Class of 2017 Art & Virginia Bierma Art & Virginia Bierma are being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category of Retired WT Faculty/Staff/Coach. Art & Virginia had an impact as role models on thousands of students at Washington Township by driving school buses for 40 years (1967­2007) and driving and donating countless athletic bus trips to cheer on the Senators athletic teams over those 40 years. Art served as president of the Washington Township PTO and was a charter member of the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department. Virginia served as scorekeeper of the volleyball teams for 30 years, of the basketball teams for five years, and was Poms sponsor for five years. Virginia was voted “Outstanding Washington Township Citizen” in 1984. Art and Virginia have traveled by motorcycle to all 50 states including Alaska twice. James Wyckoff (posth.) John Wyckoff Jim (Class of 1953) and John (Class of 1955) received their Bachelor’s Degrees in Agronomy from Purdue University where they were both members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Agriculture Honor Fraternity as well as members of the Alpha Zeta and CERES Honorary Societies. Jim and John are being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the categories of Alumni­Professional/Entrepreneur/Industrial and Alumni­Science/Technology. The Wyckoff Brothers played varsity sports at Washington Township (baseball, basketball, cross­country, and track & field) and worked at Wyckoff Hybrids established by their father, LK Wyckoff. With the sudden death of their father in 1963, Jim and John were thrust into the challenge of running the family business. Included in that challenge was the continued development of corn hybrid breeding and varieties, the adoption and implementation of quantitative genetics ideas, and improved agronomy/soil fertility. Wyckoff Hybrids seed corn, with its goal “Better Corn For Better Farmers” not only led to farmers having improved corn yields, but also with other hybrid companies, made the midwest “the breadbasket of the world.” Jim and John also became famous for the hiring and running of detasseling crews made up of hundreds of Washington Township and other local school teenagers hired during the many summers to detassel seed corn. Jim served for many years as a member of the Washington Township Advisory Board, and was a member of the “Flying Farmers.” John served for over 25 years as Supervisor of the Porter County Soil & Wildlife Conservation District. Class of 2016 Carl “Rocko” Erickson This 1999 graduate received his Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management from Indiana State University. He is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category of Alumni­WTHS Athletics. Rocko was the captain of the baseball team his senior year and led the Senators to the 1999 Triple Crown­­PCC Boys Baseball Round­Robin championship, the school’s first ever PCC Boys Baseball Tournament championship, and the school’s first ever IHSAA Boys Baseball Class 1A Sectional championship. He was named to the 1999 Indiana All­State Baseball Team, the 1999 Indiana North­South All­Star Baseball Team, and the 1999 PCC Boys Baseball All­Conference Team. Rocko, known for his timely hitting and leadership, helped to build the winning tradition in the boys baseball program. Ashleigh Griechen This 2002 graduate received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Valparaiso University. Ashleigh graduated magna cum laude f rom the University of Pittsburgh with a Master’s in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Anesthesia. She is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the categories of Alumni­WTHS Athletics, Alumni­WTHS Honors, and Alumni­Science/Technology. Ashleigh was named to 12 different Porter County Conference All­Conference teams (Girls Cross­Country 3 years, Girls Basketball 2 years, Girls Track and Field High Jump 3 years, 4x400 Relay 3 years, and the 400 meter dash 1 year), which is the most of any Washington Township athlete. Ashleigh’s athletic career was associated with winning championships. She was a member of the school’s first ever PCC Girls Cross­Country round­robin and meet championships in 2001 and a member of the school’s first IHSAA Girls Basketball Class 1A Sectional championship in 2002. In Track & Field, she was the IHSAA High Jump Regional Champion in 2000, broke her mother’s longstanding high jump record in 2001 (5’4”), was the IHSAA High Jump Sectional champion in 2002 and placed 9th in the High Jump at the IHSAA State Track & Field Meet in 2002 where she was named to the Indiana Girls Track & Field All­State Team and became WT’s first girl to make an All­State Team. With her accomplishments in the classroom and in sports, Ashleigh was named the 2001 PCC Girls Cross­Country and the 2002 PCC Girls Track & Field Mental Attitude Award winner. Ashleigh went on to compete in Women’s Cross­Country and Women’s Track and Field at the University of