Ron Dawson, '94
Ron Dawson never experienced the agony of defeat against league
rivals during his career with Albion’s football team.
Ron started every game at center for all four years, and the team won the MIAA championship every year he competed.
Named all-conference in 1992 and 1993, he served as team captain in 1993. He was also named the team’s 1993 offensive lineman of the year and the "iron man" award winner in 1992. Ron also earned a place on several All-America teams in 1993.
"Ron was a hard-nosed competitor who wanted to be perfect all the time," said D.J. Rehberg, who lined up against Dawson as an All-MIAA defensive lineman for the Britons in 1993. "He didn’t like to lose."
Ron is vice president of national accounts for Harris Lighting, where he has worked since 2002. He previously worked for Starr Commonwealth from 1994 to 2002.
His community involvements include Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Seamark Ranch Orphanage. He is also active with the men’s ministry at Celebration Church.
Ron was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity during his time at Albion. He earned his master’s degree in counseling and psychology from Western Michigan University in 1999.
Ron and his wife, Shannon, reside in Fleming Island, Fla. They have five children, Isabella, Summer, Maya, Sophia, and Savannah.
Douglas Goudie, '92
Doug Goudie ran at the front of the pack as a Briton, and he
remains one of Albion’s most accomplished distance
runners.
An NCAA All-American in track and field in 1990 in the 10,000 meters, he achieved All-MIAA status in track in 1989 and 1990 and in cross country in 1989. Doug was the league champion in the 10,000 meters in 1989, completing the race in 32:00.19. He also finished second in the 5,000 meters at the MIAA championships in 1989, and he was the runner-up in the 10,000 and third in the 5,000 at the 1990 league meet. He set the Albion record for the 5,000-meter event in 1990, a record that stood for more than 10 years.
In 1988 and 1989, he qualified for and participated in the NCAA Division III national cross country finals.
Doug is the director for international trade policy for the National Association of Manufacturers in Washington, D.C., where he has worked since 2007. He previously worked for the Automotive Trade Policy Council and the National Waterways Council.
Doug and his wife, Ann McCulloch, ’93, live in Silver Spring, Md. They have two children, William and Margaret.
Susan Lang Higgins, '92
A 6-foot-3-inch center, Susan Lang Higgins dominated the paint
during her time on the women’s basketball team from 1985 to
1989. She earned All-MIAA honors in 1989, leading the league in
rebounds (averaging 10.8 boards per game in league play), ranking
second in scoring (averaging 17.2 points per game in league play),
and scoring in double figures in all but four games. She was also
named the Britons’ most valuable player and served as team
captain in 1988 and 1989.
She held the record for most blocked shots in a game, and she ranks second on the school single-game scoring ladder, pouring in 39 points in the Feb. 25, 1989 game versus Adrian. She currently holds seventh place on Albion’s career scoring list with 926 points, and the 368 points she rolled up during the 1988-89 season is the eighth-highest figure in school history.
Susan was also a member of the 1985 women’s field hockey team.
During her time at Albion, she was involved with Kappa Delta sorority and was a member of the Albion College Orchestra.
Susan is a teacher at Mar Lee School, where she has worked since 2004. She also coaches the fifth and sixth grade boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at Mar Lee School, and is a Cub Scout leader.
Susan and her husband, Dana, have two sons, Daniel and Andrew. They live in Marshall.
Christopher King, '89
Chris King developed his leadership skills while earning eight letters in his career with the baseball and football programs. Chris was also named to the leadership team for football in 1988, and he served as the baseball team’s co-captain in 1989.
Chris helped the baseball program achieve MIAA titles in 1988 and 1989. He was named All-MIAA first team and the Britons’ most valuable player in 1989 after finishing among the league leaders in batting average (.390), doubles (four), runs batted in (11), and total bases (22). An outfielder, Chris was named second-team All-MIAA in 1988 after hitting .400 with three doubles, two home-runs, and 14 RBI.
"Chris played extremely hard. He ran well and could put pressure on the opponent by stretching singles into doubles," said Jim Conway, ’87, an infielder for the Britons.
Chris is the senior sales representative for Kone Elevator/Escalator, where he has worked for more than a year. He previously worked at Thyssenkrupp Elevator from 2005 to 2008, as well as at Polofields Golf & Country Club.
He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity during his time at Albion, serving as secretary in 1987 and treasurer in 1988.
Chris and his wife, Carolyn Kunz King, ’89, live in Ann Arbor. They have two children, Matthew and Ryan.
Kristov Knobloch, '93
The linemen lay the foundation for a remarkable defense on the football field. Kris Knobloch laid that foundation for Albion, helping the Britons earn four MIAA championships in football during his career.
