and Nick
Schilkey (ice hockey) on the men’s side and Lindsay Agnew
(soccer), Emma Baranski (synchronized swimming), Elizabeth
Davidson (synchronized swimming), Jessica Porvasnik (golf) and
Taylor Vargo (swimming) on the women’s side.
Christy Blough and Emma Baranski were named the winners of
the award at the inaugural Scarlet and Graymies on April 25.
The Corwin A. Fergus Memorial Award was given to Anna Ralph
of the rowing team, Joe Burger of the football team, synchronized
swimmer Alexa Aton and Blough of the men’s volleyball team.
Fergus scholars are male or female student-athletes who have
excelled in athletics, achieved academically (3.00 GPA minimum),
demonstrated positive qualities of character and citizenship and
shown potential for success in a graduate or professional program.
VARSITY O NEWS SUMMER 2017
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Have ideas or want to get involved?
Email us at [email protected]
• Funding Graduate scholarships
• Funding Undergraduate scholarships
• Donating toward new and better
facilities for our student-athletes
• Hall of Fame Recognition
• Letterjacket Ceremonies
• Career Achievement and Spirit Awards
• Captain’s Award Mugs–
YOU ARE PAYING FORWARD
• Access to Football Tickets
• Active membership with
OSU Alumni Association
• Pre-Game Events in Fred Taylor
Room and Varsity O Room
• Walk-On Privleges at OSU Golf Course
• Free Admission to most Olympic sports
• 20% Discount at Ohio State Team Shop
• Tax Deduction for Letterwinner Level
YOUR MEMBERSHIP
WORKS FOR YOU
Depending on membership
level, you can receive
• Sport reunion sponsorship
• Career / Social Networking events
• Varsity O Newsletter
• Homecoming Tailgate
YOU ARE CONNECTING
WITH EACH OTHER
YOUR MEMBERSHIP DOLLARS
ARE
WORKING HARD!
• Oer branded apparel with our new logo!
• Give back to our athletic community
through philanthropy
COMING SOON
YOUR MEMBERSHIP THIS
YEAR WILL HELP US . . .
WHY YOUR
MEMBERSHIP
MATTERS:
8VARSITY O NEWS SUMMER 2017
Bill and Debbie Harvey met in September 1982 on
Debbie’s first day of school at The Ohio State University.
Bill was a sophomore on our awesome Ohio State
Football team where he played linebacker for 4 years.
They were married just after OSU graduation in
December, 1985 (they graduated together). They have
three kids who grew up singing the fight song! To this
day Bill goes to almost every home game.
Helping Haitian Angels was founded by Bill and Debbie of
Haymarket, VA. In the summer of 2008 while serving on a
mission trip in Cap Haitien, the Harveys unexpectedly met
35 homeless children living in a dilapidated building. These
abandoned children were covered in scabies and sick from
malnutrition and a lack of clean water. At that moment,
Debbie had an immediate calling on her life to do more than
just mourn their misfortune—and a new mission was born.
Debbie returned to the U.S. and shared her passionate
story with friends, family, church members, and the media.
One month from that fateful day in the summer of 2008,
Debbie and Bill Harvey launched a non-profit named
Helping Haitian Angels and raised enough money to
provide medical care, shelter, food, and clean water for the
children they found in Dekle, Haiti.
Almost 9 years later Bill and Debbie love and support 59
children in their orphanage and 125 kids in their school.
They love Haiti and are grateful for all God has enabled
them to do there!
If you’re interested in changing the future for one of the
Haitian children please go to their website to learn more
about sponsoring one of these precious children.
www.helpinghaitianangels.org/sponsorship/
Please watch their very short video for more information.
