Athletics Hall of Fame

Rob Anslow began swimming during 8^th grade after breaking his leg. Unable to participate in typical PE activities, he was able to swim with a plastic cast, and Coach Jerry Holtrey, who was teaching PE in the Middle School at the time, had him begin swimming as a substitute for the normal PE classes. He took to swimming quickly and began establishing himself as an outstanding swimmer early on.

 

As a freshman in the 1973-1974 school year, Anslow began his career with the Hawks with a pair of first and second place finishes in the season’s first meet against Mentor. Anslow was part of the 200 butterfly relay and 800 freestyle relay teams that set school records. The same year, he made Cleveland’s “Top Ten” list for his time in the 500 and 200 freestyle, as well as part of the freestyle relay team. Anslow’s successful freshman year would set the tone for his four-year career, during which he would earn a pair of 4^th place finishes at the OHSAA state meet, and a the first ever state championship for Hawken in any sport, winning the 500 freestyle his senior year.  Anslow was also named All-American for that event.

 

A member of the Hawken Wall of Fame, Anslow was also presented the Old Board Award and was lauded by his teammates as fantastic leader and teammate, embodying the principles that characterize Hall of Fame inductees. Anslow went on to attend the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

 

Anslow has always admired and respected Hawken School, crediting the institution for providing him with the key qualities which prepared him for adult life. He continues to contribute to the Hawken legacy and dedicated the Campus Walk, the walkway running from Stirn Hall to the White House, in memory of his classmate and friend, Dean Murray ’77.

 

Anslow’s accomplishments as a student athlete, as well as his continuous embodiment of the principles of Hawken School, have led to his nomination and induction to the Athletics Hall of Fame. 

During her career with the Hawks, Dorenkott won 12 state titles, the 3^rd most in Ohio HS history, and set 5 state records. She was a 3-time state champion in the 50 freestyle, 2-time state champion in the 100 freestyle, and held a number of other medal finishes at states. Additionally, she was a member of the 400 freestyle relay team that set the pool record in 2005. A highly dependable swimmer, Dorenkott liked to be the last leg in relays, particularly during close meets, and was never beaten in a relay race that she anchored. Additionally, Dorenkott was part of the U.S. National Junior Team, and also qualified for the U.S. National Championships meet. Named as one of Ohio’s top 50 athletes of the decade in 2010, Dorenkott was well-known throughout the swimming community both in Ohio as well as nationally.

 

Dorenkott was also a standout in track and field at Hawken.  She was a two-time state champion in the 4x400m relay, and is part of the team that owns the 4x400m school record to this day (3:57.36).  She was also a four-time Chagrin Valley Conference champion, a three-time district champion, and a three-time regional champion.  She earned many other places and accolades on the track, including a 7^th place finish at states in the 800m her freshman year. 

 

Sarah went on to attend and swim for the United States Naval Academy, during which she recorded her career-best times in the 50 and 200 freestyle events. In addition, she was a member of four winning relay teams at the league finals. She also qualified for and competed in three individual and relay events at the USA Swimming Spring Championship in 2007. Dorenkott was also named First-Team All-Patriot League in 2007.

 

Within the structure of the Naval Academy, Dorenkott’s leadership prowess served her well as she was chosen as Midshipman Commander, responsible for leading a regiment, consisting of half of the entire Brigade of Midshipmen. In that position, Dorenkott maintained her ideals that everyone should do their part in contributing to the well-being of the student body.

 

Dorenkott’s unwavering dedication to her personal principles, her sense of leadership and teamwork, and her outstanding athletic accomplishments both at Hawken as well as the United States Naval Academy make her a stand-out inductee to the 2017 Athletics Hall of Fame.

The qualities that set Hable apart from his peers, however, was his sense of teamwork and sportsmanship. Coach Jerry Holtrey described Hable as “a young man I greatly admire… a great team person. He would do anything to help the team and swim any event to help the team win.”  As captain during his senior year, he was outstanding both through example and by encouraging his teammates, and his leadership was acknowledged with the Old Board Award. Tim’s leadership was such that while still a student and member of the team, he could often be found assisting Coach Holtrey with instruction and training.

