OUTSTANDING ATHLETE

Induction Year: 2010 | Graduation Year: 1982

Teresa Lynn Runner was born in Dayton, Ohio to Guy (Butch) and Judith Runner. She was raised in New Carlisle beginning in 3rd grade and graduating from Tecumseh H.S. in 1982. She then attended Findlay University for 2 years and transferred to Bluffton University where she achieved her Bachelor of Arts degree in K-12 Health, Physical Education,Recreation and Dance in 1986. She furthered her educational pursuit teaching as a Graduate Assistant in the HPER department at Wright State University completing her Masters of Education. Approximately six years later, Teresa received her second MED from Central State University in Special Education studying the field of Severely Emotional Disturbed (SED).

Teresa began her athletic endeavors at an early age. She actively participated in sports such as volleyball, basketball, softball, bowling, and track and field. Teresa's parents, Butch and Judi Runner, were her greatest supporters as they traveled from city to city and state to state, rarely missing a game throughout her junior high, high school, and collegiate career. Teresa was one of the first female athletes at Tecumseh H.S. who participated at the varsity level in each of her three years in volleyball, basketball, and track & field events.

While at Tecumseh H.S., Teresa excelled in sports earning three letters in each of the three sports she played. She was also selected as volleyball's Most Valuable Player in '81 and '82 and Most Points Earned in track & field events in '81 and '82. During her athletic career, Teresa was named to the Miami Central Conference First Team in each sport in '81 and '82. The 1980 volleyball team, coached by Barb Nagel, earned the Ohio High School Athletic Association Class AAA District Runner-up Award. In basketball, Teresa was named to the All-Area Springfield News Basketball Team. Her most memorable basketball game came when she scored the most points (33), most rebounds (22), and most made free throws (13) all in a single game. Teresa currently continues to hold the school record for her throws in track and field events (shot put and discus).

Teresa continued her athletic career at the university level attending Findlay University (1.5 years) and finishing up at Bluffton University (1986). Teresa played four years of volleyball, two years of basketball, one year of fast-pitch softball, and one year of track & field. During her collegiate career in volleyball, she was named four years in a row to the Western Buckeye Central Conference (WBCC) First Team, named to the NAIA District 22 First Team, 1985 WBCC Conference Player of the Year, and 1985 All Ohio Intercollegiate Volleyball Team. She led her team to the WBCC Championship and the NAIA District 22 Championship, but fell short in the 1985 NAIA BI-District XV tournament, where they were Runner's Up. The 1985 Bluffton University volleyball team (35-6) was inducted into Bluffton's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Teresa's passion for athletics led her to continue playing and coaching. She has played USVBA volleyball andUSSSA softball. Teresa also excelled in playing Women's Flag Football in Cincinnati, Ohio and competed against teams from Canada, Sweden, and Germany while playing in several International Flag Football Tournaments in KeyWest, Florida. Teresa has coached at the varsity and junior varsity levels in volleyball and basketball at Pandora-Gilboa, Tecumseh, Beavercreek, and Centerville Schools. Teresa currently resides in Lebanon, Ohio. She is finishing her 19th year of teaching, with the last ten years at Tower Heights Middle School in Centerville in PhysicalEducation (grades 6 - 8). A special thanks goes to her entire family and friends who have supported her throughout her life.