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Bluffton University announces 2010 Athletics Hall of Fame inductees

Bluffton University recently announced the 2010 inductees into the Bluffton University Athletics Hall of Fame. The 2010 inductees include Al Beitler '76, Kimberly (Spiegel '93) Mutchler and Emil Knorr '57. The 1967 baseball team will also be inducted. A special induction ceremony and dinner is planned for Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. For tickets contact the box office at 419-358-3239 or [email protected].

Kim Mutchler
Kim Mutchler, Bucyrus, Ohio, had a decorated career at Bluffton in both volleyball and track and field. She participated in volleyball for four years, earning two letters during her career. Mutchler also participated in track and field for four years, earning all-district honors in 1991 and 1992. In volleyball, Mutchler averaged 2.66 kills per game, with a total of 806 career kills which ranks her 14th all-time. In track and field, she continues to hold the second best high jump height of 5'3". Mutchler is a teacher at Bucyrus City Schools where she coaches varsity volleyball. She and her husband, Brett, have two children.

Al Beitler
Al Beitler, Greenbelt, Md., was a member of the Bluffton baseball team from 1973-76. Beitler was a pitcher at Bluffton and holds the second highest batting average for a season for his performance in 1976 when he went 17-34 (.500) from the plate. Beitler earned first team All Hoosier-Buckeye Conference honors and was named to the NAIA All-District Team. He graduated in 1976 with a 3.9 GPA, was nominated to the Phi Delta Society and named the Most Outstanding Sociology Major his senior year. Beitler received his master's degree in peace studies from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1982 and his master's of social work in 1995. He currently works at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., as the minority achievement coordinator. He has two children.

Emil Knorr
Emil Knorr was a two-sport athlete while at Bluffton. Knorr played football all four years and was named honorable mention all-conference in 1955, and was named co-captain in 1956. The 1956 team won their conference title, with Knorr starting at both fullback and defensive end. Knorr also played baseball for the Beavers and was a two-year letter winner. In 1968, Knorr received his master's in mathematics from Boston College. He has taught at both the high school and collegiate levels, most recently at Hiram College and the Gilmore Academy. Knorr and his wife, Marilyn, live in Youngstown, Ohio. He has three children and three step-children.

1967 baseball team
The 1967 baseball team, coached by Bill Ramseyer, placed first in the Mid-Ohio Conference with a record of 12-7 overall and 7-3 in the conference. The team was led by a superb pitching staff that compiled a 2.30 ERA on the season, allowing just 55 walks and combining to throw 13 complete games. They posted a fielding percentage of .923 and offensively, Bluffton outscored their opponents 83-69 on the year.

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