John Keller
Alpena – the many years might have handed, however the legacy of Alpena Excessive Faculty, John Keller, continues to run earlier than, as a result of will probably be launched into the famend room of Alpena on June 7.
Keller, an Alpena graduate from 1978, has left an indentable model on the Wildcats’s Observe and Discipline, as an impediment, Sprinter and a member of the relay crew. Right this moment, greater than 45 years later, two of his college data are nonetheless – a testomony of expertise, dedication and basis positioned by devoted coaches and teammates.
Throughout the primary 12 months, Keller superior within the State Finals of the MHSAA class, within the high-court excessive obstacles and registered a time of 14.9 seconds-converts from 14.7 within the 120-court semifinals-which stays the accepted document of the varsity in 110 meters obstacles.
“I set an goal to document the varsity document in excessive obstacles,” Keller recalled. “I used to be lucky to do it via regional, and within the state semifinals, I recorded the document. I ended up inserting the ninth within the state remaining. It was an unbelievable expertise, particularly to compete in opposition to somebody like Marcus Allen from Cass Tech.”
Keller’s success expanded past particular person occasions. He additionally helped to have the ability to feed the four × 200 meter relay crew of Alpena at a 1: 31.5 college document with Tom Denomme, Phil Nensewitz and Bob Woud a model that also holds as we speak.
“We labored onerous on our switch and it gave outcomes,” he stated. “I received the Northern Champions Assembly and I am nonetheless in contact with these guys. They’ve been large teammates they usually’re nonetheless nice buddies.”
Reflecting on the impression of his athletic journey, Keller emphasised the life classes he took from his observe to his profitable profession as director of Alpena/Montmorence DHHS.
“What remained with me was to set objectives and work onerous to realize them,” he stated. “I had coaches who believed in me and in teammates who pushed me. These experiences modeled the way in which I drove groups in my skilled life. I’m pleased with the work I did to help the households in northern Michigan.”
Keller credit a lot of his success for the help system round him: coaches Tom Bennett, Pat Hughes, Jim Watters and Bob Lefevre, in addition to his mother and father Răpos, Beth and Dutch Keller.
“I heard he stated it took just one caring grownup to have an effect on a younger man’s life,” Keller stated. “I’ve been blessed to have extra. To be acknowledged as a part of Alpena’s sports activities heritage is humiliated. I’m proud to share this honor with my relay teammates and name Alpena at residence.”