Christopher J. Behling, '94
Chris Behling advanced from Albion’s most improved swimmer to its most valuable swimmer during his four-year career on the team. After gaining the most improved award in 1991, Chris went on to win 1994 MIAA event titles in the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle and achieve All-America status in the 200 butterfly and honorable mention All-America status in the 100 butterfly and the 400 medley relay his senior year. An All-MIAA performer in 1993 and 1994, Chris held the school records in three individual events and three relays when he graduated.
Former swimming and diving coach Keith Havens recalled how Chris developed his athletic talent. "His success was due in large part to his amazing work ethic and to his analytical approach to swimming," Havens said, noting that Chris brought back to the varsity some workout sets that he had learned during a semester spent off-campus. "Albion’s swim team used one of these sets on a regular basis for years afterward," Havens added, "and, in fact, it’s still called the ‘Behling set.’"
With majors in economics and management and religious studies, Chris excelled academically with Academic All-America and magna cum laude graduation honors to his credit.
He went on to earn his master’s degree in theological studies at Harvard Divinity School. He currently serves as president of Mollen Immunization Clinics, one of the largest providers of immunization and other wellness services in the United States.
Chris and his wife, Brenda, reside in Windham, N.H., with their two daughters, Cali and Lola.
James M. Corbeil, '88
Baseball pitcher Jim Corbeil posted a 4-1 league record with a 2.08 earned run average as Albion captured the 1988 MIAA baseball title. In a season where MIAA pitchers finished with a 4.50 ERA, Jim was an easy pick for MIAA most valuable player honors and a first-team All-MIAA selection.
Jim’s six victories in the 1988 season still place him third on the school list for most pitching victories in a season and earned him team MVP honors. A four-year baseball letter winner and captain of the 1988 team, Jim finished his career with an 8-3 record and a 2.64 ERA against MIAA rivals. In 81 1/3 innings of work, he yielded just 80 hits while striking out 46.
An economics and management major at Albion, Jim went on to earn his M.B.A. at the University of Michigan, and he has continued to stay involved in baseball as a member of the Jet Box Baseball Club’s Board of Directors.
Currently working as the vice president and chief procurement officer for Nexteer Automotive, Jim lives in Troy with his wife, Lynn, and son, Alexander.
Kellie S. Gehrs Gaetz, '95
Former swimming and diving coach Keith Havens said Kellie Gehrs had the most beautiful and efficient swimming strokes of any swimmer he coached. "Kellie was very aware of technique," Havens said. "She was also a very hard worker, and would often lead sets in practice, challenging both her male and female teammates to try to keep up with her."
Kellie swam to 15th place in the 200 individual medley in the 1992 NCAA national championships, earning honorable mention All-America honors. One of three Albion swimmers to earn All-MIAA honors for four consecutive years, she held school records in three individual and four relay events when she graduated. Her standards in the 200 individual medley and 200 and 400 freestyle relays still stand today.
A chemistry major who was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Kellie completed her master’s degree in physical therapy at Grand Valley State University. Now living in Clinton, Tenn., with twin children Alex and Ashley, Kellie works as a physical therapist.
Molly K. Maloney Handley, '00
Molly Maloney dove in the NCAA national championships in three of her four years at Albion. Her best performance was a fourth-place finish on the 1-meter board in 1997, good for All-America honors. She also achieved a 14th-place finish on 3-meter in 1997, a ninth-place performance on 1-meter in 1998, and a 15th-place performance on 3-meter in 2000, earning honorable mention All-America status in each of those three years.
An All-MIAA diver in 1997 and 1998, Molly held the school records in both the 1- and 3-meter diving events when she graduated.
"Molly was an excellent student, and she used her intellectual ability to help her athletic performance," Coach Keith Havens said. "Molly was very methodical about her approach to diving, and would mentally rehearse her dives before she attempted them. She was aware of the physics involved in diving and that helped her achieve her high level of success."
Molly has remained active in athletics since finishing her diving career, completing a dozen half marathons and two marathons. She says she has achieved her personal goal of reaching the finish line of a marathon in less than four hours.
Molly completed a doctorate in pharmacy at Ohio State University in 2007. She and her husband, Cliff, live in Ogden, Utah, with their daughter, Kate.
Martin P. "Chip" Heyboer, '95
Martin "Chip" Heyboer anchored an Albion offensive line that gained more than 15,000 yards during his career. Chip played every position on the offensive line, starting at tackle as a freshman. He moved to guard as a junior and center in his senior campaign (replacing All-American and 2009 Hall of Fame inductee Ron Dawson).
An All-American and All-MIAA first-team selection in 1994, Chip paved the way for Jeff Robinson to rush for 3,087 yards during the 9-0 regular season. Robinson tacked on more yards in the NCAA playoffs, including 166 in the NCAA Division III national championship victory over Washington & Jefferson in the 1994 Stagg Bowl.