 

Hable went on to attend Dartmouth College, where he swam for and served as team captain of the Dartmouth swimming team. From 1979 to 1984, he continued his dedication to athletics as the men’s and women’s swimming coach, as well as women’s cross country coach at Case Western Reserve University, and currently serves as a swimming coach for the Great Lakes Sailfish Swimming Team.

 

Even after graduating from Hawken, Hable continued to be associated with the Hawken swimming program and helped maintain the progress of the swimming team in any way he could, dedicating his time and effort for over 35 years.

 

Hable’s dedication to the Hawken swimming program embodies the Athletics Hall of Fame, and his service to the team has been indispensable.

Throughout his long career in Hawken Athletics, MacCracken also served several years as assistant coach for the baseball team and one year as assistant coach for football.  Al served in a crucial supporting role for the football team and coaching staff, keeping the game statistics for all home and away games for over 30 years. In addition, he taught French at the Upper School, and has been an ever-present part of student life for many years.

 

During his time at Hawken School, MacCracken’s son Trip also attended and graduated from Hawken. MacCracken’s love of athletics had clearly been passed down, as Trip captained the football and baseball teams and has worked in the front offices of multiple NFL teams, including the Cleveland Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs.   

 

Al MacCracken’s incredible passion and dedication to Hawken athletics has led to his innumerable contributions to the athletics program in various capacities, whether it be as coach, statistician, or announcer. It is for his long involvement and influence with Hawken Athletics that Alan MacCracken was nominated for and inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Although over 40 years have passed since Schmelzer set the school records for most rebounds in a season (406) and career rebounds (911), those records have yet to be broken. His junior year, he led the Hawks in scoring, contributing to the team’s 15-7 season, the second-best record in Hawken basketball history at that point. The next year, having been named co-captain, Schmelzer led the team to a spectacular 18-3 season, during which they defeated rival University School twice. Named All-Scholastic by the Press and the Plain Dealer and recognized for All-State Special Mention, Schmelzer finished the season with both the school scoring and rebounding records.

 

Schmelzer’s leadership and basketball prowess were crucial to the success of the Hawks during his junior and senior years; his contributions to the team cemented the Hawks as one of the powerhouse basketball teams in the region with two consecutively strong seasons. Even following his graduation and departure from Hawken, the basketball team continued to emulate his successes, and the following year, the underclassmen which Schmelzer helped cultivate continued their winning streak with a 16-6 season.

 

As a two-year captain of the football team, he was named the Plain Dealer and News Herald Player of the Week and had a season total of 19 touchdowns his junior year. During his senior year, he helped lead the Hawks to the Chagrin Valley Conference Championship, once again being named a Plain Dealer Player of the Week. As quarterback and captain, Walton exuded a sense of leadership and confidence that could be felt both on and off the field, in and out of season.

 

In wrestling, Walton was a two-time state qualifier, coming closer to winning the state championship than any Hawken wrestler before, going into overtime during the championship match in 1999, finishing as state runner-up. Willing to take on any challenge, he competed in the Medina Invitational Wrestling Tournament, one of the top wrestling tournaments in Ohio, not only winning the tournament, but also beating a wrestler from powerhouse St. Edward High School in the final match. He made Hawken history by being the first ever Hawken wrestler to amass 100 career wins.

 

Walton also was a founding member of the lacrosse team, which had previously existed only as a club. With his leadership and guidance, it became a varsity team in the 1998-1999 school year.

 

After Hawken, Walton went on to play varsity football and club lacrosse at Taylor University, where he lettered all four years. He was among the top offensive players in Taylor University history, with a total of 3,703 offensive yards in the 2002-2003 season.

 

Through his achievements and leadership, Walton was awarded the Old Board and Strong Awards, earning a spot on the Wall of Fame as well.  Walton’s lifelong dedication to Hawken athletics and the lasting legacy he left at Hawken School have led to his nomination and induction into the 2017 Athletics Hall of Fame.

