Defiance College Honors Hall of Fame Inductees

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Four Defiance College alumni will be inducted in the Alumni Varsity D Hall of Fame during Homecoming festivities on Saturday, October 10. They include: Cindy L. Conner, Galion; David J. Scott, Defiance; Mark R. Shine, Lima; and Michael L. Wright, Denver, Col.

An induction ceremony will be held at halftime during the DC versus Manchester College football game in Justin F. Coressel Stadium. The Alumni Varsity D will also recognize Hall of Fame inductees at an 8:30 a.m. breakfast in the Serrick Campus Center, and inductees will participate in an 11 a.m. ceremony at the Alumni Varsity D Hall of Fame Walkway in front of the stadium.

Cindy L. (Youtsey) Conner, class of 1992, excelled in cross country and track and field during her tenure as a student athlete at Defiance College. She lettered four years in cross country, was captain for three years, and was named Most Valuable Player in 1989, 1990 and 1991. As a distance runner in track and field, Conner lettered four years and was captain two years. She was named Female Athlete of the Year in 1992. She was the top runner in cross country for three years and track distance leader four years.  Conner is a teacher in the Galion Schools.

A Defiance native, David J. Scott joined the Yellow Jackets as a member of the undefeated 1969 football team. He lettered three years in football and was a three-year starter at the linebacker position. He was named All Mid-Ohio Conference linebacker in 1970, All Hoosier-Buckeye Conference linebacker in 1971 and 1972, NAIA All-District linebacker in 1971 and 1972, team captain and team MVP in 1972. Scott also excelled in baseball, lettering for three years and starting at the catcher’s position for three years. After graduating from Defiance in 1973, he was an assistant coach in football and baseball at Columbus Whetstone High School and was head football coach at Riverdale High School.

Mark R. Shine played Yellow Jacket basketball under Coach Marv Hohenberger from 1970 to 1974, earning four varsity letters on championship teams. After graduating, Shine became a teacher and coach, first at Bellevue Schools where he was a junior high teacher, junior varsity and varsity basketball coach. His accomplishments at Bellevue include two league championships, four sectional championships and one district championship. He was named Northwest Ohio Coach of the Year in 1985. Since 1987 he has been at Bath High School where he coaches basketball. 

Michael L. Wright graduated from Defiance College in 1972 where he studied business administration and economics. He played quarterback position on the football team for four years, lettering two of those years, and earning All-NAIA district honors. Wright was a three-year member of the track team, lettering all three years, and receiving All-League recognition. He held the school record in the 220-yard dash in 1970 and 1972 and currently holds the school record in the 440-relay, running as anchor.

For more information about Defiance College homecoming activities, contact the office of alumni and parent relations at 419-783-2572 or visit the DC website at www.defiance.edu.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate majors as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

October 2, 2009