A history major, Chip has taught in the Kenowa Hills Public Schools since 1996 and has served as an assistant football coach at Grandville High School since 2005. Chip and his wife, Sue, reside in Grand Rapids with daughters Jordan and Hayleigh.
Kyle A. Klein, '97
Kyle Klein earned eight letters in two sports, baseball and football, during his career at Albion. As a starting quarterback from 1994 to 1996, Kyle achieved a 30-2 record with three MIAA titles and helped lead the Britons to the 1994 Division III national championship at the Stagg Bowl. During his football career he was named team most valuable player in 1995, MIAA most valuable player on offense in 1996, and team captain in 1996, and he became the first Briton quarterback to throw for 2,000 yards in a season as he earned All-MIAA status in 1994.
Kyle added an All-MIAA second team award in 1996 after achieving school records for completions (151), completion percentage (.671), touchdowns (19), and total offense yards (2,276). He also collected school records with 27 completions against Thomas More College and 372 passing yards and 388 total offense yards against DePauw University in 1996. His passing yardage total in the DePauw game was boosted by a 93-yard connection with Chris Barnett that still stands as the school record for the longest pass from scrimmage.
Kyle, who continues to hold the school standard for best completion percentage for a career at .601, received one of the NCAA’s prestigious Postgraduate Scholarships and Academic All-America second-team honors in 1996.
He was a member of the 1995 and 1996 MIAA champion baseball squads.
An economics and management major at Albion, Kyle completed his M.B.A. at Northwood University in 2002. Kyle and his wife, Sarah VandenBout Klein, ’95, reside in West Bloomfield with their children, Alex and Allison.
David S. Lefere, '97
David Lefere earned All-America status three times during his Briton football career. A defensive back, he was promoted to the starting lineup after picking off three passes in the Britons’ 44-20 victory over Wilmington to open the 1994 season. Albion went on to an undefeated season, capturing the Division III football national championship at the Stagg Bowl. David played a pivotal role in Albion’s 19-16 semifinal playoff win over St. John’s with three interceptions and a blocked punt. He earned All-MIAA first-team honors in football three times and started on four MIAA championship teams in football and two in baseball. The MIAA baseball coaches recognized David by placing him on the all-league second team in 1997.
David not only excelled athletically but also academically at Albion. He holds the distinction as the first male scholar-athlete from the MIAA to be selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America as an Academic All-American in two sports (football and baseball). A member of the Carl A. Gerstacker Institute for Business and Management, he was a two-time Academic All-American in football, 1995 and 1996, and in 1997 earned an Academic All-America award in baseball.
David completed work on his J.D. degree at Michigan State University in 2000, and he is a partner in the law firm of Bolhouse, Baar & Lefere in Grandville. David and his wife, Carey, have three children, Isabella, Travis, and Adeline.
Garth A. Richey, '60
Garth Richey started in three sports at Albion, football, track, and basketball, but it was his success as a hurdler on the track that has led to his induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
Garth was the MIAA champion in the 120-yard high hurdles, the predecessor to what we know today as the 110-meter hurdles, in 1958 and 1959. He completed his 1959 race in a league-record time of 15.0 seconds. Winning all four of their league meets in 1959, the Britons continued an undefeated streak in league competition that had begun in 1957.
Garth also captained and was named most valuable player of the 1959-60 basketball squad. Earning three letters in football, he was a member of five MIAA championship teams during his career (1957 basketball, 1958 football, and three consecutive track MIAA championships in 1957, 1958, 1959).
Garth was a campus leader, too, appointed treasurer of his senior class and the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
After graduating from Albion, he served as an officer in the U.S. Navy before embarking on a career in the computer industry. Beginning as a programmer, he later moved into management and retired in Brookings, Ore., in 2003 with his wife, Janet. Garth is the father of two sons, Greg and Randy.
Ronald J. Wasczenski, '77
Ron Wasczenski epitomized what it meant to be a team player during his Albion career. An all-state performer at linebacker in high school, Ron accepted a move to the offensive line because the Britons returned top players on defense.
A four-year letter winner, Ron dominated at his position, anchoring an Albion line that featured one of the most prolific offenses in Division III in 1976. That year, the Britons, under head coach Frank Joranko, ’52,
averaged nearly 316 rushing yards and a shade more than 31 points per game in achieving a 9-0 record and the MIAA championship. Ron started every game for four years and contributed to the impressive rebuilding of the football program that had posted a 3-6 season his freshman year.
"Ron was probably the most aggressive blocker on the team," said Joranko, who is one of the Athletic Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award winners. "He made the offense move."
When Ron wasn’t moving opponents off the line of scrimmage, he was active with the lacrosse and hockey clubs.
