Badger Beall, '85
Badger Beall contributed a significant amount of points and leadership as a co-captain as the men's track & field team gained MIAA championships in 1982 and 1983.
However, he is best known for clearing the bar at 14' 6" to win the MIAA individual championship in the pole vault in 1985, and that continues to stand as the school record. Badger remembers the performance as it was his first competition after a hamstring injury.
Badger had twice been MIAA runner-up. He cleared the bar at 14 feet in 1983 and at 13' 6" in 1984.
Travis DePree, '05
Travis DePree gained all-MIAA first team awards from 2003-05, and the Briton men's basketball team collected a 31-7 record against their league rivals and a pair of championships during that span.
He nearly averaged a double-double – settling for nearly 13 ½ points and a shade less than 10 rebounds per game – in achieving All-America status and leading the Britons to a school-record 26 victories for the 2004-05 campaign. He was an easy pick as the MIAA's most valuable player after leading the league in rebounding and assists, finishing second in field goal percentage and steals and third in free throw percentage in the 14 games against league rivals.
Brice Drogosch, '83
Linebacker Brice Drogosch led a Briton defense that surrendered 21 points or less in six of the nine games as he was honored as the MIAA's Most Valuable Player in 1982. Brice was a three-time all-MIAA pick, placed on the second team in 1980 and on the first team in 1981 and 1982.
Brice also excelled academically as the physics major was voted to the Academic All-America team by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Brice went on to complete a master's degree in engineering from the University of Michigan in 1985.
E.C. "Billy" Hayes, '10
Earl C. "Billy" Hayes went on to become a legendary track & field coach after graduating from Albion, culminating in his induction into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1976.
Billy coached seven Indiana University athletes, and a total of 12 during his career from 1924-1943, who qualified for United States Olympic teams. His efforts to promote intercollegiate competition had much to do with the organizing of the first NCAA Cross Country Championship as well as the formation of the National Collegiate Cross Country Coaches Association for which he served as president from 1939-40. Hayes coached 10 NCAA individual champions, 42 All-Americans, and five Big Ten team champions in indoor and outdoor track and field combined.
His cross country teams won three NCAA titles. Indiana had its first NCAA cross country champion under Hayes. Billy launched his career at Mississippi A&M (now known as Mississippi State University), guiding the football team to a 15-8-2 record in three seasons from 1914-16 and compiling a 124-54 record in 12 seasons as the basketball coach.
Billy passed away in 1943 at age 58.
William Johansson, '91
Bill Johansson collected three all-MIAA awards between his football and track & field careers at Albion. A member of the 1989 and 1990 MIAA football champions previously inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame, Bill achieved all-league status as a member of the defensive line in both seasons and he was the Britons defensive MVP in 1990.
Bill gained a place on the all-MIAA track & field team and qualified for the NCAA Championships in 1991 after winning the league championship in the shot put with a throw measured at 48' 8 ¾". He finished as the runner-up in the event in 1990 with a throw of 48' 10 ¾" and third in 1989 at 46' 6 ¼".
Britton Johnson, '01
Britton Johnson was a MIAA champion in the swimming pool and on the track.
A three-time all-MIAA award winner in track & field, Britt saved his best for his final league competition. He won the individual title and qualified for the NCAA Championships with a school-record time in the 400 meters and was a member of the Britons winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams during the 2001 MIAA Field Day. In fact, the 41.91-second time achieved by Dominic Reid, Jared Owens, Bill Poirier and Britt still stands as the record in the Field Day meet and the 3:13.47 time achieved by Britt, Eric D'Andrea, John Bennink and Matt Muskan in the 4x400 relay still stands as the school standard.
Britt twice achieved all-MIAA status in swimming, winning the 100-yard freestyle in 46.78 seconds in 2000. An associate professor of physical education at Missouri Western State University, Britt completed his master's degree at Western Michigan University and his doctorate at Walden University. He has remained active in athletics through curling, running and completing triathlons.
Sarah Caskey McAlister, '05
With Sarah Caskey producing a school-record 1,448 points, the Albion College women's basketball program enjoyed its most successful run from 2001-05. The Britons achieved an 80-32 record, a MIAA Tournament championship, a MIAA championship and two trips to the NCAA Championship during the period.
Sarah continues to hold the school records for most points in a season (463) and career (1,448). In addition to being a D3hoops.com third team All-American and the MIAA MVP in 2005, she was a four-time all-MIAA pick, achieving second team status in 2002 and first team placement the other three years.
Sarah also achieved all-MIAA distinction in helping the softball team to a runner-up finish in the league in 2002. She led the league with 21 hits, a .510 on-base percentage and a .778 slugging percentage and was tied for the lead with eight doubles that season.
