Caleb Wittmer, a 2000 graduate of Crest High School in Colony, was inducted into the MidAmerica Nazarene University Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 21. Wittmer attended MNU in Olathe from 2000-2004.
“This was a wonderful honor. They don’t induct people every year so it really is special for me,” Wittmer told the Register in a telephone interview earlier this week.
Wittmer started as linebacker all four years for the Pioneers. He finished with 459 tackles, which ranks fourth all-time for MNU, and had nine fumble recoveries, which is third all-time in Pioneer football history.
“Coming out of a small high school, of course I was a big K-State fan and wanted to play there. The opportunity to go to MidAmerica Nazarene presented itself and I don’t regret it at all,” said Wittmer.
“It was a matter of buying into their system and playing and working hard,” he said of his success as a Pioneer player.
Wittmer was a team captain for two years and earned Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) first team honors as linebacker three years. He was the HAAC defensive player of the year in 2004 and received first-team All-America honors.
Wittmer is the son of Beverly and Larry Wittmer of Colony. He said he works with his brother Adam in residential and commercial real estate in the Kansas City area.
“I made lifelong friends at MidAmerica and I met my wife at college. It was a great experience for me,” Wittmer said.
Wittmer and his wife, Amanda, live in Shawnee and have three children, Aislyn, 4, Paige, 2 and Jameson, five weeks.
Wittmer is inducted into MNU Hall of Fame
