The ground rules: To be included, a player must have excelled in at least two varsity high school sports. Our litmus test was allcity inclusion. (For example, Moeller football legend Bob Crable is considered to be the best defensive player in the city’s history. He also played baseball and some JV basketball. But since he wasn’t an allcity-caliber player at a second sport, he wasn’t considered.)Wyoming graduates on the list:
Also, we counted cross country and track as one sport. Obviously, it’s tough to compare different sports, eras and leagues. Here were some factors we considered:
• The list was constructed based on high school accomplishments, but post-graduate work also was considered. (See Rose, Peter Edward.)
• Players who won state titles got some bonus points. (See Lincoln Heights grad Greg Stemrick, who won three championships in three different sports in a span of about three months.)
• Not all honors were created equal. Being a Division I star usually carries more weight than being a Division V star. Same thing goes for league awards. (Bobby Brannen and Kyle Rudolph were the Greater Catholic League basketball players of the year three years in a row.)
• More sports are more impressive. Just because a player wasn’t all-state in any one sport, doesn’t mean he or she wasn’t great. (See Anderson grad Joe Datin, who was first team all-city in three different sports both his junior and senior year.)
24. STEVE BELL, WYOMING, 1973: Bell, who is still the leading rebounder in state history, earned 12 varsity letters in football, basketball and track during his record-setting career. Bell was a three-time first-team all-Ohio selection (once in football, twice in basketball). As a senior, he was the Enquirer's first team all-city pick at tight end and defensive end. In basketball, he set school records for career points (1,322) and rebounds (1,374). Bell averaged 20.5 points and 17 rebounds as a senior. A first team all-city selection by both newspapers, Bell was named co-player of the year in 1972-73 by the Post-Times Star. In track, Bell set school records in the 110-yard high and 180-low hurdles. He played football at UC and later signed as a free agent with the Broncos and Packers.
27. RICHARD HALL, WYOMING, 1999: He still ranks fourth in state history for career rushing touchdowns and fifth in career rushing yards. Hall was the Ohio football player of the year in Division IV and the Ohio Coaches' Association player of the year. He was the Enquirer football player of the year as a sophomore. Hall was also all-city in basketball as a sophomore and junior. On the hardwood he was a four-year starter who tallied a school-record 1,373 points. He signed with Ohio State for football and later transferred to UC.
49. AHMED PLUMMER, WYOMING, 1995: He earned 12 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. He set five Wyoming single-season and career records in football. Plummer was first-team all-city (Division II-VI) on both offense and defense, the Enquirer Division II-IV player of the year and the state Division IV player of the year. He became a college All-American at Ohio State and was a first-round pick in the NFL draft.
80. BOB GOODRIDGE, WYOMING, 1964: Goodridge (second from right) was a four-year letterman in three sports - football, basketball and track. In basketball, he was a first-team all-city selection, averaging 13.8 points per game. In football, Goodridge was a two-way starter both as a junior (RB-DB) and as a senior (QB-DB). He was a first team all-league both seasons, captain of the MVIL Offensive Team in 1963 and a WCPO first-team all-city defensive player. He was named winner of the prestigious That’s My Boy Award in 1964. He played wide receiver at Vanderbilt and was the first player in SEC history to gain more than 1,000 yards receiving and was the SEC player of the year. He played one season with the Minnesota Vikings.
97. BILL ANDERSON, WYOMING, 1944: Not only was Anderson the captain of Anderson's football, basketball and tennis teams, he played all three sports at UC. In high school he was all-league in football and basketball and was the 1943 state doubles champion with Gordon Naugle.
99. JEFF RUSSELL, WYOMING, 1979: He earned seven varsity letters and was a three-year starter in football and baseball. He was an all-city place kicker and started as a junior in basketball. Russell was a fifth-round pick by the Reds out of high school and went on to pitch 14 seasons in the majors.
***There are two other Wyoming connections (at least that I know of).
35. HOLLY PORTER, WYOMING, 1993: The Enquirer rated her 24th on the area's list of all-time girls' basketball players. She holds six school basketball records and finished her career with 2,133 points and 1,095 rebounds. She also was all-state in soccer.
39. MEGAN MCCABE, WYOMING, 1997: Ohio's two-time Division III player of the year in basketball, she led Wyoming to the 1996 state title and was named tournament MVP. Twice she was named USA Today honorable mention All-American, ending her career with 1,404 points and 1,052 rebounds. She also was a two-time district high jump champion, two-time state qualifier and the CHL field athlete of the year as a senior. McCabe played basketball at Ohio State.
Deb Gentile, who coached the Wyoming girls' basketball team to a state title, is #3 based on her playing days at Western Hills.
3. DEB GENTILE, WESTERN HILLS, 1970: In an era when girls' high school sports went largely unnoticed, Gentile's feats were impossible to ignore. In just three years - Western Hills was only sophomore through senior then - she earned 18 varsity letters. She was the team MVP in field hockey, volleyball (twice), basketball (three times) and softball. She also was all-city in swimming and tennis. Gentile also was a cheerleader for three years and was selected the school's best gymnast for three years. She played six sports at UC - field hockey, volleyball, basketball, bowling, tennis and softball - before embarking on a standout coaching career. She led Wyoming to a state title in girls' basketball.Angela Barre, daughter of head football coach Bernie Barre, is 36th based on her playing days at Highlands:
36. ANGELA BARRE, HIGHLANDS, 1998: As far as varsity letters were concerned, very few (if any) local athletes can top Barre's collection. She earned 20 of them. As a senior she was named the AP state athlete of the year. Barre was all-region in softball, swimming, golf, basketball and volleyball. She was honorable mention all-state in volleyball and a six-time state qualifier in swimming. She also was an Enquirer first-team softball all-star, hitting .524 and .568 in her junior and senior seasons.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment