Lindsay Brown Salvador, ‘07
A two-sport student-athlete at Albion, Lindsay Brown Salvador was best known for her accomplishments in diving. She achieved All-America status with a seventh place finish on the 3-meter board during the 2007 NCAA Division III Championship. She was a two-time honorable mention All-American with 10th place finishes on 3-meter in 2006 and 1-meter in 2007. The MIAA’s Most Valuable Diver in 2005 and a four-time all-MIAA award winner, she was a three-time league champion with 1-meter titles in 2004 and 2005 and adding a 3-meter title in 2005.
Albion’s most improved track athlete for the 2005 season, Lindsay cleared the pole vault at 10 feet, the third-highest in school history, and her 16.12-second time in the 100 meter hurdles currently sits as the eighth-fastest in school history.
Kevin Bushinski, ‘88
A two-time MIAA champion in the discus throw, Kevin Bushinski was a four-time all-MIAA performer in his football and track & field careers at Albion.
Achieving all-MIAA status with a third place finish in the discus throw at the Field Day in 1986, Kevin moved up to the gold medal the next year with a mark of 146’ 2” and he went even further - 149’ 6” - in 1988.
In fact, his throw of 152’ 4” stands seventh on Albion’s all-time list.
A defensive tackle on the football field, Kevin achieved all-MIAA second team status after collecting 69 tackles, including 3 ½ for loss and two sacks, and three fumble recoveries during the 1987 season.
Amy Dempsey Karns, ‘95
Amy swam to all-MIAA awards in 1992 and 1993, helping Albion to a runner-up finish in the league in 1993.
Individually, she was the MIAA’s runner-up in the 50 freestyle while adding a third place performance in the 100 freestyle and a fifth place finish in the 200 in 1992.
She went on to serve as captain of the swimming team and achieve school records as a member of the 200 and 400 freestyle relay squads her senior year.
Amy was also a varsity letter winner as a member of the soccer team in 1993.
Bruce C. Foulke, ‘59
Bruce competed for Albion in track & field for three seasons (1956-58) before transferring to the University of Michigan where he earned a degree in electrical engineering.
In competition before all-MIAA awards were conferred, Bruce shared two MIAA pole vault titles (with teammate Roger Landrum at 11’ 4” in 1956 and Olivet’s Jim Sturdevant at 11’ 10” in 1957) before setting the league record by clearing 13’ ¾” in 1958.
“Two coaches, Elkin R. Isaac and J.W. Polk were an inspiration to me,” Bruce wrote. “They taught us all that the team succeeds in doing its best when each of us works hard to do his best. It turned out to be so important in our working lives.”
Dan Fradeneck, ‘07
Described by former Albion swimming & diving coach Keith Havens as "a talented and gutsy diver", the Eastpointe native gained All-America status with a seventh place finish on the 1-meter board during the 2005 NCAA Division III Championship. He was an honorable mention All-American in both diving events in 2004. The MIAA's Most Valuable Diver in 2006, he was a three-time all-MIAA award winner and three-time league champion.
In addition to expressing appreciation to his coaches, including Terry Howard, who was diving coach during his time at Albion, Dan made special note of the contributions from his parents.
“I want to thank my parents for encouraging me, driving me to 6 a.m. practice, doing work in the bleachers and always believing in me,” he wrote.
Ben Gitler, ‘00
A three-year starter for the Britons on the defensive line and at linebacker, Ben was a member of the Britons 1996 MIAA championship team and the MIAA’s Defensive Most Valuable Player in 2000.
Ben was a two-time all-MIAA pick, gaining second team status as Albion forged a tie with Alma and Hope for the league championship in 1999. Ben wrapped up 12 tackles for loss, including seven quarterback sacks, during the season.
He advanced to the first team in 2000 after wrapping up 12 more tackles for loss, including 5 ½ quarterback sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles.
Lori Haas Lepard, ‘94
The Holland resident set a 'B' qualifying time for the NCAA Division III Championship in 1992 and was an all-MIAA performer and the Britons MVP in 1991 and 1994. A recipient of the team's coaches award in 1992 and 1993, she graduated as a member of the 200 and 400 medley relay teams that held school records.
Lori’s highest individual finish in a MIAA Championship event was coming in runner-up to teammate Audrey Janelle in the 400 individual medley in 1992. She recorded three third place finishes.
Neil Johnson, ‘98
A member of four teams (1994 and 1996 football and 1995 and 1996 baseball) already inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame, Neil finally receives his individual induction.
A member of the Britons 1994 national championship football team and five MIAA champion squads between the two sports, Neil was a three-time all-MIAA pick at linebacker in football. He was a third team All-American in 1996 and a preseason All-American in 1997. He lead Albion in tackles for the 1994, 1995 and 1996 seasons, recording more than 100 in the ‘94 and ‘96 campaigns. He collected 18 tackles, including a pair of quarterback sacks, in Albion’s 23-20 loss to Illinois Wesleyan in the NCAA Playoffs.
Most important to Neil, he received a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship (along with Payton Manning and Brian Griese) in 1997. An injury before the season limited Neil to seven games in 1997, but he finished the season with 36 tackles, including two for loss, two interceptions and four passes broken up.
“Even though being a member of the 1994 national championship team is a highlight, the opportunity to finish my college career being honored with the prestigious postgraduate scholarship characterizing the term student-athlete, especially for a Division III institution like Albion.”
Jared Owens, ‘02
A two-sport student-athlete, Jared was best known for his performances in track & field at Albion. He achieved All-America status with a fifth place finish in the long jump during the 2002 NCAA Division III Track & Field Championship and he was a three-time MIAA long jump champion, sailing a league record 23' 8 ¾" in the 2002 league championship meet, and a member of the Britons MIAA champion 400-meter relay in 1999.
