Former OSU athletes visit New Bremen- New Knoxville Rotary Club

Brian and Tonya Niemeyer visited the club to share their experiences as student-athletes at The Ohio State University.  Brian played minor league baseball in the Red Sox organization right out of Minster High School as a pitcher and outfielder for three seasons, while studying pre-law at OSU.  They met on campus when Tonya was an OSU cheerleader and Brian was on the OSU football team.  Tonya cheered all through her college days at OSU, eventually becoming the captain her senior year.  Brian walked on to play football in 1992, eventually earning a roster spot on the football team .  “I knew Bob Hoying (St. Henry, quarterback) from playing against him in high school,” said Brian.  “I ended up making the roster as the third string quarterback.  Kirk (Herbstreit) was the starter, Bob (Hoying) was the second team guy.”   Brian has many stories to tell about his time with the Buckeyes.  “For the Spring three-a-days, we’d have practice, watch film, practice more, watch more film, and practice some more,” said Brian.  “Later, we would have summer conditioning where we’d lift weights and run.  Then in July we’d start three-a-days just like spring.  I got to run first and second string offenses on the days when Kirk and Bob had sore arms from throwing so much.  My job on game days was to signal the plays in to the offense.”  Brian explained that it was always very competitive between the defense and offense, and it was very intense even in practice.  Brian played one year in 1992 before finishing school and going on to law school.   “I can still remember my first game day, putting on the uniform and running on the field,” said Brian.  “That’s something I will never forget.” 

Tonya tried out in the fall of 1990 (her freshman year), for the OSU cheer squad and earned a spot on the JV squad.  “Our job was to get trained for the varsity squad,” said Tonya.  “We would cheer the women’s volleyball matches with a couple of the varsity squad members.”  The varsity squad cheered at all the of the football and basketball games.  Tonya tried out for varsity in 1991, but wouldn’t make the varsity squad until the 1992 season.  She was told that she was too tall (5’7”) to make the squad, which is what inspired her to work hard enough to make the varsity squad.  “If that guy wouldn’t have told me that, I may not have made the squad,” said Tonya.  “He really made me work hard to prove to him I could do it.”  In her second season on the varsity squad, Tonya was selected to be captain. In 1992, the OSU Varsity Cheerleaders won the National Championships, something that has not been accomplished since.  Tonya described her experience as a cheerleader on the sidelines: “The best part of cheering is when you look someone in the eyes and get them to yell “Go Bucks” during the games,” said Tonya.  “As alumni, we get to go cheer at homecoming and run out in front of the team.  That’s an awesome feeling.”  In addition to cheering at the OSU homecoming games, the alumni cheerleaders do “flash mobs” and other appearances and events to earn money for scholarships and other charities.  “Brian and I introduced Kirk Herbstreit to his wife Allison,” said Tonya.  “I was in the wedding with Joey Galloway, and we still talk to Kirk and Allison today.” 

Tonya currently runs “The Edge Cheerleading and Tumbling” in Minster, having earned her degree in Elementary Education at OSU.  Brian is currently a partner at the Sidney law firm of Faulkner, Garmhausen, Keister, and Shenk in Sidney .

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