DC’s Alumni Varsity D to present
Coach of the Year, Honorary Letterman awards

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College Alumni Varsity D will present its annual Coach of the Year and Honorary Letterman awards during an event on Saturday, Jan. 16.

Kristy (Graham) Kamer, Shawnee State University head women’s volleyball coach, and Timothy Held, Moeller High School varsity baseball coach, will receive Coach of the Year honors, and Tim Whetstone will be recognized as Honorary Letterman for 2010.

Recognition ceremonies will be held in the Weaner Community Center postgame of the 2 p.m. Yellow Jackets women’s basketball game.

Kamer’s team at Shawnee State University had multiple season highlights including: season record of 38-3, American Mid East Conference (AMC) record of 12-2, AMC Tournament Champions, NAIA National Tournament open round, NAIA Academic Team, All American Player, four all conference players, and two all-American scholars.

Kamer graduated from DC in 1994 where she played women’s basketball and was a member of the Gamma Omega Kappa sorority. She and her husband, Shane, have one child and reside in Wheelersburg.

Held’s team at Moeller High School season was 25-5, and was named Greater Catholic League Champion and Division I State Champion. Held was named All Coach of the Year, City Coach of the Year, and Bob Sumerel Greater Cincinnati Coach of the Year.

Held is a 1996 graduate of DC and played varsity baseball from 1993-1995. He and his wife, Leslie, have two children and reside in Cincinnati.

The Honorary Letterman Award recognizes individuals for their continued commitment and unselfish service to Defiance College athletics.

Whetstone is an Executive Vice President and licensed insurance agent at First Insurance and Investments. He is a member of the Defiance Rotary and president of St. John’s United Church of Christ Consistory.

Whetstone is a current member and past president of the Defiance College Purple and Gold Club and was an athletic trainer from 1982-1994. He resides in Defiance with his wife, Carol.

Receptions for Kramer, Held and Whetstone will be hosted by the AVD in the McMaster Gymnasium of the Weaner Community Center following presentation of their awards.

In addition, women’s basketball alumnae will be recognized during halftime of the 2 p.m. women’s basketball game. Men’s basketball alumni and the 30th anniversary of the 1979-1980 men’s basketball team will be recognized during halftime of the 4 p.m. men’s basketball game. Special guest will be Marv Hohenberger, men’s basketball coach from 1965-1997.

The Alumni Varsity 'D' is an organization created to promote athletics at Defiance College. Membership in the Alumni Varsity 'D' is open to any former student who earned one or more athletic letters in any sport at Defiance College. Former athletes have helped continue the rich tradition of intercollegiate athletics by providing financial support to the many DC athletic programs through membership donations and fundraisers. Alumni Varsity D represents 1,200 student athletes who earned varsity letters at Defiance College.

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

January 8, 2010