Damon Butler is a prime example of a disciplined and determined athlete. He was a soccer superstar in the fall, and left a trail of fire behind him on the track during the spring. Over the course of his high school career Butler served as a forward and captain on the boys soccer team, leading his team to the state finals in 1997.  He was named All-Ohio and Ohio Division II Player of the Year, All-American, Chagrin Valley Conference MVP, Plain Dealer All Star Team, All-Sun Soccer team, and First Team Portage/Geauga Counties.  Butler scored forty-five goals during his senior campaign, breaking the Hawken School record, also finishing his career as the all-time leading goal-scorer with 85 career goals. The coach at the time, Coach Turner, said that his “pace, power, and grace,” were key to setting this record. As a fierce forward on the soccer field, he ran with some serious speed which he also utilized on the track.

Honorary Alumnus and Faculty Emeritus Thomas Bryan is the longest serving athletic director in Hawken history. Over the course of almost four decades, Bryan made invaluable contributions to the Hawken community, including the establishment of our modern athletic programs and creating the Old Board Award recognition. In 1963, Bryan began his career as Hawken’s Middle School Athletic Director. At that time, he was also the school’s head football, basketball, and baseball coach. He worked tirelessly with student athletes, providing mentorship, guidance, and support. Bryan was instrumental in strengthening Hawken’s Day Camp as a counselor and, in 1970, he became director of Hawken Day Camp. In that year he was also hired as the athletic director of the Upper School. Bryan raised Hawken’s athletic profile, attracted talented athletes, and recruited qualified, dedicated, and accomplished coaches, including two of Hawken’s most notable coaches, Jerry Holtrey and Cliff Walton.

 

While at the Upper School, Bryan coached the varsity boys basketball team. During his coaching career, he amassed 300 victories and led trips to two regional finals games. Bryan was named Plain Dealer Coach of the Year and Greater Cleveland Coach of the Year on several occasions throughout his career.

 

When he wasn’t running Upper School athletics, varsity basketball, or the summer camp, Bryan pursued his passion of football officiating. For over 20 years, Bryan worked for a variety of conferences and ultimately officiated for 15 years in the Big Ten, which included a Sugar Bowl National Championship game. He even made the cover of a 1994 edition of Sports Illustrated magazine. After retiring from officiating, Bryan became a supervisor of officials for indoor football leagues, which gave him the opportunity to mentor many present day NFL officials. He was also the official game clock operator for the Cleveland Browns for 15 years.

 

Bryan’s fruitful career earned him much recognition and accolades, including membership of the Cleveland Football Officials Hall of Fame, the Bobby Brown Officials Award, and, after retiring, the Northeast Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NEOIAAA) and the Ohio Interscholastic Athletics Administrators Association (OIAAA) Hall of Fame Awards. Thomas Bryan made countless contributions to athletics at Hawken and across the United States. He made valuable connections with students, fellow coaches, and other administrators that have made him one of the most influential people in Hawken history.

John C. Lightbody was among the first students to attend Hawken’s new Upper School.  From 1962-64, he played on the school's first-ever football, basketball, and baseball varsity teams, and was the first to make a name for himself in the Cleveland-area sports pages. Nicknamed the “Shoeless Wonder of Hawken School,” Lightbody was known for removing his right shoe before punting the ball during football games. Though unusual, this technique was quite successful; Lightbody averaged 41 yards per kick during his senior year, causing the Plain Dealer to write and run the first feature article and picture ever written about a Hawken athlete. He was also a force on the field with his shoes on. As the Hawks' football captain, Lightbody finished his senior season with 20 pass receptions for 397 yards, 2 touchdowns, an average of 16 tackles per game, and selection to the "All-Lake Shore League Team" (another Hawken sports "first.") On the basketball court, Lightbody was an All-Lake Shore League team selection for his tenacity on the court, which included tough defense and a 15 points per-game average. In 1964, the Onyx noted that he set the school scoring record with a 28 point effort against Lutheran West. On the baseball diamond, he led the team at shortstop, and his .486 batting average won the city batting crown in 1963. By the end of his Hawken athletic career, Lightbody was the first student to be enshrined on the Hawken Wall of Fame. Following graduation, he went on to play halfback on Harvard University’s football team. Leaving football and baseball behind, Lightbody continues to play basketball, ice hockey, tennis, as well as skis and has completed three Ironmen triathlons.  

