Riverside High School will induct three former athletes into the Riverside Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony Friday, October 9.
The induction ceremony will begin at 6:15 p.m. on the Veterans’ Stadium field.
This year’s inductees are Shawn Christensen, Tanner Lane and Connor Cotterman.
Shawn Christensen — Class of 2003
Christensen was a standout three-sport athlete at Riverside, competing in football, basketball and track and field.
A four-year letter winner in football, Christensen earned numerous honors during his career. In 2001, he was named Special Mention All-District, First Team Running Back in the Northwest Central Conference, and to the Logan County All-County Team. He was also named Riverside’s Most Valuable Player.
His senior football season in 2002 was particularly impressive. Christensen was named Second Team All-Southwest District, Northwest Central Conference Player of the Year, First Team Offense and Defense, Logan County Player of the Year and Riverside Most Valuable Player.
He also set Riverside’s single-season rushing record.
Christensen finished his football career with 3,105 rushing yards on 438 carries, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He scored 39 touchdowns and 240 points. As a senior, he rushed for 1,404 yards on 142 carries, averaging 9.9 yards per carry, with 18 touchdowns.
In basketball, Christensen was a three-year letter winner. He was named Northwest Central Conference Player of the Year and Riverside Most Valuable Player during the 2002-2003 season.
He finished his basketball career with 699 points, which ranks 16th all-time in Riverside history.
Christensen was also a 2002 Wendy’s National High School Heisman nominee and received the OHSAA Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award for the 2002-2003 school year. He was named Riverside’s Top Senior Athlete in 2003.
After graduating from Riverside, Christensen joined the United States Air Force, where he has served for more than 22 years. His military career has included a combat deployment to Iraq and earning his commission as an Air Force officer in 2013.
His service has included leadership roles across multiple units and mission sets, with assignments requiring him to relocate 10 times. His military honors include the Meritorious Service Medal, multiple commendation and achievement medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal with service star, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
Tanner Lane — Class of 2015
Lane was a standout five-sport athlete at Riverside, competing in football, basketball, baseball, track and field, and golf.
A three-year football letter winner, Lane was named an All-Area Running Back and Riverside’s Best Offensive Player in 2013.
In 2014, he earned Special Mention All-State honors, First Team All-Southwest District and All-Area Running Back honors. He was also named Riverside’s Team Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player. Lane was named Most Valuable Player at the National Underclassman Combine as a running back.
Lane finished his football career with 2,356 rushing yards, averaging 9.4 yards per carry. He also recorded 360 receiving yards and scored 37 touchdowns.
In track and field, Lane was a Northwest Central Conference champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes in 2014. He also won district championships in the 100-meter dash and high jump and was a regional champion in the high jump.
Lane qualified for the Ohio State Championship in both the 100-meter dash and high jump, finishing seventh in the high jump. He was also named Riverside’s MVP in running events.
Lane was a three-year letter winner in baseball and earned All-Area honors as an outfielder in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, he was named First Team All-Ohio, First Team All-Southwest District and First Team Northwest Central Conference. He was also Riverside’s Team MVP and finished with the school’s highest batting average at .426.
Lane was a two-year letter winner in golf and qualified for the district tournament twice.
In basketball, Lane was a three-year letter winner and earned All-Area and Northwest Central Conference honors during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons. He scored 327 career points.
Lane was named Riverside’s Top Senior Athlete in 2015.
Today, Lane works for Sutphen Fire Trucks in Urbana as a Bill of Materials Specialist.
Connor Cotterman — Class of 2016
Cotterman was a three-sport athlete at Riverside, competing in football, baseball, and basketball.
A four-year football letter winner, Cotterman earned Northwest Central Conference First Team honors in 2013.
In 2014, he was named Honorable Mention All-State, First Team All-Southwest District and First Team Northwest Central Conference. He was also named Riverside’s Best Defensive Player.
Cotterman had an outstanding senior season in 2015.
He was named First Team All-State, Southwest District Player of the Year, Northwest Central Conference Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, and All-Area Player of the Year. He was also named Riverside’s Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player.
Cotterman finished his Riverside football career as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,375 yards.
He scored 51 touchdowns and totaled 417 points as a running back and kicker.
Cotterman was also a four-year letter winner in baseball. In 2016, he was named Second Team All-State, Northwest Central Conference First Team, and Riverside Most Valuable Player.
