Cedarville College
Yellow Jackets
1999 Men's Cross Country
Matt Hadler, 1978-1999
Motorcycle accident claims life of Yellow Jacket athlete
CEDARVILLE, Ohio – Matt Hadler, one of the top men's cross country runners at Cedarville College, died early Sunday morning, September 19, as the result of a motorcycle accident near Findlay, Ohio. He was traveling alone and no one else was reportedly involved in the mishap which occurred at approximately 6:55 a.m. on I-75 near the U.S. 68 interchange.
Hadler, 21, who was a junior Electrical Engineering major from Menomonee Falls, WI, had run for the Yellow Jackets on September 18 at the Midwest Collegiate Championships in Kenosha, WI. He was Cedarville's No. 2 finisher upon placing 43rd out of 320 runners in the 8K race. He returned with the team to campus before embarking on his trip early Sunday morning bound for Detroit where he was to meet family members to attend the Lions-Packers NFL game.
"Matt was a quiet example to everyone on the team," stated head coach Elvin King, who is in his 31st season at Cedarville. "He was very coachable and responded positively in every way. Matt became a significant part of our program in the short time that he was here."
Dr. Paul Dixon, president of Cedarville College, added, "We are stunned and saddened at the news of Matthew's death. Our prayers are with his family in this time of grief and sorrow. We take comfort in the confidence that Matthew's faith in Jesus Christ has secured for him an eternal place of joy and service before the throne of Almighty God."
Hadler transferred to Cedarville College in January of 1999 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He ran for the Yellow Jacket track & field team during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. He qualified for the NAIA Indoor Nationals in the mile run and was a member of the American Mideast Conference 4 x 800 meter relay championship team. This was Hadler's first season on the cross country squad.
Matt is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hadler of Menomonee Falls, WI, as well as an older married sister. A memorial service took place on September 23 evening in his hometown and was attended by King, head track & field coach Paul Orchard; Rev. Marvin Troyer, Coordinator of Off-Campus Student Services, and some 20 Yellow Jacket athletes.
The following poem was a favorite of Matt Hadler:
I run for you Lord and I pray, to be victorious in the greatest race of all,
The race of life in Christ Jesus, keep me facing forward,
Never looking back to past victories, which would give me a false security and pride,
Or past failures, which would slow my stride in fear, Or halt my steps with doubt,
Focus my eyes not on the roaring crowd in the grandstand,
Not on the opponents who hem me in on all sides, not on a medal that time will tarnish,
But on You, waiting at the end of the track.
When I grow tired, give me the strength to press on,
When I would quit from disappointment or despair, please take my hand and give me a second wind of hope.
When the breath of faith would leave me, Lord, remind me once again that this race was won by You 2,000 years ago.
And that so long as I run for You, I am a winner,
And will claim the prize You wait to give...Eternal life with You!!