(It’s really good!) > go.osu.edu/HHA
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MEET THE BOARD
Varsity O Alumni Society Board of Directors
STEVE
CHAPPELEAR
Board Member
Wrestling (‘71-’74)
Business Trial Attorney
at Frost Brown Todd
schappelear@tlaw.com
JILL VINCENT
BURKE
Board Member
Synchronized
Swimming (‘76-’80)
Principal in
Southwestern City
Schools
BETH HOWE
Board Member
Basketball (‘01-’05)
Director of Operations,
Women’s Basketball
at The Ohio State
University
TERESA
FIGHTMASTER
Board Member
Swimming (‘82-’86)
Pau Hana Swim Team
Owner & Head Coach
JERI
BUCKINGHAM
PRICE
Board Member
Track & Field (‘68-’71)
Retired High School
Teacher and Coach,
Westerville City Schools
JONATHAN
SWEET
Board Member
Baseball (‘90-’94)
Senior Oncology
Specialist, Amgen Inc.
ANTONIO SMITH
Board Member
Football (‘02-’06)
Mechanical Engineer at
Dynamix Engineering
Ltd.; Author
MATT
TERWILLIGER
Board Member
Basketball (‘04-’08)
Financial Advisor with
The Edwards Group at
Morgan Stanley
Matt.Terwilliger@
morganstanley.com
VARSITY O NEWS
KATY CRAIG
SWATHWOOD
President
Track & Field (‘99-’02)
Executive Sales
Representative, Eli Lilly
& Company
GARTH COX
Past President
Football (‘74-’77)
Partner at Harris
McClellan Binau &
Cox PLL
gcox@hmbc.com
CANDACE DARK
Secretary
Basketball (‘03-’06)
Associate Director
Network Operations
Outreach & Network
Development at James
Cancer Hospital and
Solove Research Institute
JOE BUDDE
Treasurer
Swimming (‘71-’74)
Private Practice
Attorney
Joe@BuddeRealEstateLaw.com
ERNIE
EPITROPOULOS
Board Member
Football (‘77-’81)
Ernie Epitropoulos
Agency, Nationwide
Insurance & Financial
RON
MACIEJOWSKI
President Elect
Football (‘68-’70)
Executive VP
Worthington Industries
Retired
LIZ HELLICKSON
LUCAS
Board Member
Rowing (‘97-’01)
High School Teacher,
Hilliard City Schools
1010
UPCOMING EVENTS
NEWS
SHARE YOUR NEWS WITH US to be shared in future newsletters!
VARSITY O NEWS
For a complete listing of upcoming
Alumni Association events, visit
go.osu.edu/UpcomingAlumniEvents
Alumni events are filled with fun, festivities and, yes, sometimes
football. The Ohio State experience doesn’t stop with
commencement, so come together with your fellow alumni to enjoy
more time as a #BuckeyeForLife.
ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
BANQUET & FOOTBALL GAME
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 vs. Maryland
HOMECOMING TAILGATE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7 at French Field House
MEMBER HAPPENINGS
Maurice Hall attended The Ohio State University where he was
a member of the National Championship Football Team in 2002.
Maurice scored the game winning touchdowns against The University
of Illinois and the University of Michigan in the National Championship
season. Maurice graduated from OSU with a degree in Strategic
Communications and a Masters degree in Sports Administration.
After finishing school, Maurice decided to pursue a career in acting
which is something that brings the same kind of excitement and
passion to his life as football once did. He has been seen on shows
including Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS New Orleans, Criminal Minds and
Brooklyn Nine Nine.
Maurice also created his own production company called Mo-tivation
Unlimited which produces content for television, film and web that
centers on topics that focus on education, healthy living, persistence,
faith in God, and work ethic.
He recently wrote, directed,
produced and starred in his
romantic comedy feature film
Baker’s Man, which will be released
worldwide in June of 2017. Maurice
believes all of his success is because
of the favor that God has shown in
his life.
Baker’s Man will be released and
available on iTunes and Amazon on
June 20, 2017.
BAKER’S MAN TRAILER: go.osu.edu/BakersMan
iTUNES: go.osu.edu/BakersManItunes
AMAZON: go.osu.edu/ BakersManAmazon