In all, Jared was a six-time all-MIAA award winner in football and track & field during his career. He was the first team pick as the return specialist in 2001, helping the football team to the MIAA championship by finishing fourth in the league with 940 all-purpose yards. He also advanced in the long jump to compete in the NCAA Championships three times.
He still holds the school standards in the long jump and for the longest kickoff return (for 99 yards and a touchdown in the 1999 game against Hope).
Casey Sivier, ‘96
Albion never lost a game against its MIAA football rivals with Casey paving the way on the offensive line. Casey started his career playing guard and center and moved to right tackle for his sophomore year. Casey moved one more time -- to left tackle -- for his junior and senior seasons where he protected quarterback Kyle Klein and provided running lanes for backs Jeff Robinson, Todd Morris and Ray Henke.
Casey was an all-MIAA first team pick in 1994 and 1995 and achieved All-America status in 1995. He was a recipient of the Britons Captains Award in 1995.
“Playing football at Albion College was an honor, and playing for Coach Schmidt and alongside great teammates will be memories I will never forget,” Casey wrote. “The lessons I learned during my four years will be lessons I am able to pass on to my children and the friendships I made will be with me throughout my life.
“I would like to dedicate my induction into the Hall of Fame to my mom, Janeen Sivier, who loved being a member of the extended Albion College football family,” he added.
Ben Upward, ‘00
Ben played soccer for Albion for two seasons, but he made his mark by scoring 19 goals during the 1999 season, a figure which still stands as the school standard. He produced 12 of those goals against MIAA rivals to finish as a second team all-league pick.
Ben made the list of honorable mention players in the MIAA in 1998 playing sweeper and spearheading a defense that allowed 15 goals, the fewest in school history..
“I was fortunate to have played on a number of outstanding club, high school and college teams, but my experience playing for Albion ranks at the top,” Ben wrote.
1965 & 1966 Football Teams
Quarterback Dave Neilson and end John Ellinger set offensive records in 1965, while fullback Jim Bell carried the load to give time for the defense to become more stout in 1966 as the Britons capped a three-year run of MIAA championships.
Neilson threw for 994 yards and 15 touchdowns in 1965 as he completed his career with 2,679 yards and 39 touchdowns. All four were school records at the time.
Ellinger hauled in 34 receptions and nine touchdowns and his 54 points were most by an Albion end in 1965. He finished his career with school records of 83 career receptions, 1,049 receiving yards, 21 touchdowns and 132 points.
Ellinger and Neilson were unanimous all-MIAA first team picks in 1965 along with offensive linemen Gary Jones and Ron Springer and defensive lineman Barry Siler. Pete Boroday, Tom Fraker, Lloyd Harper and John Mullin also gained all-MIAA distinction, while Gene Meunchausen, Jim Misner, Gerry Rittenbery, Jim Royer, Chuck Scarletta, and Sam Trippett were on the honorable mention list.
Bell scored three touchdowns as Albion defeated Adrian, 41-0, to clinch the 1966 championship.He led the MIAA in rushing and scoring for the season. Siler was voted the MIAA’s most valuable player, as head coach Morley Fraser called him “the finest defensive end I have ever coached.”
Bell, Jim Dobbins, Lloyd Harper, Mick McCarthy, Rittenberry, and Scarletta joined Siler as all-MIAA picks in 1966.
Other team members included: Dick Ambrose, Duncan Beagle, Charles Beals, Rick Bensinger, Dave Berry, Jeffrey Bisaga, Thomas Black, Robert Bonacci, Chad Boult, Eric Britner, Prentiss Brown, Mike Buck, Leonard Bullard, Terry Carmine, Tom Casteel, Jim Cook, Kirby Cooper, Brian Cossey, King Cotton, Thomas Cushman, Thomas Dickinson, Pete Dolan, Doug Falan, David Garlick, Max Gates, Charles Greenman, Dennis Herrick, Roger Higgins, Ron Hochstetler, John Jenkins, Roger Jirikovic, Al Kastl, Dick Kermode, David Kerwin, James Knoblet, Frank Larimer, John Leland, David Lillvis, Tom Mahoney, Vaughn McGraw, Jim McMillan, Thomas Mikols, Robert Moran, John Mullin, Gary Mutch, Tom Myers, Robert Page, Tom Peek, Mike Perry, Lee Porterfield, John Quinlan, Joseph Reed, Jeff Schreur, Bill Schueller, William Smith, Richard Stefani, Paul Stevenson, Verne Sutton, Gary Taylor, John Teeter, Thomas Thompson, Ken Vander Hoff, Richard Vanderlinde, Bill Wentworth, Steve Wentworth, John Williams, Bill Wilson, George Wolf, Steve Young, Alvin Zackery, Rick Ziem and David Zuzula.
1971 Men’s Swimming & Diving Team
Albion defeated its four MIAA rivals in dual meets and achieved a 22-point margin of victory over Kalamazoo College in the league's championship meet. Mark VanderKaay sprinted to MIAA titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle events and Jim Everett did likewise in the 500 and 1,000 freestyle events and the 200 butterfly. John Karazim and John McLaughlin added league titles in the 200 individual medley and 200 breaststroke, respectively, and the Britons also reached the wall first in the 400 freestyle relay.
Other team members included Dave Dupree, Rick Horner, Bob Kosnik, Don Porter, Dave Stitt, and Tom Williams. Clark Bisbee and Dale Lockwood were co-captains,. Bob Wikstrom was the coach.