James Gensterblum Archives

Longshot Leaders: Shea Ruddy and Jacob Vance go from Overlooked to Undeniable for Hillsdale College Football

After three seasons on the field for the Hillsdale College football team, the importance of Shea Ruddy and Jacob Vance to the Chargers is easy to see. Ruddy and Vance have achieved tremendous success as individuals at Hillsdale, but for their final season in 2026, both players have just one goal in mind—to bring home the team’s first championship since 2018.

Hammer Time: Thrower Ben Haas Wins Double National Championships

The first time Ben Haas, ’26, visited the Hillsdale College campus, he was told he had the raw potential to be a national champion someday. Four years later, Haas made that potential a reality, becoming the first double NCAA champion in men’s track and field at Hillsdale since the Chargers moved from the NAIA in 1998.

Triple Threat, No Regrets: Marilyn Popplewell Excels in Three Sports

Excelling at one sport in college is a dream come true for most athletes. Marilyn Popplewell, ’25, made the most of her final school year, making a huge impact in three different sports—volleyball, basketball, and track and field—to become Hillsdale’s first true three-sport athlete in more than two decades.

On the Ball: Super Sophomore Trio Brings Chargers Golf to the Forefront

The first month of college for a freshman is supposed to be a time of transition and adjustment to new responsibilities and a new life. It’s not usually a time to be bringing home trophies. However, a trio of precocious men’s golfers at Hillsdale College—Oliver Marshall, Ryan O’Rourke, and Robert Thompson—defied the odds.

End of an Era: Keith Otterbein’s 22 Years at the Helm of Chargers Football

As a player, assistant coach, and longtime head coach of Hillsdale College football for the better part of five decades, Keith Otterbein, ’79, had a successful run. He left an impressive legacy and led a program that consistently found success while fully honoring Hillsdale’s demanding expectations for both academic success and high character.

Not Your Average Joni: Russell Pitches a Sensational Softball Season

To become a record-setter and achieve unprecedented honors in any sport, it takes a person who’s more than just a special athlete. It requires someone with an additional edge to reach the top—and the Hillsdale College softball team’s pitcher, Joni Russell, has just that edge.