Athletics Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony, Oct. 5, 2024
Bruce Wasem ’68
1968 graduate Bruce Wasem was inducted into the 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame for achievements
in football and track and field as well as achievements in collegiate coaching. A
four-year member of the football team and a two-year member of the track and field
team, Wasem earned the A.C. Burcky award at Bluffton in 1968.
A history and political science double major, Wasem is now an instructor of physical education at University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Wasem has a successful history as a football and baseball coach. He has coached 43 years to date. He coached six years in public schools in Ohio, then went on to coach collegiately. Wasem coached 17 years at Wilmington College. After Wilmington, Wasem helped found the football program at Clinch Valley College/University of Virginia’s College at Wise and has coached there 20 years, serving as head coach the last eight. In 2006, Wasem was named Mid-South Conference Coach-of-the-Year. That same year, Wasem’s team received the NAIA Champions of Character award.
“Work hard to be the best person you can be at everything. Work hard to be the best student, work hard to be the best athlete, but most importantly, work hard to be the best person you can be. People will remember you more for who you were as a person than how many touchdowns you scored.”
Janelle (Stanek ’97) Wyant
A powerhouse on the volleyball court, Janelle (Stanek) Wyant was inducted into the
2024 Athletics Hall of Fame for her achievements in volleyball. She played on the
women’s team from 1993-97 under Coach Kim Fischer.
Wyant is tied for the most sets played in a season with 158 and is the fourth highest in career sets played with 523. In 1996, she had a record breaking 201 blocks in one season, which eventually lead her to be second all-time with 481 career blocks.
She was also part of the team’s trip to the NCAA tournament in 1994 and 1996. Wyant credits her team for helping her achieve successes on and off the court. She also won the Kathryn E. Little award in 1997.
A 1997 graduate in elementary education, Wyant is now a sixth grade English language arts teacher in Lexington, Ohio. She has been no stranger to the volleyball court since graduating from Bluffton. She has coached volleyball for 12 years. She has been the head coach at Lexington for nine years and coached club swim previously for 12 years. For two straight years, Wyant was named Division II Northwest District Coach-of-the-Year.
Along with her coaching career, she also has been a high school volleyball official for the past 20 years. Wyant has been married to her husband, John, for 27 years. They live in Lexington with their three kids, Jadon, 21; Jack, 19; and Julia, 17.
“Bluffton taught me that it is all about relationships. We don’t remember the score of a match or game, but we remember the people we are with and the relationships we built.”