Athletes In Action Night of Champions

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2017 Program
Saturday, May 13, 2017

5:30pm - 6:30pm:
VIP Reception
(VIP ticket required)

6:30pm:
Doors Open
Silent Auction begins

7:00pm-9:00pm:
Banquet begins, featuring:
Hall of Faith Induction Ceremony

** The Evening will include: **
VIP Reception, Silent Auction, and Video Highlights
Personal Interviews with Sports Celebrities
Induction of one male and one female into the Athletes in Action Hall of Faith

Schindler Banquet Center
Xenia, OH


2017 Inductees

Catherine Whitehill

Catherine WhitehallCat Reddick Whitehill was a defender on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team from 2000-2010, scoring 11 goals in 134 appearances. She competed on the gold medal-winning team in the 2004 Greece Olympics and was a member of the third-place U.S. squads at the 2003 and 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup games.

Whitehill played in both the Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPS) for the Washington Freedom and Atlanta Beat and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) for the Boston Breakers. She logged 10,573 minutes and started 118 games in six pro seasons. Whitehill was a player/coach for the Boston Breakers in 2013-2014 and an assistant coach in 2016.

Whitehill played at the U. of North Carolina (2000-2003) and was the defensive MVP of the 2000 and 2003 NCAA Champion Tar Heels squads. In 2003 she was the M.A.C. Hermann Award winner, awarded to the nation’s top collegiate soccer player, and the 2003 Honda Sports Award winner as the best collegiate female athlete in soccer. She was a four-time NSCAA All-American all four years.

In high school, she played four years of soccer and three years of basketball at Briarwood Christian School, winning four Alabama state soccer titles. She was named a Parade All-America selection (1999, 2000) and a four-time All-State selection for Alabama.

During the 2015 Women’s World Cup, Whitehill worked for FOX Sports and called the final soccer game that had a record 25 million TV viewers in the U.S. Currently, Whitehill calls women's and men's college games on ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC networks and for the Longhorn network (since 2009). She did color commentary for ESPN at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany. She has also volunteered with the SPCA, Athletes for Hope, and children's hospitals in Boston, Atlanta and DC. Whitehill married Robert in 2005.

Stats
Defender on U.S. Women's Soccer Team 2000 - 2010
Played in WPS for Washington Freedom and Atlanta Beat and in NWSL for Boston Breakers
Was player/coach for Boston Breakers 2013 - 2014 and assistant coach 2016
Broadcaster for women's and men's college games on ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC
Volunteer with Athletes for Hope, and children's hospitals in Boston, Atlanta, and DC

 

Archie Griffin

archie griffin bArchie Griffin is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. A three-time All-American, he is included in the NCAA’s 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes and is a member of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame board of directors. In 2014 Griffin was honored as All-Century Player by the Tournament of Roses Association, in celebration of the 100th anniversary Rose Bowl game. Griffin played in four consecutive Rose Bowl games under legendary coach Woody Hayes.

Griffin earned his degree from The Ohio State University in 1976. He was a first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals, where he served as co-captain and played for seven years. He returned to Ohio State in 1984 and rose to become associate director of athletics.

Archie Griffin is now The Ohio State University’s senior advisor for Advancement after serving for 11 years as the president/chief executive officer of the alumni association (OSUAA).

Griffin has been inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Circle of Champions, which recognizes former high school student athletes who have demonstrated outstanding character and accomplishments on and off the field. Legendary Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes famously said of Archie Griffin, “He's a better young man than he is a football player, and he's the best football player I've ever seen.”

A sought-after speaker and humanitarian, Griffin serves on many boards and foundations.

Griffin created the Archie Griffin Scholarship Fund, which benefits Ohio State’s Olympic sports programs. The Archie and Bonita Griffin Foundation Fund helps develop sports, educational and travel programs for youth in central Ohio. Griffin and his wife, Bonita, have three children: Anthony, Andre, and Adam and reside in Westerville, Ohio.

Stats
The only two-time Heisman Trophy winner
Served as co-captain and played for seven years with the Cincinnati Bengals
One of NCAA’s 100 Most Influential Student-Athletes
Served 11 years as the president/chief executive officer of The Ohio State University Alumni Association
The Archie and Bonita Griffin Foundation Fund helps develop programs for central Ohio youth

 

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