Jim Vogel, a 1983 graduate of Bellevue Senior High School, earned a total of seven varsity letters for the Redmen, including three in football, two in basketball, and two in track and field.
In track and field, Jim ran the 300-meter hurdles and also set the school record in the triple jump at 40-feet, 2-inches. He also was a member of the team’s 4 x 400 meter relay team and also participated in the high jump.
In basketball, Jim was a member of the 1983 Northern Ohio League championship team. He played the post position and averaged nearly 16 points per game for the red and white. He set the school shooting record at 60% and led the team in rebounds. He was captain during his senior year in 1982-83, was named All-NOL that same season, and earned the Bellevue Gazette Award in 1983 as the school’s top male athlete.
Jim’s best sport proved to be football, where he played both offensive end and defensive end for the Redmen. He was also the team punter. He played on two NOL championship football teams, with both of those teams reaching the state playoffs. He was named All-NOL offense and defense in 1982, was All-District offense and punter in 1982, and was All-Ohio second team offense. As a senior, Vogel averaged 33.4 yards per punt, had 21 catches for 378 yards (18 yards per catch, which led the team), and was a member of the 1982 defensive unit that held opponents to 105 yards and 2.5 points per game.
Jim took his football skills to the next level, earning an appointment to the United State Military Academy.
After 25 years away from Ohio, Jim relocated back to the Buckeye State in 2008, settling in Aurora while working as a Global Sales Leader for G.E. Energy.