Stellar Seven Tabbed For Triton HOF
BOURBON – The Triton High School Athletic Department is proud to announce the next class to be inducted into the Triton Athletic Hall of Fame. The class of 2013 will be the third class inducted.
Since the schools inception during the 1963-1964 school year, many athletes have worn the blue and gold. While all athletes have played a role in Triton’s success, the Hall of Fame will recognize those Trojans who set themselves apart on the playing fields and the courts of Triton High School and beyond. These athletes won acclaim for running the fastest, jumping the highest, winning championships, and otherwise distinguishing themselves in high school, college, and at professional levels. To honor these high school sports legends, the Triton Athletic Department will annually induct new members into the ranks of the Triton Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame will induct candidates in the following categories: Athlete, Coach, Alumni, and Contributor. To be eligible to be inducted as an athlete, the candidate must be a graduate of Triton High School and must have participated in interscholastic athletics while at Triton. The Selection Committee will be looking for those athletes who set themselves apart by receiving, among other things, conference and state-wide recognition. In order to be eligible to be inducted as a coach, one must have coached at Triton High School for at least five years and must be inactive at the time of the induction. An Alum is a Triton graduate who has made it a purpose to be involved with athletics beyond high school (ex. Officiating, broadcasting, college coach, etc). A contributor is someone who has given of themselves for the betterment of the Triton Athletic Department.
The class of 2013 will include four athletes, one coach, and two contributors. Triton Athletic Director Mason McIntyre said, “The selection committee did an outstanding job selecting the Class of 2013. The selection process was difficult, but the committee was able to narrow it down to the group that they felt most deserved to be inducted into the Class of 2013.”
The first athlete to be inducted is 1973 graduate Jamie Erwin. Jamie participated in football and wrestling. He was a member of the most successful era in Triton football history playing for Coach Charlie Smith. Jamie was a member of the first Triton wrestling team in 1971 and was an undefeated heavyweight that season. He finished fourth in the Regional in 1972 and was the Regional champion in 1973, advancing him to the IHSAA State finals. Jamie had a career record of 43-8.
The second athlete to be inducted is 1981 graduate Jack Carpenter. Jack was an 8 time varsity letter winner participating in tennis, cross country, basketball, and golf. He earned MVP honors twice in basketball and three times in Golf. Jack was the first Triton golfer to advance to the Regional meet. He is a member of Triton’s 500 point club for single season points with 558 points in 1981. Jack went on to play basketball and golf at Bethel College. He excelled in basketball and golf earning NCCAA and NAIA All-District team awards in both sports. He was also named an NCCAA All-American Honorable Mention player in basketball in 1984 and was inducted into the Bethel College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
The third athlete to be inducted into the Triton Athletic Hall of Fame is 1981 graduate Curt Kreft. Curt participated in cross country and track for four years, earning four varsity letters in each sport. He received MVP honors in both cross country and track his Junior and Senior seasons. Curt was the NSC champion in cross country two times and won the NSC 1600m his Senior year. Curt still holds records in the 800m with a
1:56.2 and the 1600m with a 4:20.3. He once held the 3200m record with a time of 10:02. He earned a scholarship to run cross country and track at Liberty University where he participated for 4 years in both sports. While at Liberty he was an NCCAA National Qualifier in both cross country and track and held records in the Indoor 1500m (3:51), Indoor Mile (4:07), and the Outdoor 1500m (3:49). Curt was the Liberty University Track MVP in 1985.
The last athlete to be inducted is 1987 graduate Julie Lozier. Julie participated in volleyball, basketball, and track. She was named MVP of the volleyball team two times, MVP of the basketball team three times, and MVP of the track team two times. Julie is a member of Triton’s 1,000 point club with a career 1,421 points. She earned a scholarship to play basketball at Ball State University. Julie is currently ranked 7th all-time at Ball State in career blocks. She is also ranked 6th for most blocks in a single season. Julie led the Cardinals in FG % and rebounds during the 1988 and 1989 seasons. While at Ball State, she was twice named the MAC Player of the Week.
Mark Heeter will be the third coach inducted into the Hall. Mark coached JV Volleyball for three seasons, JV Girls Basketball for one season, and is best known for his 14 seasons (1990-2004) as the Girls Varsity Basketball coach. He accumulated a career record of 208-98, making him the all-time winningest coach in Triton Girls Basketball history. Mark coached the lady Trojans to six NSC championships, five Sectional championships, two Regional championships, two Semi-state championships, and two back to back State championships in 2000 and 2001. He retired from coaching Girls Basketball at Triton at the completion of the 2004 season.
William ‘Bill’ Moriarity was a contributor to Triton Athletics for many years. He spent 49 years driving the school bus before retiring in 2007. Bill is a 1943 graduate of Tippecanoe High School. Triton Transportation Director Kris Berger said, “Bill didn’t drive a lot of athletic trips until after he sold the grocery store. But after that, he drove every athletic trip he could.” Although Bill no longer drives the bus, he can still be found at every boys and girls basketball game. His dedication and commitment to the Triton School Corporation is to be commended.
Kenneth ‘Buzz’ Keller will also be inducted as a contributor. He served the Triton School Corporation as a teacher, a guidance counselor, and Athletic Director. He also taught Shop and Earth Science at Triton High School. Ken was in charge of the construction of our current baseball field, named in his honor: Ken Keller Field. He retired from Triton in 1991 but did not give up his love of sports. He continued to serve his community as an IHSAA official in baseball, basketball, football, cross country and track. Unfortunately, Ken passed away on October 24th, 2012, just two days following his selection into the Triton Athletic Hall of Fame. Ken will be missed by many, but the Triton Athletic Hall of Fame will allow his legacy to live on forever.
The Hall of Fame weekend will kick off with recognition of these inductees at half-time of the Triton vs. Culver boys basketball game on January 11th. The tip-off for the Varsity girls game that evening is scheduled for 6:00.
The festivities will be continued during the Induction Banquet on January 12th. The evening will begin at 6:00 PM at the Back Forty Banquet Center in Bourbon. Triton’s Athletic Director Mason McIntyre will serve as the Banquet’s emcee for the evening. Tickets for the Banquet can be purchased in the Triton High School Athletic Office beginning December 4, 2012. Tickets will be $20 per person and will include a meal. Tickets will also be sold at the home Boys Basketball games. The last day for ticket sales will be January 7th, 2013.
The Triton Athletic Department would like to give a special thanks to the Selection Committee made up of Larry Lemler representing Bourbon, Dave Shively representing Etna Green, Ken Blackford representing Tippecanoe, and Duane Walters and Hal Kuntz both as at-large Committee members. Without the help of these people this great event would not be possible.
