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Wheaton College Athletics

Wheaton Hall of Honor

Football

2016 Wheaton Hall of Honor individual inductees announced

Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton College Athletics Department will induct six individuals into the Hall of Honor during the October 8th Homecoming weekend festivities. This years inductees are: Jeremy Amos (Football); Troy Edwards (Men's Soccer); Rachel (Horgen) Ties; J.D. Leman (Football); Jon Taylor (Men's Swimming); and Dan Weber (Wrestling). The 2006 Wheaton women's soccer team, the 2006 NCAA Division III Champions, will also be inducted into the Hall of Honor this fall. The team will be inducted and recognized on September 3 during halftime of the season-opening football game against Benedictine and during the women's soccer game against Hope College.

Founded in 1976, the Wheaton College Athletic Hall of Honor is dedicated to recognizing former players, teams, and coaches who have made a significant contribution to Wheaton athletics. Wheaton recognizes athletics as an integral part of the educational program of the college; its nominees have proven to have learned valuable lessons in discipline, sacrifice, perseverance, cooperation, and commitment.

There will be a reception for this year's three inductees following the football game on October 8 (approximately between 4-5 PM) in the lobby of King Arena at the Sports and Recreation Complex on the Wheaton campus.
Jeremy Amos '01
Willoughby, Ohio
Sport: Football
Degree: Business/Economics

Jeremy Amos was a standout at wide receiver and kick returner on the gridiron for the Wheaton College football team. In his four-year career Amos recorded 151 career receptions, a mark that was sixth in school history at the time of his graduation (now seventh). He tallied 19 career receiving touchdowns; an effort that ranked fifth in program history at the time of his graduation (ranks seventh today).
 
As a senior in 2000, Amos helped lead Wheaton to a share of its first CCIW Championship since 1995. He earned First Team All-American recognition that year with 76 catches, including 12 touchdown receptions. Amos registered 1,171 receiving yards in 2000 for the third-highest single-season receiving yardage total in program history at the time of his graduation. He also contributed to Wheaton's success in that season by setting the program's single-season record for kick return yardage with 21 returns for 488 yards (today this effort ranks sixth).
 
Jeremy recalls of two lessons he learned in his time with Wheaton football. "The first lesson I learned was the value of hard work. All the coaches at Wheaton, especially coach Swider, preached the value of hard work. They instilled in us a work ethic and toughness that I have carried with me through my years away from the field – it's helped me keep my marriage together, my business growing and my mind focused."
 
He continues, "The second lesson was put the team over self. I remember Swider used to always say, right now it's God first, you second – then when you get married it's God first, your wife second and you third – then when you have kids, it's God first, your wife second, your kids third and you last. This is so very true. Since I left Wheaton, those team over self-lessons that were continually taught to us have slowly manifested in me.  My family is my team now and I would do anything and everything for them. I live for my team every day and understand what it means to put myself last. If I didn't have those lessons to lean on I am not sure I would fully be able to get past myself and focus my life on my family.
 
Jeremy is the founder and owner of HILL+JANE Design, a boutique marketing and graphic design business. He and his wife Elizabeth live in Willoughby, Ohio with their two children: Elise (8) and Adele (6). 
Troy Edwards '94
Aurora, Illinois
Sport: Men's Soccer
Degree: History/Social Science
 
Troy Edwards ranks among the top distributors in the history of Division III men's soccer. His 44 career assists in his four seasons with the Wheaton men's soccer program still stands as the top mark in team history, 23 after his final season with the Crusaders. As a senior in 1993 he set Wheaton's single-season assist record with 23, a mark that ranked third in Division III history at the time and is still 11th all-time.
 
Edwards earned First Team All-CCIW recognition three times in his career and was honored as the conference's Player of the Year in 1993. A First Team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region honoree in 1993, Edwards registered four assists on November 5 in a victory against Benedictine – a mark that is the second-highest single-game total in program history.
 
Troy recalls, "My most important life lesson in my time at Wheaton was understanding how the word "Kopion" from 1 Corinthians 15:58 applies to my entire life." He continues, "As n college athlete, I mostly focused on the importance of working until utter exhaustion on the field, but as I grew and matured I believe Paul meant for this attitude to be reflected in all aspects of my life; in my relationships, my job, as a husband as a father, etc. Having this attitude of working until utter exhaustion in everything I do is the single most important lesson I learned as a Crusader and it has defined my life post-Wheaton."
 
Following his playing career Troy transitioned into coaching, including a stint as an assistant coach alongside Joe Bean and the Wheaton men's soccer program. Edwards was an assistant coach for two Wheaton teams that appeared in Division III Championship Matches (1997 and 1999) and won a championship ring with the 1997 National Champions. He recalls, "A highlight for me has to be when won the NCAA Championship in 1997. It was during my years as an assistant coach. That was when I knew I wanted to go on to run my own collegiate program."
 
He is currently the head women's soccer coach at Aurora University. Troy lives in Aurora, Illinois with his wife Jessica and their two children: Abigail (10) and Caleb (4).
Rachel (Horgen) Ties '01
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Sport: Women's Basketball
Degrees: Communication and Christian Education
 
Rachel (Horgen) Ties is among the top scorers in the history of Wheaton women's basketball; and she is greatest three-point shooter in the program's history. Her 206 three-pointers over her four-year career is the most ever by a Wheaton player and her 1,356 career points ranks fourth in the team's record books. The standout at guard is sixth in team history in career field goals with 502.
 
