Who is on your county’s Sports Mt Rushmore?

Paulding County

Charles Bair - Oakwood HS (consolidated into Paulding) - Baseball - played baseball at BGSU and went onto play in the MLB for 14 years for multiple teams.

Al Welch - Wayne Trace/Blue Creek/Grover Hill - Basketball - player and coach. He was a dynamic scorer at Grover Hill. He then coached at Blue Creek (pre-1971, and then at Wayne Trace post-1971) 540 all time wins in basketball.

Can’t think of any others right now.
The late Steve Hall from Wayne Trace, 6’8 center, who went on to play Ohio State?
 
Paulding County

Charles Bair - Oakwood HS (consolidated into Paulding) - Baseball - played baseball at BGSU and went onto play in the MLB for 14 years for multiple teams.

Al Welch - Wayne Trace/Blue Creek/Grover Hill - Basketball - player and coach. He was a dynamic scorer at Grover Hill. He then coached at Blue Creek (pre-1971, and then at Wayne Trace post-1971) 540 all time wins in basketball.

Can’t think of any others right now.
Joe Robinson played football at Paulding High School and Ohio State

Steve Hall played basketball at Wayne Trace and Ohio State
 
Champaign County
David Taylor, Graham - Wrestling (4X state champion, NCAA champion and won gold at Tokyo Olympics)
Jim Jordan, Graham - Wrestling (4X state champion and NCAA champion)
Jannon Roland, Urbana - Basketball and Volleyball (Parade AA, 2X state champion and B10 POY)
Kaleb Romero, Mechanicsburg - Wrestling and Football (4X state champion wrestler, NCAA placer and All-Ohio QB)

*For this exercise, I consider Harvey Haddix (MLB) a Clark County native. I’ll add Pete Dye, who was a state champion golfer at Urbana, probably makes it if influence (golf course design) on a sport carries more value than athletic achievement.

Honorable Mention:
West Liberty-Salem: Dernlan Brothers, Jarrod Keely (Marshall FB) and many track and field and XC athletes
Urbana: Jeff, Greg (OSU FB) Patrick (OSU and Kansas FB) and Sherri Rogan
Urbana: Roger Wallace (BG, WFL and NFL) George Scott (Miami OH and NFL)
Graham: Nick Van Hoose (NW FB) Matt Middleton (OSU BSBL) and too many state champion wrestlers to mention here
Triad: Kristal Parker (UCLA Golf and LPGA)
 
Last edited:
Burg grad here, Romero was one of those athletes that only come around once in a blue moon. That dude could do it all on the mat and on the field, he was also a pretty good baseball player if I remember correctly he played his Freshman and Sophomore of baseball. I’m not sure personally I’ve ever seen someone who could break tackles and also lay a hit on someone like he could, the teams he had around him at Burg were good be he single handedly multiple times almost got Burg to state in football
 
This Bruce Berenyi? Says he went to HS in California. Born in Bryan though.

It's wrong. He went to Fairview, but I did notice that when looking him up. I believe I even tried to email the b-ref people about it, but nothing fixed.

He's also Ned Garver's nephew.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20240623_014047_Samsung Internet.jpg
    Screenshot_20240623_014047_Samsung Internet.jpg
    92.3 KB · Views: 57
Paulding County

Charles Bair - Oakwood HS (consolidated into Paulding) - Baseball - played baseball at BGSU and went onto play in the MLB for 14 years for multiple teams.

Al Welch - Wayne Trace/Blue Creek/Grover Hill - Basketball - player and coach. He was a dynamic scorer at Grover Hill. He then coached at Blue Creek (pre-1971, and then at Wayne Trace post-1971) 540 all time wins in basketball.

Can’t think of any others right now.

For Paulding I'd definitely have Paul Miles. Number is retired at BGSU, he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts and played a season in the World Football League. Probably the best athlete in Paulding High School history.

Really not sure who their 4th would be though.
 
Summit County:

LeBron James
George Sisler (MLB Hall of Fame, played from 1915-1930, career .340 hitter, 1922 AL MVP)
Cliff Battles (NFL Hall of Fame, played from 1932-1937, led NFL in rushing twice)
Nate Thurmond (NBA 1963-1977, 7 time All star, averaged 15 rebounds per game for his career)
Dante Lavelli, Glenn "Jeep" Davis, Bo Schembechler, Larry Csonka, Ara Parseghian and more. Summit County has produced enormous athletic talent.
 
