Press release
On January 28th, the Buckeye Central Athletic Boosters will host their annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the school in the Multi-Purpose Room at 4 PM. Three new inductees will be honored as the Class of 2017 Hall of Fame members. Those to be inducted are John Wechter, BC Class of 1973, Rich (Dick) Kempf, BC Class of 1974 and Melissa Hoffbauer, BC Class of 2010.
John Wechter, BC Class of 1973
John Wechter was a multi-sport athlete at BC as a member of the golf, basketball, football and track teams. He earned 11 varsity letters while at BC – 2 golf and 3 each in basketball, football and track.
As a BC athlete he excelled in all four sports though he was a standout in as a member of the track team. He was a long jumper and sprinter for the Bucks and earned many awards in his career. He competed in the prestigious Mehock Relays in Mansfield and placed 6th in the long jump with a leap of 21’91/2”. He was twice named “Outstanding Trackman” in the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum Relays and won the 220 and long jump championships at the County Meet in his junior and senior years. He was a 6 time conference champ and 5 time sectional champ. He won a district title and was a state qualifier in five events in his high school career. At the state meet he 3rd in the 220 yard dash in both 1972 and 1973 earning All-Ohio recognition each year. At the time of his graduation, he owned 6 BC track and field records.
John’s track and field career continued at college when he enrolled at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio He earned 4 letters at ONU and was team MVP in 1974. He led the ONU team in points in each of his four outdoor seasons and is the co-holder of the 100 yard dash record at 9.9 seconds. After his freshmen season, track converted to a metric measurements and the 200 meter dash became his speciality. He set a record of 21.4 in the 200 and that record still stands today, 42 years later. This is ONU’s longest standing record in track. John qualified for the Division II NCAA finals four times and finished 8th in the 1976 meet. He was undefeated in 28 straight dual meets in the 200 meter dash while at ONU. In 2012, John was inducted into the Ohio Northern University Athletic Hall of Fame.
John has many BC athletic memories in all sports, but fondly remembers several games and meets/matches. Among his fondest memories are the battle between BC and Pleasant in football in 1970 as both teams were undefeated coming into the game which Pleasant squeezed out a 12-8 victory over the Bucks. In 1971, John had a hole in one at a golf match held at Woody Ridge. In 1972 the Bucks won their first ever track sectional crown and John ran the 220 yard dash on a straightaway – no curves – at the Mehock relays. Going to the state meet in both 1972 and 1973 and running at the Horseshoe will always be a great memory for John. A sense of personal accomplishment for John was after having knee surgery over Christmas break of his senior year, was working hard to recover and finish 3rd at the state meet in the 220 yard dash in May of 1973.
Today John is married to his wife Dawn of 36 years. He is the father of three children, daughter Rachel Smith of Michigan, Andrew, also of Michigan and Austin residing in North Carolina. Both sons followed in John’s footsteps leading Shelby to the state track championship as runners. They both are state champs in Division II.
John is a pharmacist at Ohio Health Mansfield Hospital and has worked there for 27 years. John is an avid runner and cyclist. He has participated in many 5K runs and triathlons. He likes to hunt and fish as well as hiking, backpacking snowshoeing.
Congratulations to John Wechter, BC Hall of Fame 2017.
Richard (Dick) Kempf, BC Class of 1974
Rich, better known at BC as Dick Kempf, was a standout for the Bucks in cross country and track. He is a 1974 graduate of BC and now joins the elite ranks of the BC Hall of Fame. Dick earned 8 letters in track and cross country at BC.
He was a member of several successful BC cross country and track teams often leading them to success. He placed or won several titles in distance running at the county meet, sectionals, districts and at the state meets. During his junior year, Dick made his way to the state cross country meet and finished fourth as an individual. This finish is the best finish of any individual from Buckeye Central in the state cross country meet. He again made it to the state meet as a senior finishing 9th. In track he earned many titles along the way and ended his career at the Horseshoe by finishing 3rd in the mile run. With those elite finishes, Dick earned All-Ohio status in both cross country and track.
After high school, Dick continued his career as a runner when he enrolled at Miami University. While in Oxford, he earned 3 letters in both track and cross country. The Redskins- now Redhawks were very fortunate to have a small town runner of Dick’s ability.
Dick was coached in track by Chris Somerlot and he along with all those coached by Mr. Somerlot, hold him in high regard. Those track meets are some of the fondest memories Dick has of his days competing at BCHS. Coach Somerlot began his career at BC and went on to great success eventually coaching as a US Olympic coach. Dick and his teammates all remember the success they had as members of Coach Somerlot’s teams.
Rich today is married to Laurie and has four children, Christopher, Amy, Nicholas and Eric. He resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana and has many friends and family in the New Washington area. He works with the title Manager Certification & Compliance for Navistar, Incorporated of Lisle, Illinois.
Rich is still an avid runner and we congratulate him on being a member of the Buckeye Central Hall of Fame, Class of 2017.
Melissa Hoffbauer, Class of 2010
Melissa Hoffbauer was a standout athlete at BC as a basketball and softball player. She earned four letters as a softball player and three as a basketball player.
Melissa is the first athlete from BC to enter the Hall of Fame as a graduate from the new school. During her years as an athlete at BC, she stood out as one of the finest players on her teams whether it was basketball or softball. In basketball she was a three time all NCC 1st team selection along with being named to the All County All Star team during her senior year. She was team MVP, earned the Captain’s Award, The Lady Buck Award during her career at BCHS. At the state and district level she earned numerous awards including 1st team All District(2010), 2nd team All District (2009) and Honorable Mention All District(2008). During her senior year she earned 1st team Academic All Ohio and was an Honorable Mention selection as a player. She played in the 31st Annual Ashland North-South All Star Classic and was named MVP of the game.
As a softball player, Melissa set the Ohio record for home runs in a season- 17 homers during her senior year. She earned the Silver Slugger award all fours years at BC and was four time 1st team NCC player. She also was a 4 time 1st team All District player and was twice named Honorable Mention All Ohio. She was All County in her senior year as well as earning the Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award.
After high school, Melissa went to college at Baldwin Wallace in Berea, Ohio and played two years for the Yellow Jackets. She then became Buckeye Central’s first and only female professional athlete- at least to our knowledge. She played professional football for the Cleveland Crush women’s football team in the LFL. After one game she was injured and didn’t continue her career as a football player. She did throw a touchdown pass in the only game she played.
Melissa has many fond memories of her high school years, but a few standout. As a feared hitter in softball she loved the feeling of batting and feeling the ball hit the bat, knowing she had made solid contact and seeing the ball fly over the fence. After jogging around first, second and third base and turning towards home, she loved seeing her teammates so supportive/excited to see her hop on home plate. She states she doesn’t think she has many memories in her life that compare to that feeling.
In basketball, the highlight was during her senior year, the Buckettes faced state ranked Wynford and knocked them off 71-67. It was an upset most didn’t see happening, but Melissa will never forget the feeling in the final minute of that game. The game was tied and Melissa stole a pass, drove the length of the court, made the shot and was fouled. She finished off the play with a foul shot to put BC up by 3. There still was time left, but a big rebound by teammate Ashley Langjahr and foul shot to seal the game had the BC crowd going wild. Melissa stated that the Buckettes were the happiest group of girls on the planet.
Today, Melissa is 3rd year graduate student at the University of Notre Dame working for her PhD in chemistry. She hopes to become a college professor in the near future. Congratulations to Melissa Hoffbauer, Class of 2017 Buckeye Central Hall of Fame.