BEREA, OHIO --Attending Baldwin Wallace College has become a tradition for the DeLuca family. Three members of the family have attended or are currently attending B-W and each one has made an impact in B-W athletics.
But in addition to the DeLuca's, you can add the Adams and Maxwell families into the equation of Yellow Jacket family heritage.
Currently, Tom DeLuca is a member of the B-W football team as a standout defensive back and one of the top return specialists in NCAA Division III. His older brother, Max graduated and was both an All-American punter and an All-Ohio Athletic Conference wrestler. The past two years, he has served as an assistant wrestling coach at the College. Tom's cousin, Courtney, graduated last spring after playing both football and being a heavyweight on the wrestling team. But the tradition goes much deeper.
Tom's great grandfather, Ervin Maxwell, once held the longest run from scrimmage in football and played at B-W from 1939-41. And, Tom's uncle was Paul "Sparky" Adams '41, who was a legendary athlete, teacher and coach at B-W before retiring in 1983. In fact, the tradition and heritage of this family tree is so strong that the B-W Alumni Association awarded the clan the Family Heritage Award.
Tom transfered from Bowling Green State University. Since joining the Yellow Jacket program three years ago, he has become a starter and key mainstay in the secondary and returning kicks. As evidence, Tom was named as a Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette Preseason All-American return specialist.
In 2001, Tom averaged 29.6 yards per kickoff return to lead the OAC and rank third nationally. Every time he touches the ball, whether it is via a pass interception from his defensive position or on a punt or kickoff return, Tom has the ability to take it the distance for a touchdown.
"Tom's athletic ability has helped him become one of the best retuners in the OAC and in Division III," said first year head coach John Snell. "His skills as a return specialist earned him second-team Division III All-North Region honors in 2001. He is also one of our top defensive backs. He is a key factor in both our secondary and as a return specialist."
On defense, DeLuca finished the 2001 season ranked third on the Yellow Jacket defense with 51 total tackles, including 44 solo stops. He also intercepted a pair of passes and returned one punt. This season, he has 18 tackles and tops the squad with 18 pass breakups.
"Tom is a very athletic, intense, physical player and plays the game with passion." said Snell. "Two years ago, we could see the ability that Tom has to contribute, but an injury cut short his season. He was also an outstanding wrestler in high school, so both the quickness and aggressiveness that a wrestler displays is evident in his play on defense."
DeLuca's two best games of the 2001 season came in a 38-35 overtime victory over OAC rival Wilmington College at The George Finnie Stadium in Berea in September and in a 43-28 win versus Otterbein College in Westerville in October. Against Wilmington, DeLuca returned four kickoffs for 107 yards (26.8-yard average), made 13 total tackles, including two for lost yardage and recovered a fumble that led to a touchdown. In the Otterbein game, DeLuca made 11 total tackles, including two more for losses, intercepted a pass that led to a touchdown and ran back the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.
"Tom DeLuca is one of those rare players who has the ability to directly affect the outcome of a game," said Snell. "He has all of the tools to be a great one. We are fortunate both to have Tom at B-W and a connection to the DeLuca Family."
Tom's brother, Max, was an All-American punter for the Jackets from 1996-99 and an All-OAC wrestler at 185 pounds. Max also saw limited action as a runningback. Max finished his career with a 37.6 yard average per punt and was well-known for pinning the opponent inside the 10 and 20-yard lines. His best season was in 1999 when he finished with a 40.0-yard average and earned second-team All-OAC, third-team Football Gazette All-North Region and honorable mention USAIII Divison III Special Mention All-America accolades. Max was also successful in wrestling. He began wrestling for B-W in his junior year and finished his career with a 49-26 overall record and was All-OAC. In his final year as a wrestler, Max won the 184-pound title at the 15th Annual B-W John Summa Invitational Tournament. Max spent last season as an assistant coach for both the Yellow Jacket football and wrestling teams. This year, he is coaching wrestling.
Snell sees many simularities in Tom that he saw when he coached Max. Snell served as the offensive backfield, offensive coordinator and specialists coach prior to being named head coach this past spring.
"Both Tom and Max are very dedicated young men in the classroom and on the football field," said Snell. "Both have outstanding athletic ability and the ability to participate and contribute in multiple sports. They put everything they have into the game and practice. They both have a great desire to excel."
Courtney DeLuca wrestled and played football for three years before graduating last spring. Although Courtney had an injury-plagued career as an offensive tackle in football and as a heavyweight in wrestling, he also made a vital contribution to both programs. He finished his wrestling career with a 14-15 overall record.
According to retired The Plain Dealer sportswriter Bill Nichols' '63 history of B-W football book "And We Must Excel", Ervin Maxwell helped lead B-W to a 39-7 win against the University of Akron in 1939 when he carried the ball 11 times for 109 yards, including a "scintillating 85-yard toucdown dash in the third quarter". In another outstanding performance as a senior in 1941, Maxwell scored three TD in a 44-13 win against Davis & Elkins (W.Va.) College.
Paul "Sparky" Adams graduated from B-W in 1941 after an outstanding career in the classroom and on the field. He would return to his alma mater in 1951 to begin a storied teaching and coaching career that culminated by being a Fulbright lecturer in Thailand in 1962, receiving the B-W Alumni Merit Award in 1977, receiving the Bechberger Award for Human Development in 1979, being elected to the Alumni Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1980 and coaching 24 teams to OAC Championships. His lore continues today with son, Paul Adams, serving as the Director of Annual Giving at the College.
The DeLuca-Adams-Maxwell families have become well-known at B-W. Each one has made their mark. Now Tom DeLuca is hoping to reach new heights and hopes to help B-W win an OAC title and reach the NCAA Playoffs. Cousin, Phillip Wagner, is also a student at the College.
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