EATON — The 14th class of Preble County Athletic Hall of Fame inductees includes three teams, nine individuals, and a pair of twins who have all contributed to area sports with distinction.
The ceremony will take place Sunday, May 29, beginning at 6 p.m., with a social hour, at the Preble County YMCA.
This year’s inductees include:
The 1990 National Trail Baseball Team reached great heights by going undefeated during the regular season. The Blazers won the Cross County Conference championship and the AA Sectional title in the post season. Their lone loss was in the AA district finals. The team finished with a .343 batting average and combined for a team Earned Run Average (ERA) of and amazing 1.28 for the season. Coach Mick Ditmer led this fine group of young men composed of: Rodney Dunham, Mike Harrison, Kevin Havlin, Mike Hundley, Allen Hurd, Derek Lee, Terry Locke, Joe Mendenhall, Brady Miller, Chad Miller, Travis Miller, Logan Murphy, Mark Porter, Jack Silver, and Mark Sims.
The 1991 Blazers team was selected as well, earning a 15-6 regular season record. The Blazers were CCC runner-up, won the sectional and district titles and advanced to the regional finals before having their season ended. Mick Ditmer also coached this team who compiled a team BA of .321 and an ERA of 2.93. Members included Todd Davis, Tony Hansel, Tom Hester, Mike Hundley, Shawn Laird, Derek Lee, Brian Mason, Aaron Melody, Brady Miller, Travis Miller, Logan Murphy, Jack Silvers, Mark Sims, and Mike Van Winkle.
The 1979 Eaton Eagles wrestling team went undefeated in seven dual meets, and earned team trophies in three out of four regular season tournaments. The Eagles blazed through the sectional and district championship before finishing 10th in the state finals. Members of the team were: Eric Sorrell, Terry Gillan, Fritz Holderman, Rex Sorrell, Larry Wilson, Jon McDivitt, Gray Bennett, Jerry Emrick, George, Hartwig, Rex Settlemire, Todd Gallimore, Doug Lindley, Jim Remaklus, John Remaklus, Mark Bennett, Bret Maggard, Sam Ridder, Delk Crosier, Warren Spivey, Ulf Jonsson, and Jim Staight. The team was coached by Larry Hildebrand and Sam Ridder. Statistics were recorded by Lisa Wair, Tami Bonnell and Deb Chatfield.
Katie Ferriell was an extraordinary athlete for Eaton High School who graduated in 1997. She earned eight varsity letters in volleyball, basketball and track. Ferriell excelled in volleyball, earning all-Ohio first team in 1996 and 1997, while being named honorable mention all-state in 1995. In 1997, Ferriell was named both Southwestern Buckeye League and Preble County Player of the Year. Ferriell took her talents to University of Dayton where she was named Freshman Rookie of the year and made first team Atlantic-10 team twice. Katie played three years of varsity basketball, held the single game scoring record of 36 points. She earned second team all-SWBL and all-Preble County in 1996, while earning first team all-SWBC and Preble County in 1997 and 1998. She was Preble County co-player of the year in 1998. In addition, Katie competed in track her freshman year, where she participated in the 4×200 meter relay which made it to regionals.
Twin brothers Glenden and Gailen Waddell were outstanding track runners for College Corner High School back in 1949 and 1950. In those days, there were no class levels for schools as everyone competed against one another. Glenden and Gailen finished 2nd and 10th in the state cross country finals. In the 1950 Preble County track meet, Gailen won the 880 yard race, while Glenden finished 2nd in both the 880 and the mile run. Glenden finished 3rd at the Ohio state finals.
Elle Summers, a 1998 Tri-County North graduate, earned 11 total varsity letters in volleyball, cheerleading, and track. In 1997 she was named Preble County, Cross County Conference, and District 15 player of the year in volleyball. Summers earned first team honors in the CCC and districts three consecutive years from 1995 to 1997. In track, Summers won the CCC high jump twice and advanced as a regional qualifier in 1998. Her academic achievements are quite notable, with three CCC academic team honors and a Tri-County North Scholar Athlete. She also played on the Western Buckeye Jr. Olympic Volleyball Club for four years. Summers also was a member of the National Honor Society.
