The Columbia City High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee has selected its first class of inductees. Due to COVID restrictions, we will be honoring this class of 10 virtually with plans to honor them formally at an athletic contest during the 2021-22 school year. Congratulations to the 2021 Columbia City High School Hall of Fame class.

• Bryan Deutsch – A 2006 CCHS Graduate who led the wrestling team to 3 straight final four appearances, 3 semi-state titles, 3 regional titles, and 4 sectional titles. Bryan was a 4-time state qualifier culminating with two state runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006. His career record in high school was 136-18. He still holds CCHS records for most season wins, most career post season wins, and longest winning streak for a career. After high school, he went on to wrestle for Northern Illinois University where he was a 3-time NCAA national qualifier.

• Abe DeVol – Former Boys’ Basketball Coach from 1926-1943 who led the Eagles to 272 total wins. His teams won 11 sectionals and 2 regionals. Coach DeVol still holds the record for most wins as head coach of Columbia City Boys’ Basketball at 290. Abe also coached the football team from 1926 to 1939 and the boys’ track and field team from 1926 to 1943. Along with his duties as coach, Abe served as an athletic director and the president of the Northern Indiana Athletic Officials’ Association. Annually, Columbia City High School hands out the DeVol Award in each male sport honoring the contributions made to Columbia City by Coach Abe DeVol.

• Leah Eber – A 2007 CCHS Graduate where she competed in track and field and volleyball. She was a 4- time state qualifier in long jump finishing 8th as a freshmen and state runner-up the next 3 years. She was also a state qualifier in the 200m dash as a junior earning a medal in 9th place. In 2004, she helped lead the girls’ track team to a sectional championship. Leah still holds the record for the 100m dash, 200m dash, and long jump. After high school, Leah attended Purdue University where she broke the school indoor record for long jump, won 4 Big 10 titles, was a 4-time Academic All-American, and qualified for the NCAA championships finishing as high as 3rd and earning All-American accolades. In 2012, Leah was named the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field “Field Athlete of the Year” and qualified for the London Olympic Trials. In addition, Leah competed in the USA Track and Field National Championships in 2013 and received an 8th place finish in long jump.

• Meggan (Schumaker) Hoag – A 1995 CCHS Graduate where she competed in golf. She was a 3-time state qualifier finishing 5 th as a junior, 6th as a senior, and state runner-up as a sophomore. She was 3-time 1st team all-state, 4-time conference champion, 3-time sectional champion, and 2-time regional champion. Meggan still holds the records for best 9-hole match score, best 9-hole round in an 18-hole match, and best 18-hole tournament score. After high school, Meggan attended Michigan State University where she was a 3-time letter winner for the Spartans.

• Randy Kearby – Former Wrestling Coach from 1998-2008 who led the Eagles to 172 total wins. His teams won 8 sectionals, 6 regionals, and 3 semi-states. He also coached individuals to 25 conference titles, 57 sectional titles, 30 regional titles, and 7 semi-state titles. Under Coach Kearby, the wrestling team advanced to the Final Four in three straight seasons from 2004 to 2006. In 2015, Coach Randy Kearby was inducted into the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

•    Wayne Kreiger – Former Girls’ Basketball Coach from 1977 to 2010 who led the Lady Eagles to 520 total wins.  His teams won 17 sectionals, 8 regionals, 1 semi-state, and 1 state runner-up finish.  Coach Kreiger remains the winningest coach for Columbia City Girls’ Basketball and the 5th winningest coach in Indiana history.  In 2006, Coach Wayne Kreiger was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.     

•  Constance (Myers) Kline – A 2000 CCHS Graduate and multi-sport athlete with 11 varsity letters in:  basketball, volleyball, and softball. She started every basketball game of her high-school career, until the 3A State Championship Game her senior year, where she tore her ACL in the semi-state championship; although injured, she competed in her final career game as the “heart and soul” of the Lady Eagles Basketball Team. She still holds the record for the girls all-time leading scorer with 1,629 career points. She also holds the records for:  most points in a season, most points in a game, most free throws made in a game, and most rebounds in a game. A 1999 Indiana Junior-All Star on the girls’ core team. The 2000 girls 21-Alive Player of the year. Four-time 1st Team All-Conference (NHC). All-State Honorable Mention senior year. After high school, Constance attended Northern Kentucky University where she led the team to the 2003 NCAA Division II national championship game.

•  Deb (Sauers) Johnson – A 1988 CCHS Graduate where she participated in cross country, basketball, and track and field.  In cross country, Deb was a 4-time state qualifier and 3-time first team all-state finishing as high as 4th at the IHSAA state cross country meet.  In track and field, Deb was a 6-time state qualifier.  During her junior year, she was the state champion in both the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles.  During her senior year, Deb finished as state runner-up in those same events.  She still holds the school records for the 400m dash, the 300m hurdles, and the 400m relay.  She also held the state record for 300m hurdles for 24 years.  After high school, Deb attended Indiana University where she ran cross country and track and field.  Deb was a 4-year letter winner for the Hoosiers and still holds a top 5 time in the 400m hurdles.  In 2000, Deb was inducted into the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.   

•  Bill Schwarz – A 1960 CCHS Graduate where he participated in football, basketball, cross country, and track and field.  Bill was the all-time leading scorer in boys’ basketball from 1960 until 2020 and currently sits at #2 on the CCHS all-time scoring list.  Bill still holds basketball records in the following categories, career scoring average, career field goals made, points in a season, field goals made in a season, field goals made in a single game, and most point in a single game.  Bill was a 4-time basketball all-conference recipient and guided the Eagles to 2 basketball sectional titles.  Bill was also the recipient of the prestigious CCHS Honor Blanket and was named MVP of the 1960 Indiana-Ohio All-Star Game.  After graduation, Bill attended Michigan State University on a basketball scholarship and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Honors along with receiving the sportsmanship award during his junior season.

•  Mike Schumaker – A 2000 CCHS Graduate where he participated in golf and basketball.  Mike was a 7-time letter winner and multiple all-conference recipient.  His accomplishments in golf include 2-time state qualifier, an individual sectional title, an individual regional title, and an individual state title.  He was also named the IHSAA Mental Attitude recipient for golf.  In golf, Mike still holds the school record for the best 9-hole round, and the best 18-hole round.  He was also a member of the 1998 boys’ basketball sectional championship team and a recipient of the prestigious CCHS Honor Blanket.  After graduation, Mike attended Northwestern University on a golf scholarship.