Alex Czeranko ‘52
One of Paul Hoernemann’s “Foxmen,” Alex Czeranko enjoyed a successful tenure as a center for Heidelberg football. A graduate of Kenmore High School in Akron, Czeranko chose to attend Heidelberg, partly because of Hoernemann and his staff. While at The Berg, Czeranko anchored an offensive line that went 22-4-1.
A team captain for the 1951 team, Czeranko was known for his sharp and consistent blocking and inspirational leadership. His offensive line blocked for three Heidelberg Athletic Hall of Fame halfbacks. He was named an honorable mention on the All-Ohio Team.
Czeranko is a charter member of Sigmataun Literary Society, which later became Sigma Tau Nu fraternity. In addition to earning three varsity letters for football, he received two for baseball and one for track.
Upon graduation, Czeranko was placed on active duty with the United States Marine Corps, from which he would later receive an Honorable Discharge.
First working with General Tire & Rubber Co. in Akron, Czeranko worked in sales and sales management throughout the Midwest, settling in Omaha until his retirement.
He was married to his wife, Toni, for 42 years until her passing in 1997. The couple was blessed with seven children (six sons, one daughter). The third oldest, Mark, passed away in 1974, after a battle with leukemia.
Czeranko still resides in Omaha.
Todd Drake ‘94
Todd Drake is the second generation Drake to play on the Heidelberg gridiron and be inducted into the Heidelberg Hall of Fame. His father David, class of 1958, wore number 43 and played for Coach Paul Hoernemann. Todd, class of 1994, wore number 34 and played for Coach Dick West. Drake credits twelve years of football, beginning with organized Tiffin youth football and ending with Heidelberg, as providing him important life lessons.
Known for his aggressiveness and intensity, Todd is a four-time letterwinner and three-time Academic All-OAC honoree. In 1992, Drake played in the inaugural Rhine River Classic in Frankfurt, Germany. He was the recipient of the Paul H. Hoernemann Memorial Prize and was named to the Division III All-North Region first team defense and OAC All-Conference first team.
In addition, Drake was recognized as NSCA All-American Strength & Conditioning Athlete of the Year twice.
Following graduation, Todd moved to Dallas, Texas to pursue his interest in bodybuilding. He began competitive bodybuilding in 1996, culminating in winning the Red River Classic Super Heavy Weight title in Oklahoma City, qualifying him for the USA National Bodybuilding Competition in Las Vegas.
Since his move to Dallas, Todd has worked as an independent personal trainer/coach for the past 16 years. His interest in bodybuilding, health and fitness, and teaching has made personal training a perfect fit for his vocation and avocation.
Always interested in the success and well-being of athletes, Todd and his wife Robin became partners in A to Z Athletes, LLC in 2009. The company’s goal is to help coaches maximize athletic development of their student athletes by providing education, training, and curriculum for gender-, age- and sport-specific athletic enhancement.
Todd lives in Flower Mound, Texas, with his wife Robin and children, Sloane (6) and Davis (3).
Matt Adams ‘95
A native of Willard, Ohio, Matt Adams began playing basketball in fifth grade and it didn’t take long for him to develop a true passion for the game.
He was a standout player for the Crimson Flashes, coached by the legendary Robert Haas. During his senior year at Willard, the team finished with a perfect 20-0 regular season.
Upon graduation from Willard High School in 1991, Adams enrolled at Heidelberg and played basketball for Coach John Hill. Adams, a four year letterwinner, was named All-OAC First Team and All-Tournament Team in 1994 and 1995.
A team captain his senior year, Adams holds several school records, including most points in a season (610 in ’94-’95). Adams is second on the all-time points scored list with 1,718.
Adams holds the Ohio Athletic Conference career record for three point field goals made, with 275.
Adams graduated from Heidelberg as part of the graduating class of 1995 with a B.S. in Business Administration. He has worked for the Lear Corporation in various engineering capacities, and currently works for Industrial Nut Corporation as the Quality Manager.
He resides in Huron, Ohio, and has three children, Alexis (17), Tyler (9) and Camryn (5).
Joseph Conduah ‘00
A graduate of Concord Senior High School in Concord, New Hampshire, Conduah was captain of the football and track and field teams. In 2001, he was named the Division III Woody Hayes National Scholar Athlete of the Year.
During his time on campus, Conduah played an active role in the Heidelberg and Tiffin community. He spent three years as a peer facilitator for the Total Student Development program. As a campus volunteer, he was an active member of residence hall councils. He held leadership positions in Tau Phi Pi Business Club and the Black Student Union. He also gave back to Tiffin as a volunteer at the Tiffin YMCA and the keynote speaker for the Tiffin D.A.R.E. program.
On the gridiron, Conduah received numerous accolades, including First Team All-OAC and Second Team All-Region. He was named the Heidelberg’s defensive MVP in 1999 and most improved player in 1998. He was a starting linebacker in the AFCA Aztec Bowl.
On the track, Conduah was a two-time national qualifier in the triple jump, earning All-American honors his senior year. At the time of his graduation, he held five school records.
Academically, Conduah was a Clyde Lamb Award recipient, and was named to numerous All-Academic Teams. He was a Rhodes Scholar nominee. As a member of the Honors Program, he graduated magna cum laude from Heidelberg.
Conduah currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with his two children, Jackson (5) and Vienna (4). He has worked for Kraft Foods for 12 years. His current responsibilities are managing Kraft’s global product commercialization and research and development project management systems. In his free time, he volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the local chapter of 100 Black Men of Madison. He played semi-pro football for eight years, and enjoys running road and obstacle course races around the country and other outdoor activities with his family, as well as DIY home projects.
Teresa (Darrah) Crane ‘03
Teresa (Darrah) Crane grew up in Van Wert, Ohio, before attending Heidelberg where she double-majored in Biology and English Writing. After graduation she attended Marquette University and received a Master of Arts in Science, Health, and Environmental Communication.
On the tennis court, Crane is Heidelberg’s career leader in wins in singles and combined singles and doubles. She was named the OAC Player of the Year in 2003 and was a Hoernemann Award recipient. She was named to the Academic All-OAC First Team. She also was a member of the women’s basketball team for two seasons.
On campus, Crane was co-editor-in-chief of The Ka ilikilik, secretary for Tri Beta biology honorary, a zoology teaching assistant and photographer for the Aurora.
While at Marquette, she taught public speaking and spent a summer as a communications intern with the Gwich’in Indians in Alaska. After defending her thesis, she moved to Maryland and served five years as the Program Associate at the Town Creek Foundation which awards grants to nonprofits to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. She currently serves on the grants team at the National Environmental Education Foundation to promote environmental literacy, and resides with her husband in Washington DC.
In addition to her work with the National Environmental Education Foundation, Crane has been active with Habitat for Humanity and with the Annapolis Presbyterian Church. She still plays tennis competitively in the DC area. She also serves as the coxswain for the Capital Rowing Club morning men’s team.