MORROW -- The Little Miami Schools' athletic department announced the 2022 Class for their Athletic Hall of Fame on Monday, May 23, 2022.
In celebration of The District's fourth class, the 2022 Class will feature one championship team, one former coach, one community contributor, and six former standout Panther student-athletes. The 2022 Class will be officially inducted into The Hall on Thursday, August 25 at 6 PM in the newly constructed Learning Space at LMHS, and will be presented publicly the follow evening at the Panthers' Week 2 football home opener against ECC rival West Clermont on Friday, August 26.
"We are thrilled to honor these Panther legends," athletic director
Matt Louis said. "From our fields, courts and sidelines, these fine men and women proved to have reached the summit of their abilities during their careers at Little Miami. They all serve as shining examples of Panther success, and we marvel at how their contributions continue to add to our Mission of the Complete Student-Athlete. Like our inductees, we certainly hope our current student-athletes and coaches strive to be a Panthers for life, too."
The Little Miami Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2018, with the inaugural class being inducted that same year and two class followed prior to The Pandemic. Unfortunately, inductions were suspended during 2021 due to the Covid 19 Pandemic.
Hall of Fame Ceremony Information (Page 1)
Hall of Fame Ceremony Information(Page 2)
Hall of Fame Ceremony Dinner Tickets
Little Miami's 2022 Hall of Fame Class
1983 Varsity Softball Team
The 1983 varsity Lady Panthers softball team enjoyed an undefeated regular season (10-0) enroute to an outright Fort Ancient Valley Conference (FAVC) title, including added titles as OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) sectional, district, and regional champions. In addition, the Panthers qualified into the OHSAA state Final Four for the first time in school history, too. The Lady Panthers were coached by Jim Lowe and aided by Steve Kern. The Lady Panthers roster included: Janet Adams, Debbie Barnes, Vickie Bridges, Debbie Burwell, Crystal Carmean, Kim Crothers, Cheryl Cullen, Susan Dayton, Lori Kamlage, Tammy Kroener, Kim Lovins, Annie Roosa, Tammy Rowland, Beth Smearsoll, and Tammy Stover.
•1983 FAVC Champions
•1983 OHSAA Sectional Champions
•1983 OHSAA District Champions
•1983 OHSAA Regional Champions
•1983 OHSAA State Semifinalist
Kevin Blanton (1981)
1981 Little Miami graduate Kevin Blanton was a standout Panther student-athlete in the sports of cross country and basketball. Blanton amassed five varsity letters in-total, two coming on the cross country course and three on the basketball hardwood. Still today, Blanton is arguably the best boys' basketball player in Little Miami history. Following his senior season in 1980-81, Blanton was named the FAVC Player of the Year, the runner-up District Player of the Year, and second-team All-State. In total, Blanton accumulated over 800 points, 400 rebounds and 150 assists in his career. 451 of those points came in only 19 (23.7 avg.) games during the 1980-81 season, and he also logged a 46-point game that season, which still stands as the most points ever scored by a Panther in a single game. Following high school, Blanton moved on to Wilmington College where he earned four varsity letters and scored more than 1,000 points for the Quakers.
Cross Country – 2 years
Basketball – 3 years
• All-League – 1979-80, 1980-81
• First-Team All-District – 1980-81
• Second-Team All-State – 1980-81
• School record for most points in a game (46).
• Scored more than 800 points, 400 rebounds and 150 assists in career.
• Played four years at Wilmington College and scored more than 1000 points during college.
Eric Coulter (1989)
Coulter was a two-time first-team all-conference tennis player for the Panthers in 1988 and 89, who was also a three-time first-team All-FAVC basketball player for Little Miami. The 1989 grad was named the FAVC Player of the Year his senior season after he scored more than 1,000 career points for the Panthers. Under the direction of hall of fame head coach Rob Blanton, Coulter was an excellent shooter who led the Panthers to the 1988-89 FAVC championship while also earning Western Star and All-District postseason accolades. Upon graduation, Coulter had amassed 1,110 total points (fourth all-time) and 371 rebounds (ninth all-time). From there, Coulter went on to pursue a career coaching basketball, and has been the head coach for the programs at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (CHCA), New Richmond, and at Archbishop Alter in Kettering.
Tennis – 2 years
• First-Team All-League – 1988, 1989
• District qualifier in doubles – 1988, 1989
Basketball – 3 years
• First-Team All-League – 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89
• All-District – 1987-88, 1988-89
• FAVC Player of the Year - 1989
• First Little Miami player to score 1000 points (1,110), fourth all-time.
• Logged 371 rebounds, ninth all-time.
• Head coach at three local programs (CHCA, New Richmond, and Archbishop Alter).
Trent Ingram (1999)
Ingram was a two-time All-FAVC basketball player in 1997-98 and 1998-99. In addition, Ingram was named All-Southwest District and honorable mention All-State following his senior basketball campaign at Little Miami. While earning four varsity letters on the hardwood, the prolific Panther amassed 926 points (currently eighth all-time) and 182 assists (currently eighth all-time). Following high school, Ingram was a two-year member of the varsity basketball team at Miami University Middletown from 1999-2001. A 2015 hall of fame inductee at MUM, Ingram was a two-time All-ORCC honoree, while averaging 19.8 pts/game and totaling 594 points. In 2000-01, Trent helped lead the ThunderHawks to a 24-5 record and the ORCC Championship, as well as the ORC State Championship. Following his time at MUM, Ingram enrolled at NCAA D-II Ashland University and played two seasons for the Eagles.
Basketball – 4 years
• First-Team All-League – 1997-98, 1998-99
• First-Team All-District – 1997-98, 1998-99
• Honorable mention All-State – 1998-99
• Scored 926 points, eighth all-time. And 182 assists, also eighth all-time.
• Hall of Fame career at Miami University Middletown, also played two seasons at Ashland University.
Jim Nease (1982)
Nease was a nine-time varsity letter winner who is one of only two Little Miami athletes to ever qualify and compete in the OHSAA state tournament four times. Nease advanced to Columbus twice in both track and field and wrestling. Nease was also named All-Ohio in each sport, once. A five-time FAVC champion, Nease won the shot-put event twice and the discus once in track and claimed the FAVC title twice on the wrestling mat for the Panthers. In 1981 as a junior, Nease became the first male Little Miami athlete to place in a state level competition, as he narrowly missed the podium while placing fifth. He proceeded to take 10th place in 1982. In wrestling, Nease had an overall record of 77-22, and logged a school record of 22 pins at the time.
Football – 2 years
Wrestling – 3 years
• First-Team All-League – 1980-81, 1981-82
• All-District – 1980-81, 1981-82
• State Placer – 1980-81, 1981-82
• Career record of 77-22
Track and Field – 4 years
• First-Team All-League – 1980, 1981, and 1982
• District and Regional Champion also placed fifth at State in shot-put in 1981.
• Placed 10th at State Meet in 1982.
• Set the school record in the discus with a 159-4 throw, and in the shot-put with a 56-8 toss.
Barry Schaad (Coach)
Schaad arrived at Little Miami in 1979 and spent the next 22 years in various roles at LMHS. The beloved coach, teacher, athletic director and administrator enriched many lives during his time as a Panther. The Panthers winningest head football coach in school history boasts a record of 58-38-4, while also holding a six-year seasonal win streak with a record of 46-14. The Panthers claimed three FAVC titles under Schaad's leadership, and this also included four FAVC Players of the Year and three All-Ohio honorees. But Coach Schaad's positive impact didn't end there, the head ball coach also played an integral role in the addition of stadium lights and a Press Box at the original Panther Stadium that existed next to LMHS in Morrow (Current Salem Elementary).
• Career record of 58-38-4 as Little Miami head football coach.
• Six-year consecutive win streak at 46-14.
• Five-year unbeaten streak at home.
• Won three FAVC football titles (Only coach to ever win an FAVC title, outright).
• Three-time FAVC and Western Star Coach of the Year.