Murphy Reinschreiber started swimming at the age of seven, and his passion for athletics has not wavered since. At Hawken, Reinschreiber was perhaps our first elite swimmer. He was Hawken’s first All-American swimmer and qualifier for Nationals, where he placed fifth in the 100 butterfly - a rare feat for a high school swimmer.

 

A member of the Hawken Wall of Fame, Reinschreiber went four years undefeated in his time at Hawken. He won All-American awards for his performances in the 100 butterfly in 1969, and 100 fly and 200 IM in 1970 and 1971. Reinschreiber was a part of Hawken’s 1970-1971 swimming team, one of the most successful swim teams in Hawken’s history. After recovering from a 2-11 record just two seasons prior, the team completely transformed and dominated the competition with a 12-0 dual meet record. The team won the Independent School League Relays and ISL Championship meets, placing sixth at the Eastern Interscholastic Championships in Lawrenceville, NJ, and earning spots on the Plain Dealer’s All-Scholastic Swim Team; Reinschreiber and his teammates clearly set the pace for Hawken swimming for decades to come.

 

Reinschreiber went on to study at the University of Wisconsin, where he served as captain of the swim team. Along with two All-American awards, Reinschreiber was a 1972 Olympic Trials Finalist and held a top-15 world ranking.

 

In the mid-1970’s, Reinschreiber became involved in triathlons as both an athlete and organizer. After serving as the first executive director of the organization currently known as the USA Triathlon, Reinschreiber created the race format that is currently used in the Olympic Games. Reinschreiber eventually became race director for the first US Triathlon Series race and, in 1985, co-founded PCH Sports, a sports oriented marketing agency. Indeed, Reinschreiber has made a huge impact on the Hawken community and on athletics worldwide.

Robert “Bob” Riser earned the significant achievement of lettering in three high school sports – football, basketball, and track. Riser accomplished this with much success, winning the 1972 Old Board Awards in basketball and track, and also earning a spot on Hawken’s Athletic Wall of Fame. On the football field, Riser played tight end and linebacker/safety, earning numerous accolades, including a spot on the Press All-Scholastic Team, a position on the Plain Dealer’s Dream Team, and the Notre Dame Award. During his senior year, Riser was recruited by Purdue, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers, and Army, but ultimately chose the University of Louisville as his home from 1972-1976. Riser started two years at Louisville and was elected captain during his senior year. Riser was eventually recruited by and played for ESPN college football analyst, Lee Corso, and was even offered a tryout for the Cleveland Browns by Coach Forrest Gregg. However, a knee injury sustained during senior year kept him from trying out. While earning his MBA at Case Western Reserve University, Riser coached one year as a graduate assistant.

 

A lifer and a member of the Hawken Wall of Fame, Eric Hamilton was an early standout in Hawken athletics. During his freshman year, he set the school track record in both the mile and the 880 meters and was second place on the track team for overall points. Hamilton was named the Plain Dealer Football Sophomore of the Year and was an All-State and All-Scholastic honoree. However, his talents really took off in his junior and senior year of high school. In his junior year, he was a Football and Basketball Press star; was on the area’s Football and Basketball Dream Teams; was named to All-Prep and All-Independent Teams; received Special Mention All Scholastic and Third Team All State for Basketball; and was the state champion for the 800 meter race. In his senior year, Hamilton repeated his All-State and All-Scholastic achievements in basketball and football, won the Old Board Award for all three of his sports, was the track state champion in the 800 meter race and in the 800 meter relay, was part of the ‘50’ point club in track, and received the prestigious Strong Award. Hamilton accepted a four-year full football scholarship at Pennsylvania State University, where he lettered three times, played in the Orange Bowl, and, with his team, won two NCAA championships.

