Year Inducted – 2014

Dave Poetter has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with the game of baseball. The ride has been forever, has taken different forms and led to numerous rewards and honors. Poetter began playing in Little League and moved up the chain to play Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball in his hometown of Wadsworth. He was key cog in the American Legion Post #170 team that won third place in a state tournament. He then starred on the Wadsworth High School team and led the Grizzlies to a Chippewa Conference championship. Poetter was recruited by the College of Wooster. Poetter had four stellar years at COW, was a 4-year letterman (1968-1971) and earned first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors. He also was honored by being chosen a captain of the College of Wooster team. Poetter remained active playing baseball after graduating from the College of Wooster. He was a standout in the Akron AA League for 8 years as a player with the Wadsworth and Medina Merchants teams. He also embarked on a long coaching career. He was the head baseball coach at Smithville High School for one season and graduate assistant at the College of Wooster for a season before taking over as the head coach at Highland High School for 20 seasons. His teams won 2 Inland Conference championships and 2 Suburban League championships. Poetter was elected to the Wadsworth High School Athletic Hall of Fame.