Last edited:
Anyone want to tackle Putnam, Allen, or Auglaize Counties? I can start a list, please feel free to add.

Putnam County
Dick Kortokrax - Basketball

Allen County
Quincy Simpson - Basketball

Auglaize County
Galen Cisco - Baseball
Evan Eschmeyer - Basketball
 
This is a great, and difficult, topic/thread!
The crazy thing is how different the measurement of greatness is. In some counties it's "the played D1" while in others it's they were "a world champion."
 
Last edited:
Well I will start one for Portage County

Jack Lambert
I am waiting for a call from John Tompkins to verify one of his Uncles coached in the NFL (a Murphy).
Got the call from John Tompkins and we hashed this out. Good to talk to one of Portage county's best athlete from the bygone era. Tough to pick some as Kent Roosevelt has sent over a half dozen players into the NFL.

Jack Lambert (NFL HOF)-Crestwood
Dave Adolph (NFL Coach-Mogadore)
Don Nottingham (NFL-Ravenna)
Mike Adamle (NFL Kent Roosevelt)
Tom DeLeone (NFL- Kent Roosevelt)
Stan White-(NFL-Kent Roosevelt)

I remember many great athletes from the 70's and 80's from Portage County but most went to work after high school. John Tompkins was a 2 time state champ in wrestling and missed the '76 Olympics by one match back in the day. I am sure there are many more but Mt Rushmore is tough to climb!
 
Last edited:
Anyone want to tackle Putnam, Allen, or Auglaize Counties? I can start a list, please feel free to add.

Putnam County
Dick Kortokrax - Basketball

Allen County
Quincy Simpson - Basketball

Auglaize County
Galen Cisco - Baseball
Evan Eschmeyer - Basketball
I would add Greg Simpson to the Allen County list-were the two related?
 
Got the call from John Tompkins and we hashed this out. Good to talk to one of Portage county's best athlete from the bygone era. Tough to pick some as Kent Roosevelt has sent over a half dozen players into the NFL.

Jack Lambert (NFL HOF)-Crestwood
Dave Adolph (NFL Coach-Mogadore)
Don Nottingham (NFL-Ravenna)
Mike Adamle (NFL Kent Roosevelt)
Jim DeLeone (NFL- Kent Roosevelt)
Stan White-(NFL-Kent Roosevelt)

I remember many great athletes from the 70's and 80's from Portage County but most went to work after high school. John Tompkins was a 2 time state champ in wrestling and missed the '76 Olympics by one match back in the day. I am sure there are many more but Mt Rushmore is tough to climb!
It’s hard to keep Bridget Franek (Crestwood) off the list. 5 time HS individual State Champion (CC, 800, 1600, 1600, 3200) including winning the 800, 1600, 3200 and 4x800 relay in the same year to lead Crestwood to the team title in 2006. She was also NCAA Champion in the Steeplechase and 10 time NCAA All American. Finally, Bridget was National Runner up twice in the Steeplechase and an Olympian in 2012, finishing 14th.

Also, the NFL player from Kent Roosevelt was Tom DeLeone.
 
A
Anyone want to tackle Putnam, Allen, or Auglaize Counties? I can start a list, please feel free to add.

Putnam County
Dick Kortokrax - Basketball

Allen County
Quincy Simpson - Basketball

Auglaize County
Galen Cisco - Baseball
Evan Eschmeyer - Basketball
Allen County - William White
 
This Bruce Berenyi? Says he went to HS in California. Born in Bryan though.
Berenyi definitely went to HS at Fairview HS near Sherwood, OH. Was an outstanding baseball and basketball player.
 
Paulding County

Charles Bair - Oakwood HS (consolidated into Paulding) - Baseball - played baseball at BGSU and went onto play in the MLB for 14 years for multiple teams.

Al Welch - Wayne Trace/Blue Creek/Grover Hill - Basketball - player and coach. He was a dynamic scorer at Grover Hill. He then coached at Blue Creek (pre-1971, and then at Wayne Trace post-1971) 540 all time wins in basketball.

