Wagner College Athletics

A multi-sport standout John Von Ahnen was a four-year letterwinner in football and baseball from 1981-1985. A member of the 1982 playoff team and 1983 ECAC Championship Team, Von Ahnen played football as a split end under Coach Walt Hameline, helping the Seahawks to a 29-8-2 record on the gridiron. He was named the Green & White’s Most Valuable Player in 1982 and was awarded the James Robb Award, which is given to the top offensive player at the Homecoming Day Game. Von Ahnen stills holds the school record for the longest touchdown reception with the 97-yard score against Trenton State in 1984. For his career, he totaled 68 receptions for 1,320 yards, averaging 19.4 yards per catch. In baseball, Von Ahnen played under coach Larry Anderson (1982-1983) and Tim Capstraw (1984-1985). A three-time All-Met Conference performer in each of his last three years, he was twice selected as an ECAC Division I All-Star as a junior and a senior. Von Ahnen graduated with a school-record 30 home runs and 118 RBI, marks that stood for 15 years, while batting a blistering .350 (3rd all-time) in seven different categories, including a lifetime average of .350 (3rd) and home runs 30 (2nd). He was drafted in the 15th round by the Chicago White Sox in the 1984 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft but chose to return to school for his senior year. He was then again drafted by the White Sox in the 15th round in the 1985 MLB First Year Player Draft, playing one year professionally with Niagara Falls in the New York Penn League. He and his wife Dorothy have two children; John and Dorothy.