Tiffin, Ohio - February 8, 2010 - On Sunday, February 7, the Heidelberg University cross country program, and second-year head coach Keith Roberts Jr., held its annual end of the year banquet. Both the men’s and women’s teams were recognized at the annual gathering that was held in the Great Hall, on the campus of Heidelberg.
The cross country program honored its six seniors, Amy Dunham (Ellicott Cit, Md. / Centennial), Scott Lasch (Huron, Ohio /Huron), Jamie Kuess (Coldwater, Ohio / Coldwater), Kirk Shellhouse (Wellington, Ohio / Wellington), Jake Lemon (Oak Harbor, Ohio / Oak Harbor) and Devin Butcher (Bowling Green, Ohio / Bowling Green), as well as handed out its team awards.
Running away with the Most Valuable Runner awards was Butcher for the men, along with newcomer Bobbi Custer (Woodstock, Ohio / Triad) for the women.
Taking home Rookie of the Year accolades was Michelle Fitch (Kinsman, Ohio / Badger) for the women and Bobby Over (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth) on the men’s side.
The banquet concluded with the recognition of the men’s team earning the programs fourth Ohio Athletic Conference Championship (1999, 1999, 2000, 2009). Heidelberg had seven runners earn All-OAC honors en route to the title. Following its conference championship, Heidelberg returned to take home runner-up honors at the Great Lakes Regional, earning an automatic bid to its seventh overall, fourth-straight, NCAA Championship (1997, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). At the conclusion of the season, Heidelberg finished 18th in the nation.
Picking up all-conference honors in 2009 was first team honorees Butcher and Jordan Karnes (Edgerton, Ohio / Edgerton), while second team recipients were Jamie Martin (Wooster, Ohio / Triway), John Gogle (Sunbury, Ohio / Big Walnut), Lasch, Lemon and Over.
Contributing an all-region performance at the Great Lakes Regional was Butcher, Lasch, Lemon and Karnes.
At the conclusion of the men’s successful season, Roberts, along with assistants Tessa Sibley, Jason Headman, Ray Armstrong Jr. and Tiffany Kovacevich, were tabbed the OAC Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year.