He was named the MIAA defensive most valuable player in 1992 after wrapping up 86 tackles—including three for loss—and collecting two interceptions. His performance in the Britons’ 35-20 Homecoming victory over Olivet stood out as he was credited with 13 tackles.
Kris was third on Albion’s tackles ladder in 1991 with 77 stops, but it was the interceptions he made at crucial times in victories over Kalamazoo and Olivet that are remembered most.
His legendary determination pushed him to become one of the best players to take the field. During his playing days, he earned the nickname of "Russian Bear."
"Kris didn’t say a lot," recalled D.J. Rehberg, a defensive lineman for the Britons, but D.J. noted that Kris was always focused on his assignment and "did it well."
After graduation Kris went to work at Starr Commonwealth School. He died on Dec. 5, 1993.
Bruce Miller, '67
Bruce Miller’s impressive scores on the links lifted the
golf team to three consecutive MIAA titles. A four-year letter
winner for the Britons, he was awarded All-MIAA honors during his
final three years of play. He was team captain in 1967, when he was
also named MIAA most valuable player.
As Albion’s top golfer, he averaged 77.6, 78.5, and 77.1 in 1965, 1966, and 1967, respectively. He shot in the 60s twice, with a 67 in 1965 and a 68 in 1967. Bruce was also a member of the 1963-64 basketball team. He was inducted into the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 as part of the 1965 golf team.
While at Albion, he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.
Bruce retired in 2007 as a financial manager for Ford Motor Company, where he had worked for 36 years. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971. Bruce earned his M.B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1968.
Bruce and his wife, Nancy, live in Ann Arbor. They have two sons, Nicholas Miller and Jason VanMatre.
Michael Montico, '94
Mike Montico excelled on the football field and in the classroom
during his Albion career.
The three-time All-MIAA first-team quarterback was named the league’s offensive most valuable player in 1992. He was also named to the All-MIAA second team in 1990.
He and fellow inductee Ron Dawson held the NCAA record for most consecutive games started as the quarterback/center combination with 39 games. He also held Albion records for most career touchdown passes, most career total yards, most career passing yards, most career passing attempts, most career passing completions, and best career completion percentage.
An NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient in 1994, Mike earned the Morley Fraser Leadership Award in 1994 and served as one of the team captains in 1993.
He is already a two-time inductee into the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the 1990 and 1991 football teams.
Since graduating from Albion, Mike has been involved with the United States Flag and Touch League (USFTL). He was part of the national championship USFTL teams in 1997 and 1999.
After earning his M.D. degree from Wayne State University in 1998, Mike completed his residency in family medicine at Providence Hospital in 2001. He also had a fellowship in sports medicine at Providence Hospital in 2002.
Mike is the medical director of Providence Family and Athletic Medicine in Milford, where he has worked since 2002. A member of the faculty of the family practice residency program at Providence Hospital, he also serves as program director for the sports medicine fellowship at the hospital.
Mike is the team physician for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League as well as for Madonna University and South Lyon East High School.
He and his wife, Elaine, live in Milford. They have two children, Owen and Alex.
Jeffrey Robinson, '95
Jeff Robinson saved one of his most memorable performances for
last. He rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns as the football
team won the 1994 NCAA national championship with a 38-15 triumph
over Washington & Jefferson in the Stagg Bowl.
In addition to the national championship ring, he received All-America and MIAA offensive most valuable player honors in 1994. He was also MIAA offensive MVP in 1993.
When he graduated, Jeff held the records for most career points, most career touchdowns, most career rushing touchdowns, and most career rushing yards.
He also excelled on the track, sprinting to MIAA titles and all-league status in the 100-meter dash in 1993 and 1994.
He was a member of Black Student Alliance and Omega Psi Phi while he was a student at Albion.
Jeff, who worked out as a free agent for the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions of the National Football League, is a claims representative for Nationwide Insurance in Battle Creek, where he has worked since 2007. He previously worked for Starr Commonwealth for 11 years.
Jeff and his wife, Carrie Benchina Robinson, ’98, live in Battle Creek. They have two children, Keegan and Chase.
Stacey Portenga Schlegel, '99
Stacey Portenga Schlegel made her mark as a four-year letter
winner on both the Briton tennis and soccer teams.
The MIAA’s most valuable player and No. 1 singles champion in tennis in 1999, she was awarded All-MIAA first-team status in 1997, 1998, and 1999, and she was a second-team selection in 1996. She was team captain in 1998 and 1999. She was the runner-up with Sarah McCoy at No. 1 doubles and third at No. 1 singles during the 1997 MIAA championships.
Stacey captained the soccer team and was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection in soccer in 1998. A midfielder, she scored five goals during the 1997 season.
Stacey was named to the MIAA Honor Roll of Athletes from 1997 to 1999.
At Albion, she was also a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
Currently a stay-at-home mother, Stacey previously worked for two years as a dental technician in Eureka, Calif., and before that she worked for five years as a treatment coordinator for an orthodontic office in Traverse City.