Ryan Miller was one of the most successful athletes from Twin Valley South. A 1996 graduate, Miller earned 10 varsity letters in golf, basketball, track and baseball. His accolades in golf is outstanding; earning three all-CCC honors, top CCC golfer in 1994, district runner up in 1995, and placed 12th in the state finals. Miller was granted a golf scholarship to Purdue University where he was a team captain his junior and senior year for the Boilermakers. The Boilermakers placed 2nd in the Big Ten Championships twice, and advanced to the NCAA finals twice, where Miller placed 6th individually in 2001. He held the record at the Missouri Bluff Intercollegiate Tournament with a 66, and held the 7th lowest score in Purdue history. Miller graduated in 2001 with a degree in business management and a minor in marketing. He turned pro the following year and participated in the Canadian Tour for the next four years. He won the Vancouver Classic in 2004 and continued to golf until 2006. Miller excelled in basketball, where he was a three-time all CCC and Preble County first team recipient. He was 1996 Player of the Year, and twice named to all-state honorable mention team. He still holds the TVS school record for Field Goal percentage at 55.1 percent, and is ranked 23rd in Ohio for career FGP. Ryan participated in the 1994 state track meet with the TVS 4×800 meter relay team that set the current school record in that event. Not to undermine his academics, Ryan also earned a 3.8 GPA, was a member of the National Honor Society, and was twice named Preble County Student of the year in 1995 and 1996.
Chantele Frost, a 1998 Preble Shawnee graduate, was one of the most dominant basketball players in the area. She lettered three times in volleyball, earning first team all-conference in 1996 and 1997. It was basketball where Frost excelled: three time all SWBL first team, 1997 Player of the year, 1996 District 15 underclassman of the year, and 1998 Preble County player of the year. She ranks first in PSHS history for career in free throw percentage at 73.7 percent, second in career points at 1,289 and third in career rebounds with 693. She gained a full scholarship at Cumberland College, later transferred to University of Findlay under scholarship, where she was team captain twice. During her sophomore year at Findlay, the team went 27-4 and reached the NAIA final four, winning the GLIAC south division title in the process.
Mike Miller was a highly successful coach in the county. A 1966 graduate from Preble Shawnee, He pitched a no-hitter against Dixon, and was part of the 1966 team that was the only team to beat state champion Dixie. He earned Preble County Outstanding Athlete his senior year. Mike attended Gavilan Junior College in Gilroy, California from 1966 to 1968 and played baseball there, compiling a 1.66 ERA there. Miller returned to the area and graduated from Miami University in 1972. From there, he started coaching at Twin Valley South, earning basketball coach of the year awards in 1979 and 1980. He teams won the county championships in 1979, 1980, and 1982. He coached baseball there for nine seasons, earning the district title in 1979, three times district runner up, and league champions in 1984. Mike was also coach of the golf team from 1973 to 1984. He led the 1984 CCC championship team. After his days in coaching, he became the athletic director for 18 years at TVS until retiring in 2001.
Robert Weadick was a superb athlete from Eaton high school. A 1951 graduate, he participated in the Class B mile relay championship teams in 1950 and 1951. He was a state runner up in the 440 yard run in 1950, and third place in the same run in 1951. He was part of the 1950 district championship track team for Eaton. He earned district and regional champion in the 440 in 1951. During his time in high school, he was also all-conference in football and was the senior class president. Weadick played basketball and member of the state runner up team in 1950. Robert joined the Ohio State Buckeye track team in 1953, 1954, and 1957. He was team captain for the Buckeyes in 1957.
Frank Napier, a Twin Valley South graduate in 1994, earned 12 varsity letters during his competition; with three in football, three in basketball, two in track, and four in baseball. In football, Napier was team MVP and named all-CCC. A two-time all-CCC basketball player, he averaged 25.9 points per game and scored 643 points for a single season scoring record. In 1993, he logged in the single game school record of 44. In 1994, Napier was named the Southwest Ohio Division IV player of the year and was first team all-state. He helped lead TVS to their first ever CCC basketball title, earned the team district title, and were regional runner up that season.
Lori Stegall holds the distinction of being the only multi all-state athlete at National Trail High School, earning those honors in volleyball (1996) and softball (1997). A 1997 graduate, she earned four letters in volleyball from 1994 to 1997. She was three time all-CCC first team, twice team MVP, 1996 CCC player of the year, District 15 player of the year in that same season, third team all-state in 1995, and currently holds the National Trail school records in sets and digs. Stegall earned four letters in softball. Her accomplishments include three time first team all-CCC, twice all Southwest District team, second team all-state in 1996. Stegall also played two years in varsity basketball.
