John Panozzo, M.D., Class of 1989, is the epitome of a Wabash Man.  Prior to attending Indiana University Medical School, doing his internship and residency at Mercy Medical Center and St. Anthony Hospitals in Denver, beginning a practice in family medicine in 1996, and becoming a shareholder and Board member for New West Physicians …he was the cornerstone of Wabash Baseball in the late 80s!  During his time as a Little Giant, Dr. Panozzo was MVP of the 1988 and 1989 baseball squads, while serving as captain of the 1989 team.  The Grand Junction, Colorado native started every game of his four year career at shortstop.  Dr. Panozzo will be inducted into the Wabash College Athletics Hall of Fame this fall.

"Last spring was the 17th season since I last laced up the spikes with any real purpose.  Yet the yearning to go out and take fungos on a freshly cut infield or to stand in the box and rip a clean line drive to the outfield is just as strong now as it was two decades ago.  Today I fill that yearning with coaching my daughter’s softball team, and although rewarding in its own way it’s not the same as being a twenty year old student-athlete.  Playing baseball at Wabash for me was a way to satisfy my passion for the game and my need (obsession really) for competition.  I enjoyed it all - practices, road trips, off-season weightlifting and most of all game day.   In addition, I have to say that Wabash provided me with a world-class education that led to medical school after graduation.  Almost every aspect of my career as a family physician today can be traced to the influences of mentors, friends and experiences while at Wabash.

Living in Colorado the past 13 years, I have not been able to see the team play in person.  However, I find myself constantly searching the website during the season for updated information on my beloved Little Giants.  This past spring I engaged my ex- teammate Kelley House ’90 with a series of e-mails about how to fill my baseball void and my distance from Wabash.  Our answer was to contact the new coach and start building a stronger connection between past players and the current team.  Besides great players and coaches, we believe highly successful programs need a solid foundation of passionate supporters and a community that takes pride in its team.  I am grateful that Coach Stevens has embraced this idea with the On Deck Circle, and I look forward to the good things to come from the program." 

 John Panozzo, ‘89