• Coached four FAVC Players of the Year, and the All-State recipients.
• The Football Field at the previous High School was named in Barry's honor.
• Played collegiately at the University of Akron.
Josh Schaad (1987)
Josh Schaad, son of coach Barry Schaad, was a standout linebacker and running back on the gridiron for the Panthers. The two-time first-team All-FAVC star was also twice named The Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 86 after logging 144 and 158 tackles in each of those two seasons. In addition, Schaad logged 2027 yards rushing and 28 TDs offensively, while also leading the Panthers to a 17-3 record and one FAVC title in that two-season span of time. Twice tabbed an AP All-Ohio honoree, Schaad was an All-State honorable mention player as a junior, and UPI/AP All-State special mention as a senior. In addition, Schaad was not only the first Panther in Little Miami football history to log a 1000-yard rushing season, but he also was also an outstanding student. Schaad carried a 3.85 GPA and graduated sixth of 213 in the Class of 87. Following graduation, Schaad enrolled at the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts where he earned a degree in economics, in addition to earning first-team All-ECAC accolades at linebacker following his senior season.
Football – 4 years
• First-Team All-League – 1985, 1986
• All-District – 1985, 1986
• Second-Team All-State – 1986
• FAVC Player of the Year – 1985, 1986
• First Little Miami player to rush for 1000 yards in a season.
• 2027 career rushing yards and 28 TDs.
• Played four years at the College of Holy Cross and earned All-Conference honors there as a senior. HC was ranked No. 1 in the NCAA D-I FCS in 1987 and recorded a 39-4-1 record during Schaad's time with the program.
Kip Thomas (1972)
Thomas earned a total of 12 varsity letters for Little Miami during his four-year prep career. The four-sport standout claimed four letters in track and field, three each in both baseball and football, and two in basketball. Considered one of the best all-around athletes to have ever played at Little Miami, Thomas earned All-FAVC honors seven times during that time span. He was a four-time All-FAVC athlete in track and field while competing in the high jump, pole vault, broad jump and relay events. Also, a quarterback on the football team, Thomas as named second team All-FAVC on the gridiron in 1970 as a junior, and in was elevated to first-team All-FAVC status after the 1971 season for generating more than 1000 yards throwing the ball through the air and rushed for an added 599 yards on the ground. After high school, Thomas enrolled at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia where he played wide receiver for the Thundering Herd football team.
Football – 3 years
• First-Team All-League – 1971
• Second-Team All-League – 1970
Basketball – 2 years
• Second-Team All-League – 1971-72
Baseball – 3 years
Track and Field – 4 years
• Four-time All-League – 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972
• Logged 1000 yards passing and 599 yards rushing at Little Miami QB in 1971.
• Played four years of football at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia as a WR.
Gary Wirsch (1972, Coach/Contributor)
Community member and former coach Gary Wirsch is a shining example of LMHS Panther other-centeredness. Wirsch graduated from Little Miami in 1972 and spent the rest of his professional career dedicated to the Little Miami community. The longtime Maineville resident drove a bus for The District for more than 40 years, spent 24 years (1989-2013) serving the athletic department as a site manager, and aided hall of fame boys' basketball coach Rob Blanton as an assistant coach for 21 seasons (1982-02) on the Panther sidelines. One of the most respected local assistant basketball coaches in the area, Wirsch was certainly highly renowned around the southwest Ohio basketball community for his scouting and game planning efforts. However, even more impressive than his coaching ability was his knack for connecting with student-athletes. An expert communicator, Wirsch is still revered by countless Little Miami Panther student-athletes for his leadership and other-centeredness and was an important part of more than 147 wins between 1988-97 and three FAVC boys' basketball championships.
• Has driven a bus for Little Miami Schools for more than 40 years.
• Spent 21 seasons on the Little Miami basketball staff as an assistant coach.
• Served the athletic department as a site manager for 24 years.
• Loved by countless Little Miami student-athletes.
• Highly respected as a basketball scout and game planner.
A complete listing of all Little Miami Athletic Hall of Fame members is listed
HERE!
