Editor’s note: This is the second of a six-part series of stories about the 2015 Crawford County Sports Hall of Fame inductees.
David Katterhenrich received a pleasant surprise after he and his family moved back to the Crawford County area at the end of July 2015.
Katterhenrich was among the six inductees for the 2015 Crawford County Sports Hall of Fame.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I was pretty much overwhelmed by it.”
“It’s quite an honor,” he added.
Katterhenrich began his athletic career at Bucyrus High School where he excelled in multiple sports, which were basketball, football and track.
In 1958, he set the school record in the mile relay during the Northern Ohio League Championship, while his team was the league champion. The track team was once again NOL Champs in 1959, and Katterhenrich set a school record in the discus.
He was the sixth man on the NOL basketball team during the 1957 season, and he later received the Michael MV trophy in basketball during the following season.
Katterhenrich was a fullback and lineback for the the 1958 Bucyrus football team coached by Paul Keltner that had a 7-2 record and were ranked 20th in the state in Division 2. As the leading rusher and scorer in the league, Katterhenrich made it to first team in the NOL. He was also Jaycee All-Ohio first-team offense and defense and the Toledo Blade/Times All-star team offense and defense. He was also the Associated Press and United Press International first-team linebacker and halfback. He was the first player in Bucyrus history to make first team All-Ohio.
Katterhenrich was a three-year letter winner in football at The Ohio State University, while he played for the legend head coach Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler. In 1959, he received the “Greatest Desire” award and was on the Buckeye teams that defeated Michigan all three years to receive three “Golden Pants”.
Katterhenrich was also part of the 1961 Ohio State Big Ten championship team, which was also awarded the national championship by the Football Writers Association of America. During that year, Ohio State qualified to play Alabama in the Rose Bowl, but the University faculty council rejected the invitation in a narrow vote out of concern that the school’s emphasis on sports was too excessive.
“It’s just unbelievable,” Katterhenrich said.
But he’s looking forward to the team’s upcoming reunion at an Ohio State football game this fall.
“It’s nice to see everybody again,” he said.
In 1962, Katterhenrich made the all-academic Big Ten team, and played in the 14th annual Senior Bowl as the starting fullback for the North team, which was coached by legendary Tom Landry of the Dallas.
He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, who intended to trade Katterhenrich to the New York Titans.
But Katterhenrich decided he could make more money teaching and began a career in education that ran from 1967 through 2011. Subjects he taught included biology, physical education and health. He also coached football, basketball, softball and weightlifting. He spent a year as a graduate assistant under Hayes at OSU in 1971.
Katterhenrich had several coaching accomplishments. He was the head football coach at South Central High School, when the team had its first ever victory over Norwalk St. Paul and was a defensive coordinator at Weston, W. Va-based Lewis County High School, which defeated Buchanan for the first time in 26 years. He was Coach of the Year for the Scioto Valley Conference, while coaching at Westfall High School.
Dave is married to Deborah and has three sons and two daughters.
The Crawford County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2015 Induction Banquet takes place at the Trillium Event Center, 1630 E. Southern Ave., in Bucyrus 5 p.m. March 19. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for 12 and under. The tickets can be purchased at the Crestline Advocate, the six high school athletic department offices or by calling 419-571-6284.
The other inductees are Bill Durtschi of Galion, Jack Hewitt of Bucyrus, Chuck Huggins of Colonel Crawford, Natalie Winkelfoos of Bucyrus and the 1985 Girls basketball state championship team.
Information submitted by Carolyn Helbert.