Ron completed a master’s degree at Walsh College in 1997, and he works as the tax manager at Reinert & Co., in metropolitan Detroit. Ron and his wife, Nancy, live in Ortonville. Together, they have a daughter, Ayla, and a son, Adam.
D. Scott Frew
Scott Frew was on Albion’s coaching staff for just 10 years, but in that time established himself as the Britons’ most successful tennis coach.
Scott guided the women’s squad to six MIAA championships and five trips to NCAA postseason competition. The 2006 team provided Scott with one of his top awards as he was selected the Central Region’s Coach of the Year by his peers. Under his direction, the women’s team members included two MIAA MVPs, 16 All-MIAA first-team honorees, and two Sue Little Sportsmanship Award winners.
Scott coached the men’s squad to a historic season in 2007 as Albion’s 17 wins, including a victory over Kalamazoo in a non-league contest, were enough for the team to achieve its only berth in NCAA postseason play. Jason Ryan received the MIAA’s Allen B. Stowe Award for sportsmanship, and Neil Forster gained recognition as the league’s MVP and earned the Lawrence Green Award for academic performance during Scott’s tenure.
A graduate of Western Michigan University, Scott passed away in 2012. He was survived by his wife, Gay, and three grown children.
Keith Havens
Keith Havens made an impact on generations of Albion students as head coach of the swimming and diving program, an instructor of first aid and physical education activity courses, and as adviser of the Canoe Club over his 27-year career.
Havens mentored 12 men who earned 25 MIAA individual event titles and 14 women who achieved 25 MIAA event titles. Paul Krone, ’09, was the MIAA’s most valuable swimmer in 2007, and Lindsay Brown, ’07, Dan Fradeneck, ’07, Ty Lattimore, ’10, and Emily Magyar, ’10, combined to claim six of the MIAA’s most valuable diver awards.
On the national level, Havens coached a roster of All-Americans including Brown, Fradeneck, Krone, Magyar, Chris Behling, ’94, Steve Cohen, ’94, Terry Ann Evelyn, Molly Maloney, ’00, Erik Scollon, ’94, and Ed Weber, ’95. Carl Johnson, ’92, Deb Webb, ’94, Kellie Gehrs, ’95, Audrey Janelle, ’94, Ron Face, ’90, Ty Lattimore, ’10, and Brandon Reiss, ’07, achieved honorable mention All-America status.
Keith’s competitive spirit was also evident in his service as adviser to the Albion College Canoe Club. The club captured national titles in the American Canoe Association’s National Collegiate Canoe and Kayak Championships every year since the event’s inception in 2007.
Keith and his wife, Sue, who worked as the secretary in Albion’s Art and Art History Department, moved to rural Tennessee this past summer. Their sons, Zaak, ’10, and Zane, ’12, are Albion graduates.
1982 Men's Track & Field Team
Albion dominated track and field in the MIAA in the late 1970s and early 1980s, winning five consecutive MIAA championships.
Led by Tracy Garner’s three MIAA titles in the jumping events, Chuck Knoll’s title in the shot put, and first-place performances by Pat Kennell and Pat Blakely, Albion won the 1982 league championship. Albion overwhelmed its foes in the dual meets, the closest being a 97-57 victory over Hope. The Britons also brought home first-place trophies from the Albion Relays and the Spring Arbor Invitational. Ron Lessard and Steve Meads joined the MIAA event champions as all-league award winners.
Dave Egnatuk, who has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame both as an athlete and a coach, served as head coach. The roster also included Gary Allore, Badger Beall, Rick Cleveland, Jeff Collins, Tony Covington, Joe Donora, March "Chip" Durren, Patrick Fleming, Alan Gamble, Dan Gordon, Kevin Gorman, Ed Greenman, Scott Harrison, Tim Hartson, Bob Jones, Jeff Loch, Rick Marvin, Steve Meads, John Middlebrook, Alan Myles, John Padrick, Tony Pokorzynski, Marty Popp, Curt Smith, Nathan Stohl, Douglas Treadwell, Sam Tucker, Vince Tushis, and Dave VanderKooy.
1993 Women's Tennis Team
Albion defeated Kalamazoo twice in four days—once in the Great Lakes Colleges Association tournament and in a league dual match—to clinch its first MIAA championship in women’s tennis since 1954.
Jen Basch, one of two seniors on the roster, completed her collegiate career by pulling out a three-set victory in the No. 5 singles final of the MIAA tournament. Rachelle Fichtner, the runner-up at No. 1 singles, and Jen Myers, who was unbeaten at No. 2 singles until the tournament semifinal, were All-MIAA selections.
Bill Maddock was the team’s coach. The roster also included Jen Kerr, Evie Kopp, Heather Lawson, Rachel McCue, and Kristen Misner.