Sports Links

This property was acquired by Grandview Heights Schools in the 1920s for development into athletic fields. Construction of Bobcat Stadium began in 1936. The project was funded partly by the federal Works Progress Administration, the City of Grandview Heights, and more than $3,000 of local fundraising (~$70,000 today). A 25-7 win over Westerville High School opened the stadium on its dedication day, October 7, 1938. In 2007, the field was styled as Anderson Field after a $325,000 donation to install an artificial surface.

More history on Anderson Field/Bobcat Stadium can be found in the Notable Names tour on this app. 

Anderson Field/Bobcat Stadium has been the stage for many accomplished Grandview Heights High School athletes and coaches since 1938. Often, those individuals had links to The Ohio State University; here’s just a few.  

Ralph Guglielmi: A member of the class of 1951, GHHS graduate Ralph Guglielmi is, perhaps, the most famous athlete to emerge from Grandview Heights. Earning scholarship offers in football, baseball, and basketball, Guglielmi played football for Notre Dame, taking over as quarterback as a freshman and keeping the job for four years. Coach Frank Leahy offered him praise as the best passer in Notre Dame’s history. In his senior year, Guglielmi was named an All-American and finished fourth in that year’s Heisman Trophy voting. A Buckeye connection followed from home: in August 1955 he quarterbacked the College All-Stars against the Cleveland Browns, with Grandview classmate Tad Weed of OSU kicking. Guglielmi was named MVP, and Weed's three field goals helped the All-Stars win 30–27. Guglielmi was selected third overall by Washington in the NFL Draft and played seven seasons, joining the Air Force briefly during that time. Guglielmi was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. 

Guglielmi (left, #27) with kicker Weed (right, # 30) in GHHS Highlander yearbook photo; Weed is also featured on Buckeye Connections.   

Hugh Hindman: Hugh Hindman's first coaching job was here: in 1950, fresh out of Miami University, he joined Grandview Heights High School. After three years, he moved to Columbus North, where his teams won City League titles in 1956 and 1957. In 1963, he joined the coaching staff of the OSU Buckeyes under Woody Hayes, who had coached him at Miami. After seven years as associate athletic director, he became athletic director for the university in 1977. The morning after the 1978 Gator Bowl, Hindman had the unfortunate but necessary duty of firing Hayes for punching a Clemson player during the game. Under Hindman’s time as athletic director, OSU grew to 31 varsity sports, the nation's largest athletic program at the time. 

Hindman in 1951 Highlander yearbook photo was Coach of Varsity Football, Reserve Basketball, and Track, as well as a Geography and Economics teacher, at GHHS.  

Perry Martter: Perry Martter graduated from Grandview Heights High School in 1918 in a class of just 13 students. At OSU, he studied civil engineering and captained the university's first wrestling team. He won multiple conference championships and was named the Big Ten's top wrestler in 1923. In 1924, he and Harry Steel became the first Ohioans on a U.S. Olympic wrestling team. Martter tied for ninth at the Paris Olympics that year in lightweight freestyle, while Steel won heavyweight gold. Martter later moved to Los Angeles, where he worked in construction, kept wrestling, and died in 1954 at age 53. OSU inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015. 

Martter in his senior year photo in 1918 Highlander yearbook.