Stacey and her husband, Clint, live in Prescott, Ariz. They have a son, Luke.
Robert Smith, '82
When Robert graduated, he held the school records in the 50, 100,
and 200-yard freestyle events. The three-year letter winner in
swimming also was an NCAA championship qualifier and MIAA
record-holder in the 50 and 100 freestyles.
He was named Albion’s most valuable performer from 1980 to 1982, and he was co-captain of the swim team in 1981 and 1982. He was also named the MIAA MVP in 1982, winning the league title in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 47.99 seconds.
He was a member of Delta Sigma Phi while at Albion.
Robert is a consultant in infectious disease medicine. He earned his D.O. degree at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1988.
Robert and his wife, Janine, live in Milford. They have two children, Cullen and Austin.
Mike Turner, '69
Albion’s longest-serving coach in any sport, Mike Turner,
’69, was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in front of
a crowd of 200 gathered for his retirement celebration inside
Kresge Gymnasium.
Turner became an assistant men’s basketball coach in 1970, and he took over the program in 1974. In 34 years on the sideline, the Britons posted a record of 527-319 and competed in the 1978, 1979, 1998, and 2005 NCAA Tournaments.
Turner’s teams earned five MIAA championships, and the 1978 squad finished third in the nation. The Britons posted four consecutive 20-win seasons from 2003 to 2006, including two league championships.
Turner had been active with many national and regional basketball committees, and chaired the NCAA Division III Tournament Committee for three years.
He had a combined 72 seasons of head coaching experience at Albion, including 30 in men’s golf, four in men’s soccer, and four in men’s tennis.
Turner and his wife, Peg, ’69, reside in Albion.
1993 Football Team
The 1993 football team withstood the pressure that comes with entering the season as the favorite to win the program’s fifth consecutive MIAA title. The Britons outscored the opposition 313-98 in rolling to an undefeated regular season. The defense held the opponents to seven points or less six times during the regular season.
Albion secured the first victory for an MIAA team in the NCAA playoffs when it knocked off Anderson (Ind.), 41-21. The Britons completed the campaign with a 10-1 record.
The team was led by three of tonight’s individual inductees: Ron Dawson, Mike Montico, and Jeff Robinson. These three were all named to the 1993 MIAA all-conference team, along with fellow teammates Jeff Brooks, Jim Heaslip, Derek Mazur, Tom Reason, D.J. Rehberg, Todd Sebold, Ron Smith, John Volmering, and Mike Zacha. Robinson also was named MIAA offensive most valuable player.
"I always go by [the rule]: ‘you win with your seniors.’ This year’s senior class was as strong as it’s ever been," Montico told the 1994 Albionian. "We had 11 senior starters, who had started for at least two years, and most had started for four. There was a lot of experience in that class."
The team was coached by the late Pete Schmidt, who was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. Other team members included Ralph Abbott III, Kyle Angel, Patrick Baratono, Christopher Barnett, Ben Bates, Eric Baxmann, Robrandon Bee, Owen Bell, Andrew Boyd, Michael Branstrom, Eric Breitenbeck, Bradley Brown, Jeremy Brown, Wesley Browne, Scott Casteele, Thomas Cavanaugh, Ryan Cmejrek, Sean Connell, Gabe Cooper, David Cox, Kevin Curtis, Robert Dancer, James Davis, Jr., Robert Donaldson, Charles Drayton, William Ermiger, Jonathan Evans, Scott Goodwin, James Grimes, Anthony Gross, Bret Gudme, Steven Guibord, Christian Hall, Michael Halstead, Eric Harris, Eric Hayhurst, Jason Heyboer, Martin Heyboer III, Patrick Holser, Ronald James, Jr., Kyle Klein, Jon Kolean, Abraham Leaver, Brian Lee, David Lefere, Steve Leiger, Matthew Lynn, Ryan Maki, Michael McConnell, Marc McDonald, Mark McDonald, Edward Merrill, Adam Morris, Todd Morris, Todd Murphy, Brian Murray, Jason Nagy, Robert Nicodemus, Michael Oursler, Roy Palmeri, Greg Pellegrom, Angelo Popofski, Chris Prisby, Matthew Rankin, Tom Raven, Nathan Reed, Errol Robinson, Kelly Rumpel, Timothy Schafer, Jeffrey Schrameck, Matthew Sculley, Durand Shepherd, Scott Shields, Jeffrey Shooks, Sean Sims, Casey Sivier, Mark Smith, Samuel Smith, James Stealy III, Darrel Stine, Robert Taylor III, Paul Thompson, Paul Tocco, Brian Van Norman, Denis Waclawski, Tyler Wells, Aaron Weycker, Martin Wilder, and Jared Wood.