Black Hills State University Athletics

Michele (Cliff) Batz attended BHSU from 1977-1981 and graduated with a degree in physical education. She was a four-year letter winner during her incredible volleyball and track and field career. All-conference honors were given to Michele for the four years she participated in volleyball as a setter. She helped her team compile an amazing score of 25-1 during her junior year. The highlight for Michele was being crowned South Dakota State Volleyball Champions in 1980. During her senior year, she accomplished a first-place finish in the conference tournament, with a record of 35-14 and a second-place finish in the state tournament.

Batz was a sprinter for BHSU, but by the time she left, she had become a quarter-miler. She was also a major part of the 400-meter relay team, the 800-meter medley relay team and the 1600-meter relay team that set new school and conference records. She was a member of the first conference track meet set for women, which was held at BHSU in the spring of 1981.

Upon graduating, Batz taught and coached at Reedsville High School in Wisconsin. In 1987, she left teaching to become aquatics director for the Zion Park District in her hometown of Zion, Ill. She is a certified aerobics instructor, yogafit instructor and water aerobics instructor. Recently she returned to teaching physical education to elementary students and has been recognized as an outstanding teacher by the school board. Batz currently writes her own weekly fitness column for the News Sun in Waukegan, Ill. A year ago, she wrote her first book.