Heidelberg Athletics

In 1892, Heidelberg University varsity athletics got its start when the football team defeated Findlay University 20-0. Since that day, thousands of games have been played with Heidelberg claiming its fair share of wins and championships. But one factor has not changed … Heidelberg’s commitment to the student-athlete.

Heidelberg has always placed the welfare and education of the student ahead of the star seeking records or awards. While Heidelberg does not have a long list of professional athletes, the Berg has turned out some of the nation’s finest teachers, clergymen, doctors, lawyers and even a few politicians.

Heidelberg offers 20 varsity sports in its athletic program. The Berg competes in the tough Ohio Athletic Conference comprised of NCAA Division III Institutions. The men have opportunities in football, soccer, cross country, golf, track (indoor and outdoor), baseball, tennis, wrestling, and basketball. Women have the opportunity for involvement as members of the soccer, volleyball, cross country, track (indoor or outdoor), softball, tennis, golf, or basketball teams for the Berg. Cheerleading is also recognized as a varsity sport.

The Berg has won a combined 50 Ohio Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships through the years. The 1972 football team defeated Fort Valley State in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. In 1985 Monica Scott was the outdoor high jump National Championship. The women’s basketball team finished third in the country during the 1989-90 season. Joe Conduah ’01 was named the Woody Hayes Division III Man of the Year, for his work on the field, in the classroom and in the community. In 2006, Joe Pflug claimed the 157 –pound wrestling National Championship, while Greg Tyson, Jr. earned the indoor long jump National Championship in both 2006 and 2007. Keeping on with the strong track tradition at the Berg, Judy Bataille won the indoor 55-meter dash National Championship in 2008 and 2009. The baseball team won its first Mideast Regional Championship in 2010 which earned the team a spot at the World Series.  In 2013, Nate Davis claimed the high jump title at the indoor National Championship. 

Heidelberg is proud of its accomplishments on the field, but even more so of its student-athletes’ achievements in the classroom. Heidelberg has produced several academic All-Americans and numerous Academic All-Conference honorees over the years. In 2010, Nathan James was named the NCAA Elite 88 Award Winner for baseball. The award honors the student-athlete with the highest grade point average that is competeing in each of the NCAA's 88 championships. In the fall of 2010 Brittany Donelan was named the volleyball Academic All-American of the Year for the college division as voted on by the College Sports Information Director's of America. She was the top student-athlete amongst NCAA Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior colleges.

Ohio Athletic Conference Championships