Pete Kramer, Football/Tennis ( 1965-68/70-73)
Pete Kramer came to Toledo after a brilliant high school athletic career in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He was All-State there in football, basketball, and tennis and teamed with Dean Eisner, a member of UT's first Hall of Fame class, to win state titles in tennis. He came to Toledo instead of accepting scholarship offers from numerous larger major colleges. Pete showed his football talent early, winning the Norm Cohen Trophy in 1964, the trophy given annually to the most outstanding Rocket freshman footballer. Pete then lettered in 1965, 1966, and 1967 as one of UT's first ever Mid-American conference football championship in 1967 and was rewarded for his play with a first-team berth as an open end on the All-League team. Â During that season, 1967, Pete set a record for most yards on pass receptions, a mark that since has been broken, but he set another mark that still stands---the most yards gained on punt returns --- 309. Great as he was on the football field, Pete Kramer had just as great a career in tennis at UT. He helped Toledo win three consecutive Mid-American Conference team championships. In 1966, 1967, and 1968, he teamed with Dean Eisner to win the number one doubles championship of the MAC and twice, 1967 and 1968, he won Mid-American singles championship. Pete returned to his alma mater as head tennis coach from 1970 to 1973 and led Toledo to three more MAC titles and one second place finish before leaving the University for a career in the business world. Pete also won the heart of one of the Rocket Cheerleaders at the time, pretty Jody Menzell, who became Mrs. Kramer.
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