Multi-talented,
certainly describes Don Vesling. A standout in Football, Basketball
and Baseball. Don was a man for all seasons.
A three year letterman in Football, he played end
until his senior year when he was shifted to quarterback. He led the
Middies to a Lakeland Conference Championship and completed 49 per
cent of his passes and averaged 5.8 yards per carry on the ground and
scored 67 points. He intercepted three passes on defense. An
outstanding kicker, he averaged 51 yards on kickoffs and sent 15 into
the end zone. He kicked a 40-yard field goal and broke the school
record for punting average. He was All-Lakeland Conference,
All-District and received All-State honors as a defensive back.
Don was a three-year starter in basketball and was
All-Lakeland Conference, All-County and All-District. He was the
Middie’s top scorer and rebounder his senior year and made the Plain
Dealer Dream Team.
Baseball was perhaps Don’s best sport. A four year
letterman, he was an overpowering left handed pitcher who fashioned a
0.25 earned run average, his senior year. When not pitching, he played
first base and had a career batting average of .352. Senior year
honors included team MVP, All-County, All-State and he played in the
State All-Star game. He was named to the Plain Dealer Dream Team.
After graduation, Don took his talents to Eastern
Michigan University where he played end on the football team and was
its place kicker. He played baseball and was a three-year letterman as
a first baseman, pitcher and DH. He was the team’s MVP in 1987.
In 1987, he was the 14th round draft pick of the
Detroit Tigers. He made their 40 man roster in 1990, the year of the
strike, and played winter ball in Puerto Rico to finish out the
season. In 1991 he played for the Toledo Mudhens. He played baseball
for two more years and before retiring to other endeavors.
Don is currently a steel broker and lives in
Valparaiso, Indiana with his wife, Stacy and their son, Drew.


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