Five new Wildcat sports stars will be inducted 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.
‘The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to not only honor the achievements and contributions of others, but to serve as an example of what is possible for current and future OHS students,? remarked Mike Watson, director of athletics and hall of fame chairperson. ‘The hall of fame represents what is good about educational athletics and helps us continue to celebrate our long and proud athletic heritage at Oxford High.?
This week, the Leader is profiling Megan Burns and Zach Line.
Megan Burns (1995 graduate) ? The most decorated female soccer player in school history, Burns not only lettered four times for the Wildcats, but was all-Flint Metro League (FML) for four consecutive years and was named all-state each of her four high school seasons, including 1st team honors as a senior. She graduated with career school records in goals (52), assists (35) and points (139). Burns also secured all-FML honors as a basketball star. Burns matriculated to Boston College where she played center forward for the Eagles for three seasons before eventually earning degrees from Boston College and Lewis & Clark Law School. She is currently employed as a public defender in San Francisco, CA.
Burns said being named an inductee is a ‘huge honor.?
‘I know there are a lot of people that are amazing athletes and coaches that have already been inducted,? she said. ‘So it really is a big honor for me.?
‘Soccer opened many doors for me that would never have been available,? she continued. ‘Being able to go to college on a scholarship and play Division I soccer set my life on a certain path that was very positive for me.?
Burns recalled a highlight as a wildcat where she left during a division championship game to go to the hospital and get a cast removed so she could play in the game.
‘I remember going there as the national anthem was playing and my teammates were lining up to start the game and I was able to play in that game,? she said. ‘I will always remember going into Oxford stadium that day and seeing my teammates there lined up and being so proud to be a part of it.?
Burns noted that Oxford has had a ‘history of having a great athletic program.?
‘Certainly athletics for young people helps with giving folks direction and discipline – I take the skills I learned from athletics to this day and apply them to my profession and life,? she said. ‘I am very grateful to the opportunities I had through soccer and playing for Oxford High School.?
Zach Line (2008 graduate) ? One of the greatest running backs in the history of Oxford High School, Line will also be forever known as one of the greatest football players in the long and storied history of Southern Methodist University.
The all-state back amassed more than 1,700 yards, 17 touchdowns and 154 tackles as a senior at OHS.
Line also earned all-state honors as a wrestler on his way to earning the George Prince Most Valuable Male Athlete Award in 2008. At SMU, Zach rushed for 4,185 yards and scored 47 touchdowns.
Not only did he surpass the great Eric Dickerson for total yardage in a career, he is the only Mustang to rush for over 1,200 yards in a season three times. In 2013, Line signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.
‘I had chills run down my back when I received the phone call (to be an inductee),? explained Line. ‘This is my hometown (and) it’s special to be a part of (its) history.?
‘The Oxford sports, coaches, and community all impacted my life. Oxford is a great place for a high school kid to play sports,? he continued. ?(Coach) Bud Rowley is a key contributor to (the) success I have achieved thus far.?
Line said there are many memories of his playing days at Oxford. ‘The student section storming the field after games was always a very cool feeling,? he added.