Hopkins honors its first 10 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees

About 125 people turned out Saturday evening to dine with and honor the first 10 selections to the Hopkins High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

All nine of the athletic selections represent a different decade and there is another category for community service. A special committee of local citizens and officials oversaw the process, but special education teacher Linsay Mitchell coordinated the effort.

Hopkins Athletic Director Adam Valk said, “We wouldn’t be here tonight if it wouldn’t have been for Linsay Mitchell.”

The following is a sketch of each of the inductees, including comments from them or from those who accepted the plaques on their behalf:

• Joe Roxbury, Class of 1931, minor league pitcher with a 27-4 record in one season and a stint in 1941 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

His son, Dan Roxbury, told stories about he and his dad visiting the press box at Tiger Stadium and Joe swapping baseball stories. One guest at his barber shop in Hopkins was Ted Williams.

• Jim Hazen, Class of 1949, a four-year starter on Hopkins basketball teams that won four Bar-Ken-All League championships, three district and three regional titles. He was a longtime spotter, timekeeper and scoreboard operator in the broadcast booth at Hopkins football games.

His son, Rick Hazen, said, Jim was offered a baseball scholarship at Western Michigan University but wound up enlisting instead in the U.S. Army. He insisted the Hopkins High School fight song be played at his funeral.

• Jerry Herp, Class of 1957, an all-state honorable mention in football for 1956, Hope College football player, and longtime high school football coach at Ubley High School. He was inducted into the Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the high school stadium was named Herp Field.

His daughters, Amy and Betsy, tearfully accepted the award and said, “He (Herp) touched a lot of peoples’ lives.”

• Jim Newell, Class of 1966, an all-state honorable football player who came back to teach and coach at Hopkins as a head and assistant football coach.

“I don’t know why I’m standing up here with all these people (honorees),” he said humbly. “We had a lot of thoroughbreds we were fortunate to coach.”
• Karen Caywood Schwartz, Class of 1977, who was the point guard on the Hopkins girls’ basketball team that made it to the state finals in 1975 and was undefeated until a loss in the regional finals the following year. But she made her biggest mark in softball, after playing two years at Kalamazoo Valley and then two years for the NCAA champion Utah State squad, serving as captain in 1981.

She said of Hopkins, “My grandfather was surprised by the skill levels (of the Utah State players),” she mused. “We didn’t throw like girls.”

About community support in Hopkins, she commented, “We experienced it as students and players and it’s still here.”

• Kris Knobloch, all-state football player for the Vikings and an all-MIAA player for Albion College in 1992. He died in a car accident while still at Albion.

His father, Gene Knobloch, said, “I used to play football (at Hopkins) and I am grateful. So did my son.”

• Tim Kisner, a two-time all-state football and basketball selection, he led the Vikings to the state finals on the gridiron and the state semifinals on the court. He played basketball for Central Michigan University and now is head hoops coach at Fresno State in California.

He quipped, “I’d like to thank my sister for her support and her antagonism” and he mentioned his rivalries with his brother growing up. Like Schwartz, he praised the small town for having tight-knit groups of young people who worked and played hard together and formed lasting bonds.

“We won a lot, and it never got old,” Kisner said. “And Hopkins coaches were all about getting to know you and they cared about you.”

• Sabrina Bird Mertes, Class of 2000, an all-state volleyball player who set records in a lot of categories and went on play the sport at Grand Valley State University. She capped her career in 2003 by winning player of the year honor in the Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and All-American honors.

“It’s funny where life takes you,” she said. “Volleyball presented me with a lot of opportunities.”
She added, “I want my nieces, nephews and cousins to walk these halls, see the pictures and realize they can do it, too.”

• Al Deal was recognized for being principal and coach at Hopkins High School before moving on to be commissioner of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the oldest athletic conference in the U.S.
• Carol Guy, though not an athlete, she was recognized for her volunteer efforts as the faithful keeper of the scorebook for Hopkins basketball over many decades.

Athletic Director Adam Valk, who accepted the award on her behalf, said, “If you’ve ever been to a Hopkins athletic event, you know who Carol Guy is.”

Dan Kisner presented Mitchell with a bouquet of flowers, thanking her for her idea and coordination efforts top get the hall of fame project off the ground.

PHOTOS: Sabrina Bird   Dan Roxbury

Jim Newell   Tim Kisner

Albert Deal   Rick Hazen

Carol Guy   Jerry Herp’s daughters

Karen Caywood Schwartz   Eugene and Pat Knobloch

Linsay Mitchell and Dan Kisner