A four-time All-CCIW honoree, Horgen recorded three of Wheaton's top-five single-season efforts from behind the three-point line at the time of her graduation. She helped lead Wheaton to the second CCIW Championship in program history in the 1998-99 season. Horgen made two NCAA Division III Tournament appearances while wearing the "Orange and Blue."
J.D. Leman '01
Oak Park, Illinois
Sport: Football      
Degree: Business/Economics
 
J.D. Leman was a four-year letterwinner for the Wheaton football program. In 2000 he recorded a dominating season at linebacker and earned recognition as the CCIW Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He was honored as a First Team All-American by D3football.com in 2000 and was a Third Team member of the Hewlett-Packard Division III All-America Team.
 
Leman helped lead Wheaton to a share of the CCIW Championship in 2000 with a team-high 116 total tackles, including 85 solo stops. He also registered 13 tackles for loss (-57 yards) that year with four sacks (-33 yards). He also recorded three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
 
J.D. recalls a favorite memory from his senior season, "It was fourth-and goal in the second overtime at Augustana in the final game of the 2000 season. We had exchanged field goals in the first overtime and had the ball first in the second overtime. After scoring a touchdown, Augustana had a chance to answer. Their tight end had been killing us on short yardage routes and it seemed obvious that would be the go-to play as they lined up from the seven-yard line. I lined up on the tight end man-to-man. He ran a 10-yard out route and I broke on the ball, knocking it down, sealing a 37-30 victory, an 8-2 season, and most importantly a CCIW title."
 
 "I learned there is no substitute for hard work and discipline in your craft. Everyone has been blessed with a unique set of gifts but they don't mean much if you are unable to put in the time required to maximize their potential," J.D. recalls of what he learned in his time with Wheaton football. He concludes, "Real life is surprisingly similar to football. There are times you win and there are times you lose. We were always told to focus on where we were going. The challenge to keep your perspective on the goal ahead has been instrumental in my development as man.
 
J.D. lives in Oak Park, Illinois with his wife Carrie and their five children: Lily (13), Caroline (11), Gus (9), Luke (7) and Maeve (4). J.D. and Carrie are co-pastors at Greater Chicago West, a church in Oak Park. Additionally, J.D. owns Left Hash Capital, an electronic arbitrage trader. 
Jon Taylor '01 (BA); '02 (MA)
Arden Hills, Minnesota
Sport: Men's Swimming        
Degrees: Political Science (BA); Systematic Theology and Church History (MA)
 
Jon Taylor earned 10 individual All-American awards in his swimming career at Wheaton. Four of his All-American accolades came in the 100-yard breaststroke, where he finished as the Division III runner-up in the event three times (2000, 2001 and 2002). He was also a four-time All-American in the 200-yard breaststroke and twice (2001 and 2002) earned All-American recognition in the individual medley.
 
Jon was honored as the CCIW MVP at the 1999 and 2000 CCIW Men's Swimming Championships and helped lead Wheaton to a conference championship in each of his four seasons. He was a four-time (1999-2002) CCIW Champion in both the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke and won two (1999-00) conference championships in the 200-yard individual medley. Jon's Wheaton and CCIW records in the 100-yard breaststroke (55.99) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:03.17) stood until March 2016.
 
"Reaching the top-eight in the finals of three individual events (the maximum allowed) at the 2001 NCAA Division III Championships; and nearly winning the 400-yard medley relay against powerhouse Kenyon College that year was a highlight for me," notes Jon.
 
Jon reflects on his experiences, "Swimming at Wheaton also taught me the value of finding my identity in something greater then what I could accomplish in the pool. There is always someone faster, someone stronger, and if I allowed my identity to be shaped by if I won or lost, I wouldn't be able to experience all that God had for me. Through great coaching and great teammates, I was challenged to find joy in swimming and not define my identity by what I was able to achieve in the pool.
 
Jon lives in Arden Hills, Minnesota with his wife Karla and their three children: Charlie (8); Sydney (5) and Crosby (9 months). Jon is the campus pastor at Eagle Brook Church in White Bear Lake, Minnesota as he oversees the staff and ministry at the campus.
Dan Weber '01
West Chicago, Illinois
Sport: Wrestling    
Degree: Christian Education
 
Dan Weber made an immediate impact on the Wheaton wrestling program when he transferred from Indiana University in 1999. He was a two-time All-American for Wheaton, winning the 2001 NCAA Division III Championship at 165-pounds. Weber compiled a remarkable 53-4 record in his Wheaton career.
 
In 2000, Weber finished third at the Division III Championships at 157-pounds, also winning the Division III Great Lakes Regional and CCIW Championship at the weight class that year.
 
Dan closed out his Wheaton career with a flawless season to win the 2001 Division III Championship at 165-pounds with a perfect record of 24-0 that season. Weber won the CCIW and Division III Great Lakes Regional championships at 165-pounds in 2001, earning recognition as the "Outstanding Wrestler" at the 2001 Great Lakes Regional.
 
Weber recollects of a favorite memory, "I will never forget the NCAA Regional my junior year as we were trying to qualify for nationals. My good friend and teammate Emery Petchauer qualified for Nationals for the first time by winning the tournament at 141-pounds and in order for me to qualify for Nationals I needed to win in the finals. I tore my MCL in the semifinals which all but crushed my chances to get to wrestle at Nationals with Emery. We taped my knee up and sent me out to wrestle in the finals and about 15 seconds into the match the guy took a weird shot that put him in a bad position and it gave me a four-point lead. That was enough for me to hold on for a 6-4 win and I got to go to Nationals with my good friend Emery Petchauer.
 
Dan is a Director of Fixed Income and Capital Markets with Stifel Financial Corporation. He and his wife Amanda reside in West Chicago, Illinois with their three children: Micah (10); David (8) and Lila (6). 
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