No high school swimmer in the state of Ohio has won more state titles than Alyssa Kiel. A 14-time state champion, #8 on jhuddle.com’s list of the top 50 Ohio High School Athletes of the Decade, and the News Herald Swimmer of the Decade, Kiel stands out from the multitudes of amazing Hawken swimmers over the years. Kiel is a four time Ohio State Swimmer of the Year in the State Meet, a three time Lake Erie Swimmer of the Year, a two time Scholastic All-American, a four time state champion in 500 meter freestyle, a three time state champion in 200 meter freestyle (her time formerly held the state record), the 2003 Division II Swimmer of the Year, and the 2004 Division II MVP. In the 500 meter freestyle, Kiel holds the nation’s ninth fastest time as well as the Hawken School, Holtrey Pool, and Ohio state record. She was a member of the 2002 US National Junior Team, the 2004 US National Champion in the 800 free, and a 2004 US Olympic qualifier where she placed 7th in 800 free. She also competed in the 2005 World Championship Trials, where she placed 7th in 400 freestyle and 5th in 800 freestyle. In addition to these distinctions, Kiel was the recipient of the Hawken Old Board Award.

O.J. McDuffie, a former Hawk and star athlete, garnered numerous accolades during his athletic career. He attended Penn State to play football as a running back and set two school records: career total catches (125) and season all-purpose yardage (1,831). McDuffie went on to play professional football in the NFL as wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins for eight seasons. At Hawken, he received a varsity letter in all four sports he played, two of them during the same season (track and baseball). In addition to being part of the baseball .400 club for three years straight at Hawken, he holds seven other records in Hawken baseball. McDuffie also still holds the record in the high jump and the long jump in track and field. A true standout on the football field, he was a key player in every game he played, contributing to every win - so much so that his number 32 jersey has been retired. McDuffie holds two major Hawken records in football: all-purpose yardage (7,302) and yards on returning an interception (108). The record for yards on returning an interception is also an unofficial state record. He was listed as player of the week, MVP, and all-star multiple times in many different publications. The Plain Dealer ranked him number eight of the top 10 football players of the last 50 years. Lake-County News Herald also ranked McDuffie at #3 on their list of top players of the 20th century. One of the purest athletes Hawken has ever seen, O.J. McDuffie’s influence extends well beyond the Hawken football field.

Before winning an Olympic gold medal in the women's 4x100-meter freestyle relay and an impressive 15 NCAA All-American honors, Melanie Valerio was breaking records at Hawken School. While at Hawken, Valerio held the 100 and 200 freestyle records, with times of 50.65 and 1:49.72, respectively. Valerio was a two-time state champion in the 200 freestyle and a state champion in the 100 freestyle, as well as a member of the state record holding 400 freestyle relay team. Additionally, she had many second and third place finishes at states. Valerio was a high school All-American multiple times and The Plain Dealer named her Player of the Week, All Scholastic, and All Star during her time at Hawken. In addition to her Olympic gold medal, she also won four gold medals at the Pan Pacific Championships. Valerio has more than earned her place on the Hawken Wall of Fame with many other successful swimmers. 

In the 2007 dedication of Walton Stadium, Head of School Scott Looney said, “If there's a recurring theme in everything that Mr. Walton does, it's that character matters, integrity matters and that the adults in this community are here to help students find that.” These words capture what makes Walton so highly respected not only in the Hawken community, but also in the Ohio high school athletic community: his high moral standards and dedication to both the game and the players. Walton is the long-time beloved football coach, wrestling coach, and physical education teacher who has evolved into a Hawken icon over his many years of teaching and coaching. In 2010, Walton became one of 32 football coaches in Ohio to reach the milestone of 200 wins. He has been named 1981 Class-A Football Coach of the Year, 1986 Geauga County Football Coach of the Year, 1986 News-Herald Class A-AA Football Coach of the Year, 2012 D-IV Football Co-coach of the Year, 2012 District Football Coach of the Year, and the CVC Football Coach of the Year multiple times. His 1987 football team was ranked #30 in the area’s top 50 high school football teams by the News Herald, which also ranked his Hawken program as #3 in the top 30 all-time best prep school football programs. He has coached multiple wrestling state qualifiers and sent scores of football players off to play at the college level.