Southern Indiana. Through the University of Pittsburgh Anesthesia program, Ashleigh was part of a research group to study simulation in the anesthesia profession and improvement in practice and critical thinking. Donna (Reif) Griechen This 1979 graduate received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Purdue University­North Central. She is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the categories of Alumni­WTHS Athletics. Donna was a member of the Porter County Conference All­Conference Team in Girls Volleyball for 2 years, Girls Basketball for 1 year, and in Girls Track & Field for 2 years. She was also a cheerleader and a member of the National Honor Society. Donna’s athletic career was associated with winning championships. She was a member of the school’s first ever PCC Girls Basketball round­robin championship in 1976­77, a member of the school’s first ever PCC Girls Basketball Tournament championship in 1976­77 and a member of another PCC Girls Basketball Round­Robin championship in 1978­79. In track and field, she was the IHSAA High Jump Sectional champion in 1979 and placed 13th in the High Jump at the IHSAA State Track & Field Meet in 1979. Her jump of 5’3” stood as a school record for 22 years until her daughter Ashleigh broke her record in 2001. Class of 2015 Ronald Bedwell Served as 5th grade teacher at Washington Township Elementary School for 42 years before retiring in 2010. He is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category of Retired WT Faculty/Staff/Coach. Bedwell has coached many years of Jr. High sports (baseball, basketball, cross­country, and track and field) and High School sports (Varsity Assistant Baseball Coach and JV Boys Volleyball Coach). He is remembered for his numerous field trips as chaperone with the 5th grade to the Challenger Learning Center, the 6th grade trip to Camp Tecumseh, and the 8th grade Sensations Club trip to Walt Disney World. Bedwell was awarded the Kappa Delta Pi Point of Excellence Award in 1996, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation Excellence in Engineering Award and was selected to pilot the Mentoring in Engineering cooperation program with Bethlehem Steel. Alisha (Polite) Brown This 2005 graduate received her Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana State University in Education. She is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category of Alumni­WTHS Athletics. Alisha holds several WTHS volleyball records including most career kills (1334 career kills), most career block kills, most career serving attempts and most career points. She was a member of the Porter County Conference All­Conference Team in Girls Volleyball for four years and Girls Basketball for three years. She was PCC All­Conference MVP in volleyball for three years. In 2005, Alisha was named to the Indiana Girls Volleyball All­State First Team. Alisha led Washington Township Girls Volleyball to two IHSAA Sectional titles and Girls Basketball to an IHSAA Sectional and Regional title and a Semi­State appearance. Alisha played four years of collegiate volleyball at Indiana State University. James “Papa” Dold (posth.) Served as principal of Washington Township School for 30 years before retiring in 1979. He is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category of Retired WT Faculty/Staff/Coach. Dold was affectionately known as “Papa Dold” by his students. He is a “Founding Father” of the Porter County Conference in 1958 and a “Founding Father” of girls sports in the PCC in 1973. Dold served on the IHSAA Board of Directors for 15 years and was instrumental in the establishment of girls sports in 1972. To honor him, the PCC named the Girls Basketball Mental Attitude Award the James W. Dold Mental Attitude Award. In 1979, Washington Township High School named the current gym the James W. Dold Gymnasium. Janet Davis (posth.) Served as an elementary teacher at Washington Township School for 26 years before retiring in 1988. She is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category of Retired WT Faculty/Staff/Coach. She is a “Founding Father” of girls sports in the Porter County Conference in 1973. Davis played a major role in the transition of the Washington Township Girls Athletic Association and the PCC to organized IHSAA sports in girls volleyball, girls basketball, and girls track and field. Davis also served as the first coach of girls volleyball, basketball, and track and field at WTHS with a .595 winning percentage and a PCC championship in girls volleyball in 1976. Matthew Goetz This 1995 graduate received his Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University in Agriculture Economics. He is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category Alumni­WTHS Athletics. Matthew started all four years of varsity boys basketball, was Washington Township’s leading scorer in boys basketball with 1228 career points, and has over 1000 career rebounds making him an member of the state’s elite 1000 points/1000 