Can’t think of any others right now.
Also: Paul Miles 1970 grad of Paulding HS. Great running back in HS and at BGSU. Was BGSU's all time leading rusher for many years. Played in the USFL for a few years. May have been a better baseball player than football.

Never heard Bair called Charles before. Was always Doug to me.
 
Champaign County
David Taylor, Graham - Wrestling (4X state champion, NCAA champion and won gold at Tokyo Olympics)
Jim Jordan, Graham - Wrestling (4X state champion and NCAA champion)
Jannon Roland, Urbana - Basketball and Volleyball (Parade AA, 2X state champion and B10 POY)
Kaleb Romero, Mechanicsburg - Wrestling and Football (4X state champion wrestler, NCAA placer and All-Ohio QB)

*For this exercise, I consider Harvey Haddix (MLB) a Clark County native.

Honorable Mention:
West Liberty-Salem: Dernlan Brothers, Jarrod Keely (Marshall FB) and many track and field and XC athletes
Urbana: Jeff, Greg (OSU FB) Patrick (OSU and Kansas FB) and Sherri Rogan
Urbana: Roger Wallace (BG, WFL and NFL) George Scott (Miami OH and NFL)
Graham: Nick Van Hoose (NW FB) Matt Middleton (OSU BSBL) and too many state champion wrestlers to mention here
Triad: Kristal Parker (UCLA Golf and LPGA)
I would add Salems Al Thrasher to the HM list
 
Butler County (Going to be Middie heavy because it's what I know)

Jerry Lucas-Basketball Hall of Famer, at one time was the only player to win a high school state championship, college national championship, Gold Medal and an NBA title

Chris Carter-NFL Hall of Fame

Joe Nuxhall-Legendary Cincinnati Reds pitcher and broadcaster

Kayla Harrison-Two time Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo, I believe still the only American to ever win Gold in Judo. Two time PFL (MMA) champion. Currently in the UFC and most likely headed to a world title.

Other names to consider Terry Malone, Kyle Schwarber, Butch Carter, Glenn "Tiger" Ellison. I am sure I am missing some West Chester, Fairfield, and Hamilton folks. And I'm also sure someone will let me know about it lol.
Strong list and all very deserving.

Another name that crossed my mind:

-Willie Wineberg, Fairfield: 4 time state wrestling champ
 
Summit County:

LeBron James
George Sisler (MLB Hall of Fame, played from 1915-1930, career .340 hitter, 1922 AL MVP)
Cliff Battles (NFL Hall of Fame, played from 1932-1937, led NFL in rushing twice)
Nate Thurmond (NBA 1963-1977, 7 time All star, averaged 15 rebounds per game for his career)
Are you sure it’s not Nate Thurmond 7 times All Star? Jk 😆
 
Crawford County

Blaire Hiler-volleyball Buckeye Central, played at KY
Lori Dyer-volleyball Galion, played at Ohio U
JB Shuck-baseball Galion, OSU and MLB
Nate Reinking-basketball Galion, Kent St, Played overseas and in Olympics, coach for the cavs
Phil Gebhardt-basketball Wynford and Malone
Rob Monnett-football Galion and Dayton
Lee Owens-football coach Galion
 
Logan County isn't the greatest

Gail Clark- 1st Team All Big Ten/3rd round pick by Steelers
Dick Ricketts- Captain of OSU Basketball Team
Nicole Fawcett- NCAA Volleyball Player of the Year for Penn State
Don Otten- Led Bowling Green to Final Four in the 1940s. 10+ year NBA vet and rival of George Mikan
Louie Vito
Terry Jackson
Devon Lyburtus
Keith Roberts
Dal McDonald
Jesse Williams
 
Richland County

Pete Henry (NFL, Charter Inductee: College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 & Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963)
Larry Siegfried (NBA, 5X NBA World Champion)

Don Nehlen (College Football Hall of Fame, 200+ Wins)
Hugh Douglas (NFL Rookie of the year, 3X Pro-Bowler, Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame)

Honorable Mention:
Gates Brown (MLB, 2X World Series Champion)
Cade Stover (NFL, Ohio Mr. Football)
Mike Gottfried (Big 8 Coach of the Year)
Jack Harbaugh (1-AA National Championship Coach)
 
Last edited:
Top