The Ohio Northern University Athletic Hall of Fame inducted four new members on Sept. 25, as part of ONU’s Homecoming weekend.
The four inductees in the 2015 class are:
• Jaclyn Dight, a 2003 biology/premed graduate and track and field athlete from Weirton, W.Va.;
• Kristen (Barron) May, a 1997 environmental studies graduate from Bowling Green, Ohio; • William “Bill” Lang, a 1994 sociology major from Garfield Heights, Ohio; and
• David Grantier, a 1988 mechanical engineering major from Canton, Ohio.
To be inducted into the ONU Athletic Hall of Fame, one must have made great contributions to the field of athletics through their athletic performance at the University or meritorious efforts made on behalf of athletics. Nominees do not necessarily have to be former ONU students unless they are nominated as an athlete; however, they do have to have served the University for at least 12 years.
Athletes must have attended Northern at least 10 years ago and must have earned two letters in one sport or one letter in three or more sports. All nominees must have demonstrated good citizenship both at ONU and beyond and served the athletics program in any capacity that contributed to the overall program.
Jaclyn Dight
Dight excelled as a member of the track and field team during her ONU career. The five-time All-American competed in the 400-meter hurdles and the 55-meter hurdles, claiming national runner-up honors in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2003. She currently holds ONU Track & Field Complex records in the 100-meter hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles.
Dight also was a 17-time Ohio Athletic Conference champion, earning 32 All-Conference accolades. She was named the OAC outdoor Marcia French Outstanding Track Athlete in 2002 and 2003, the OAC indoor Most Outstanding Track Athlete in 2003, the USTA/Mondo Great Lakes Regional Female Athlete of the Year in 2002 and 2003, and the ONU Most Valuable Runner in 2001 and 2003. She still currently remains on nine superlatives lists in events ranging from the 55-meter dash to the 500-meter run.
A model student-athlete, Dight also excelled in the classroom. She was a member of the dean’s list and the recipient of the Robert Sanders and Nova Hegele Scholarship. She also was named Academic All-OAC and received the OAC’s prestigious Clyde Lamb Award.
After graduating from ONU in 2003, Dight continued her education at the University of Toledo, receiving a master’s degree in physician assistant studies. She currently works for Emergency Services Inc. as an ER physician assistant. Dight also is a member of American Academy of Physician Assistants, Ohio Physician Assistants Association, and Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
A native of Weirton, W. Va., and a graduate of Weir High School, Dight is engaged to be married to Joshua Wiethe, and the couple resides in Warwood, W.Va.
Kristen (Barron) May
May was an outstanding track and field athlete at ONU in the mid ’90s. She was a three-time All-American and a six-time NCAA qualifier. May qualified in the 100-meter hurdles and the 55-meter hurdles during each of her four seasons.
May, a three-time Ohio Athletic Conference champion, also earned All-OAC honors in each of her four seasons. She claimed OAC Championship honors in 1994 when she placed sixth nationally in the 55-meter hurdles and set a new ONU school record in the 100-meter hurdles. During the 1995 season, she won the OAC in the 100-meter hurdles and received a bid to the NCAA Championships. She had continued success in 1996 when she claimed All-OAC honors in the 55-meter hurdles and qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive time, earning All-American honors. May also was an OAC runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles as well as runner-up at the All-Ohio meet during the 1996 season. She concluded her career at Northern in 1997 when she claimed OAC Champion honors in the 100-meter hurdles, set a new record in the 100-meter hurdles at the All-Ohio meet and was named an All-American for the third time.
May also excelled in the classroom and was named a member of the UTF Academic All-American District Team, the national leadership honors society, and the ONU biology honorary. She also was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority.
After graduating with distinction from ONU in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in environmental studies, she continued to devote her time to track, serving as a coach for varsity track at McLean High School in McLean, Va. After graduation, she also was an assistant coach for junior varsity volleyball at Paul IV High School and George C. Marshall High School.
May is a native of Bowling Green, Ohio, and graduated from Bowling Green High School.
May is currently employed with Scientific Applications International Corporation as a Geospatial Analyst. She and her husband, David, have two children and reside in Buffalo, N.Y. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball and reading.
William “Bill” Lang
Lang was an outstanding baseball athlete and played junior varsity basketball at ONU. He received varsity letters in baseball four consecutive seasons, from 1972-75. A two-time All-American, he was named First Team All-America as a junior in 1974. He also was an Academic All-American as a senior in 1975. Lang was an All-Ohio Athletic Conference selection from 1973-75 as well as a member of the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team as a First Team selection in 1974. Lang also is a member of the ONU baseball .300 club.
Lang was very involved with ONU campus life, as he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Alpha Phi and Phi Alpha Society fraternities and the German Club. He also competed in intramurals.
After graduating from ONU in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts in social work and sociology, Lang continued his education at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, receiving a J.D. in 1978. He currently is an attorney at law at William P. Lang, Attorney, LLC. Prior to this, he worked as the acting judge for the Avon Lake Municipal Court from 1986-2004.
A native of Garfield Heights and a graduate of Garfield Heights High School, Lang volunteers as a tutor for Cleveland Reads and Building Hope in the City. He also donates time to Cleveland Sports Commission and the Avon Lake Preschool Parents Association. He is an active member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Baseball Association, Ohio State Baseball Association and the Cleveland Bar Association.
Lang and his wife, Stacey, have two adult children, Matthew and Jackson. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf, reading and writing.
David Grantier
Grantier was a member of the ONU men’s track and field team from 1985-88, earning a varsity letter in each of his four seasons. He was a two-time Ohio Athletic Conference champion and was named All-OAC on four separate occasions. Grantier won the long jump in 1985 at the Outdoor OAC Championships and won the long jump in 1988 at the Indoor OAC Championships.
He was named Outstanding Male Athlete in 1987 at the Joe Banks Invitational, winning the high jump, triple jump and long jump. Grantier also was named the Sporty Adams Outstanding Field Athlete in 1987 and the Bud Yost Most Outstanding Field Athlete in 1988, winning the long jump at the OAC Indoor Championships.
After graduating from Ohio Northern in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering, Grantier dedicated his time to his wife, Claire, and daughters Emma and Anna. He currently coaches his daughters’ basketball and softball teams and is a proud supporter of his daughter Emma’s interest in track and field.
A native of North Canton, Ohio, and a graduate of Glen Oak High School, Grantier is currently employed by NASA Glenn Research Center as a systems engineer. He was a recipient of the NASA Space Flight Awareness Award and participates in NASA’s FIRST Robotics Competition with Cleveland’s inner city high schools.
In his free time, Grantier enjoys playing basketball and golf and restoring tractors and motorcycles. Grantier and his family reside in Medina, Ohio.