rebounds club. He was a member of the Porter County Conference All­Conference Team in Boys Basketball for three years, in Boys Volleyball for two years, and in Boys Track for one year (Shot Put). He played two years of collegiate basketball at Bethel College where he was a member of the 1997 NAIA Division II Mens Basketball National Championship. In 2008, Matthew was named to the Porter County Conference Top 50 Greatest Boys Basketball team . Elizabeth Houran (posth.) Served as a junior high teacher at Washington Township School for 42 years before retiring in 1987. She is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category of Retired WT Faculty/Staff/Coach. Taking on the role as “Matriarch” of the school, she was known as a tough teacher that had high expectations of all of her students. Houran planned and organized the annual memorable 8th grade trip to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan and overnight stay in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She was known for giving the commencement speech at the 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony to give the students a special send off to high school. David Martin This 1979 graduate received his Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University in Agriculture (Animal Science). He is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the categories of Alumni­WTHS Athletics and Alumni­Professional/Entrepreneur/Industrial. He was a member of the Porter County Conference All­Conference Team in Boys Cross­Country for three years and Boys Track and Field for three years (1 mile run, 2 mile run­3 years). David was the first WTHS athlete to win the PCC Boys Cross­Country Meet. David placed 16th at the State Meet his senior year and was the first WTHS athlete to compete at the state level. David held school records in Boys Cross­Country for the 2.5 mile course and in Track for the 1 Mile Run and the 2 Mile Run. David was named the PCC Boys Cross­Country Mental Attitude Award winner and the PCC Boys Track Mental Attitude Award winner, both firsts for WTHS. At Purdue University, David earned letters in Mens Track and Field two years (1 mile, 2 mile, Steeple Chase) and Mens Cross­Country for three years. He has had a long and distinguished career at Farm Credit Services of America in Omaha, Nebraska and currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). His volunteer and service activities includes a mission trip to Cameroon, Africa, serving on the Board of Directors for Release Ministries and coaching girls basketball and softball. Nathanael Martin This 1996 graduate received his Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University with Distinction. He is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category Alumni­WTHS Athletics and Alumni­WTHS Honors. Nathanael was a National Merit Scholarship Finalist in 1996, a member of the Indiana Academic Boys Basketball All­State Team in 1996, and named Porter County Conference Myron Knauff Mental Attitude Award for Boys Track in 1996. He was a member of the PCC All­Conference Team in Boys Track for two years (100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 300 meter hurdles, 4x400 meter relay­two years) and in Boys Volleyball for one year. Nathanael is the only boys athlete from WTHS to win four PCC Track and Field Meet events in the same meet. He is the current WTHS 100 meter dash record holder (:10.77). Nathanael is the current coach of JV Boys Volleyball and Basketball teams where he is known as “Coach Nate”. Elvin “Smitty” Smith (posth.) Served as vocational agriculture teacher of Washington Township School for 34 years before retiring in 1988. He is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category of Retired WT Faculty/Staff/Coach. “Smitty” was known for making Washington Township FFA and Porter County 4­H a dynasty in soils judging at the state and national levels. Smitty won numerous FFA and 4­H state soils judging championships, four FFA National championships (1965, 1967, 1970, 1972) and four 4­H National Championships (1962, 1966, 1967, 1976). He also coached five FFA individual National Champions and two 4­H individual National Champions. Smitty was inducted into the National Soils Judging Hall of Fame in 1976. Ronald Spruitenburg This 1959 graduate is being inducted into the Washington Township Hall of Fame in the category Alumni­WTHS Athletics. Ron was Washington Township High School’s first Porter County Conference All­Conference Boys athlete when he was named to the inaugural PCC Boys Baseball All­Conference Team in 1958. Ron was also named to the first PCC Boys Basketball All­Conference Team during the 1958­59 season. He was a four year letterman in Boys Baseball, Boys Basketball and Boys Track and Field. He also participated in Soils Judging Teams for his 4 years in high school. The team earned the distinction of Porter County champions. He was a member of the National Guard (113th Engineering) with six years of service.