James McMillan, '70
Jim McMillan's versatility was evident as he achieved all-MIAA recognition on offense and defense during his career with the football program.
Originally from Midland and nicknamed "hands McMillan" he was a three-year starter at defensive back and tight end. He also kicked extra points, punted and returned punts.
As a defensive back, Jim was placed on the all-MIAA team after helping the 1969 squad to the league championship as the Britons finished with victories over all five league rivals. Jim hauled in a school-record eight interceptions during his junior season in 1968.
On offense, Jim was a tight end who caught 50 passes for 932 yards and nine touchdowns in three seasons. He was an all-MIAA pick after the 1967 season in which he rolled up 301 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns. He went on to earn a master's degree from Michigan State University and a doctorate degree from Northwestern University.
Kevin Nixon, '77
Kevin Nixon is best known for his role in helping the football team run through an undefeated season in 1976.
The running back originally from Bay City achieved all-MIAA status after rushing for 596 yards and scoring nine of his 10 touchdowns on the ground. His longest run of the season went for an 80-yard gain in the final game of the season. Kevin's senior year was the capstone to a career that started with an honorable mention all-MIAA award in 1973. He rushed for 405 yards and a touchdown that season.
Robert Taylor, III, '96
With Robert Taylor on the defensive line, Albion surrendered 14 points or less to six of its nine opponents and the Britons sailed to another MIAA football championship during the 1995 season
The 1995 MIAA Defensive MVP and Iron Man award winner on the 1994 national championship squad, Robert finished his career with 134 tackles, including 29 for loss and 17 sacks. He also recovered three fumbles.
Robert went into the coaching profession, modeling his programs with the underlying principles – having a purpose and a mission – he learned from coaches Pete Schmidt, Dave Egnatuk and Greg Pscodna. Robert was the 2005 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year as head coach at Defiance College and he continues to be the program's all-time leader in victories. In addition to coaching four All-Americans at Defiance, Robert received the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coaches Award in 2008 and his program twice received an award for service and engagement in the community.
Bruk Weymouth, '93
Bruk Weymouth stands as the only Albion catcher to achieve all-MIAA first team distinction three times.
Originally from Port Huron, Bruk was a .305 hitter during the 1991-93 seasons with 11 doubles, two homeruns and 39 runs batted in. Bruk hit .405 with 28 RBI in those seasons against league rivals. He finished second in the MIAA in batting and RBI in 1992 and fourth in the MIAA in batting in 1991.
More importantly, Bruk helped Albion gain a share of the 1993 MIAA baseball championship.
Bruk went on to complete his doctoral degree in dental surgery from the University of Michigan and advanced education in general dentistry while serving in the U.S. Air Force Base from 1999-2002.
The 2005 Men's Basketball Team
Albion won its final MIAA championship in Mike Turner's distinguished career as coach in 2005.
Led by seniors Travis DePree and Mike Thomas, the Britons shouldered the weight of being picked as one of the favorites to win the league championship in 2005. Albion won its first 14 games and was ranked among the top teams in Division III. The exciting season included one-point victories over Wooster and John Carroll in the NCAA Championship and finished 26-4 overall and 12-2 against league rivals.
The roster included Mike Bailey, Will Braaksma, Jim Cash, Brian Champine, Brandon Crawford, Travis DePree, Lonny Fulse, Garrett Gibbons, Dionte Miller, Rick Palmer, Zak Silas, Mark Smith Mike Thomas, Jamison Turnbull, and Evan Way. The coaching staff included head coach Mike Turner and assistant coaches Jody May, Marcus Gill and Steve Miknis. Jaime Walls was the athletic trainer.
The 2005 Women's Basketball Team
Much like the 2005 men's basketball team, the women's basketball team shouldered the weight of great expectations. After all, the Britons were coming off their first MIAA Tournament championship with all-MIAA performers Sarah Caskey and Ruth Sventickas returning to the lineup.
Albion won 11 in a row to push its record to 14-1 and it reeled off a six-game streak after a home loss to Calvin near the first round of league play. The Britons gained their signature victory in the regular season finale. A sprained ankle limited Caskey to 16 minutes, but she knocked down a pair of three-point baskets late in regulation, and Sventickas and Vanessa Thompson produced 21 and 13 points, respectively, as Albion eked out a 63-62 win at Hope.
Caskey averaged 16 points per game to be picked as the MIAA's Most Valuable Player. Jaime Fornetti was the league's Defensive Player of the Year and Doreen Carden shared the league's Coach of the Year award.
The roster also included Jessica Babcock, Katie Elder, Megan Garvey, Kellyn Glynn, Emi Guimond, Stacey Jenema, Liz Marcuz, Christine Matthew, Blair Meyer, and Kati Till.