Five new Wildcat sport stars will be entered into the Oxford Hall of Fame this September.
The 2013 class of inductees include Megan Burns, Dr. Heather Hall, Zach Line, Bobby Schmidt and Jenny White.
The fourth class of the Oxford Athletic Hall of Fame will be honored by the Oxford High School Athletic Department on Friday, Sept 7 at halftime of the Bloomfield Hills vs. Oxford varsity football game and a ceremony honoring the inductees will be held Sept. 7 at the Oxford High School Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.
Induction ceremony tickets can be obtained at www.oxfordschools.org/wildcats. Tickets are $10 each.
This week, the Leader is profiling Dr. Heather Hall, Bobby Schmidt and Jenny White.
Dr. Heather Hall (?85) ? An accomplished professor of Kinesiology, Heather once suited up as an all-FML and all-state basketball player for the Wildcats. In all, Dr. Hall earned eight varsity letters in basketball, volleyball, soccer and softball. While an undergraduate at Alma College, Hall earned three varsity letters in field hockey for the Scots, twice being named all-conference. Additionally, Hall captained two Scots basketball teams and helped her team to a No. 17 national ranking in 1987. In 1990, Hall earned a master of arts degree from Central Michigan University and in 1993 earned a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Toledo Medical College. She served as a professor before being elevated to her current position as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Elmhurst (IL) College.
Hall said she is ‘pleased? to be an inductee ‘especially after being out of high school for so long.? Looking back at basketball, Hall said she was fortunate to play under the tutelage of Coach Ian Smith.
‘He had really high expectations and you really wanted to work hard to make him proud. That’s the thing I remember the most ? his high expectations and wanting to meet those expectations,? she said. ‘Obviously, that’s something I have retained and carried along with me (through life).?
Hall added that Smith would play alongside them during practices.
‘That was pretty amazing. I never had any other coach that did that,? she said. ‘I definitely have the utmost respect for Mr. Smith and the program.?
While there are so many memories to choose from, Hall said some of her fondest memories were when they traveled as a team to basketball summer camps.
‘I remember when we traveled to Walled Lake and had opportunity to go on an overnight trip to Manistee,? she said. ‘Those were things that were just really special and stand out.?
Even after 28 years, Hall still gets goose bumps anytime she hears their former warm-up song ‘Eye of the Tiger.?
‘Every time I hear that I just have to stop and pause,? she said. ‘I can still feel what that felt like – that adrenaline and that pride of playing for Oxford.?
Bobby Schmidt (?02) ? One of the most talented players to ever hit the diamond in an Oxford uniform, Bobby Schmidt earned a total of nine varsity letters in football, wrestling and baseball while a student at OHS. As a football player, Schmidt was named all-state honorable mention, all-Oakland County and was twice named all-FML. Primarily a catcher, Schmidt earned all-FML and all-state honors a total of three times. Schmidt also earned all-County honors twice, was named to the Detroit News ‘top 50 players? (#7) as a junior and earned accolades as a member of the all-state dream team as a senior. Schmidt earned all-conference honors as a member of the Wayne State University baseball team. Armed with a degree in elementary education from WSU in 2007, Schmidt assisted the Oxford baseball program before being named the head coach at Pontiac Central.
Schmidt said the recognition for what he did during his playing days at Oxford is ‘nice.?
‘It came as a surprise,? he said. ‘I know there are a lot of good athletes that come out of Oxford and it’s just nice to be part of that.?
Like so many others, Schmidt said playing sports for the Wildcats also impacted him greatly.
‘I learned a lot through football, baseball and wrestling. I learned how to stick with things,? he said. ‘If you put in the hard work you can get done what you need to get done.?
As far as memories go, Schmidt said for football it was practices and ‘every Friday night? on the field. For baseball he was glad they made it to the playoffs, where they tried to make a name for themselves, but unfortunately ‘that never really worked out that well.?
‘My senior year was fantastic because I had played with a bunch of guys I played with my whole life,? he said.
Jenny White (?98) ? Possibly the greatest sharpshooter to ever wear an Oxford basketball uniform, Jenny White earned four varsity letters for head coach Ian Smith. Hampered by a knee injury as a junior, White led the Wildcats in scoring three of the four years she played and earned all-state honors twice. As a senior, White set school records in career scoring average (16.3) and led all Oakland County players with a season scoring average of 22.4. She ended her prep career as the Flint Metro League’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,188 points. White finished nineth in state history with a total of 185 3-pt shots made in her career and 19th in state history with 69 3-pt shots made in a season. White later attended Saginaw Valley State University and earned a degree in Engineering Technology Management. While a captain of the Cardinals basketball team, White set records for career field goals attempted (401), career 3-pt shots made (152) and career 3-pt field goal percentage (.379).
‘I am very honored to be nominated for the Oxford Hall of Fame,? she said. ‘The names on the list are icons from OHS and I am so thrilled to be named with them.?
‘To be named with Coach Smith, who impacted my life greatly, goes above and beyond anything I could have imagined,? White continued. ‘To have had him as my mentor was the greatest joy of my sports career. I only wish he could be here today to enjoy this honor with me.?
Looking back on the memories, she ‘wouldn’t do any justice by naming one or two? of them.
‘I can say that I was lucky to play with amazing girls. Girls that, not only did we have fun on the court, but we truly enjoyed hanging out and having fun off the court together,? she said. ‘I look back to those days of playing with fondness and hope for any future Wildcat to have as much fun as I did.?