John Sloan 1899 played football for 3 seasons during the early years of Ohio Wesleyan athletics. During his junior year, he started four games at halfback. He started at left halfback in the season finale, a 6-0 win over Ohio State on Thanksgiving. He was lauded in The Transcript: “Sloan was our best ground gainer, again and again encircling their left tackle on the cross bucks…” With its 7-1-1 record, Ohio Wesleyan claimed the 1897 state championship. As a senior, he missed the season opener but started the rest of the games that season. Sloan also was the captain and starting center of one of the first Ohio Wesleyan basketball teams.