MORROW - The Little Miami Schools' athletic department announced the 2023 Class for their Athletic Hall of Fame on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

In celebration of The District's fifth class, the 2023 Class will feature one championship team, one former coach, and five former standout Panther student-athletes. The 2023 Class will be officially inducted into The Hall on Saturday, August 19 at 1:30 PM in the New Learning Space at LMHS, and will be presented publicly the preceding evening at the Panthers' Week 1 football home opener against nonconference rival Mt. Healthy on Friday, August 18.

"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 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame Class

2006 Girls Basketball Team
Led by head coach Mark Short, the 2006 Little Miami varsity girls' basketball team was the only girls' basketball team in school history to advance into the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) Final Four and finished with an overall record of 26-1. The Lady Panthers completed a perfect 20-0 regular season while winning the FAVC championship and earning an AP No. 1 state ranking entering the postseason. Then, they defeated Wilmington 77-45 to claim the sectional title, beat Kenton Ridge 65-40 enroot the district title, and finally eclipsed Alter 39-31 and Carroll 60-40 to win the regional championship for their first berth into the Final Four of the tournament. Following the season, Mark Short was tabbed the Division II Coach of the Year and six Lady Panthers went on to play basketball collegiately, including three at the D-I level.

• Overall record of 26-1
• FAVC, Sectional, District, and Regional Champions; State Semifinal participants.
• Head coach Mark Short was named D-II Coach of the Year.
• Assistant coaches included: Dave Balser, Ron Hubbard, Chris Lynch, and Dave Mason.
• Players included: Missy Ramsey (JR), Brook Sowards (JR), Courtney Grambley (JR), Jenna Curcio (SR), Kelly Hicks (JR), Brandy Crist (FR), Jessie Carmack (SR), Rachel Yeary (SR), Stacy Goode (JR), Whitney Balser (SR), Courtney Mason (FR), Lauren Davis (JR), Chasity Rhoden (JR), and Kelly Goode (JR).

Tim Martin (Coach)
Tim Martin began teaching and coaching with Little Miami Schools in the fall of 1977, and that was just the start of his prolific coaching career which spanned more than 60 seasons of coaching, including 10 years as the associate athletic director. Coach Martin led three varsity programs during this time, and those included the sports of wrestling, football and girl's track and field. He also spent several years as a varsity assistant coach and as a middle school coach. Tim's coaching accomplishments speak for themselves, but it was his dedication, love of competition, and his true interest in the young athletes that he coached which is the legacy that he leaves forever imprinted on Little Miami.

Coach Martin led the varsity wrestling program for 25 years and recorded more than 200 dual-match victories. In addition, he logged 58 trophies at team tournaments. 15 of Coach Martin's wrestling teams finished their season ranked in Greater Cincinnati's final Top 10 wrestling poll. Once, his team finished ranked No. 1 and three times his teams claimed the No. 2 postseason position. Also, Coach Martin coached two teams that finished the season as district runners-up, and twice his Panthers placed fifth and ninth in Ohio. Individually, Coach Martin coached one state champion, six state placers, and 22 state qualifiers. His 1982 Panthers were Little Miami's first undefeated wrestling team finishing at 14-0 while winning the FAVC championship, and Tim was named the FAVC Coach of the Year following that season. In total, Coach Martin received seven postseason Coach of the Year honors for his work as Little Miami's varsity wrestling coach.

On the gridiron, Coach Martin finished his career as Little Miami's second winningest coach in Panther football history. In 1992, Coach Martin led the Panthers to their first undefeated regular season as they went 10-0 and claimed the FAVC championship. In addition, the '92 Panthers were ranked No. 1 in Greater Cincinnati in Division III, and No. 8 in the State of Ohio. That team also qualified for the OHSAA postseason as the top ranked team in the area and went on to win the school's first playoff game in school history before falling in the Regional Final and finishing 11-1, overall. During his 10 seasons as Little Miami's top signal caller, Coach Martin had 10 players who earned various Player of the Year honors, and five received All-Ohio accolades during that time. Following the 1992 campaign, Coach Martin was named FAVC, Western Star, Cincinnati Area, Southwest District, and Ohio Division III Coach of the Year.

For eight years, Coach Martin also led the Little Miami girls' track and field team. During his tenure, the team set nine school records and won 20 team trophies at invitational meets. Also, five times Coach Martin had student-athletes named Runner of the Meet and coached one of those was also tabbed the FAVC track and field Athlete of the Year. In total, Coach Martin mentored 14 Lady Panthers who won FAVC individual titles. 11 Lady Panthers that won an individual district championship, and six that placed at the Regional Meet. And lastly, one athlete that placed in the OHSAA State Championship Meet three times.

Wrestling – 25 years
Football – 10 years
Track & Field – 8 years

• Coach Martin coached two undefeated Little Miami teams during his career, including the 1982 wrestling team and the 1992 football team. Both teams were named Team of the Year in the Cincinnati Area and were also state ranked.
• Coach Martin coached 34 student-athletes that were named All-Ohio or competed in the OHSAA championship tournament.
• Coach Martin is proud to have been a Panther and represented Little Miami.

Melissa (Beerse) Hemphill (2006)
2006 Little Miami graduate Melissa (Beerse) Hemphill was a standout cross country track and field student-athlete for the Panthers. In fact, before high school, Melissa had never competed in a school-sponsored sport. However, that did not deter her success athletically. After four incredible years on the track, she became only the second female Panther in school history to qualify for the OHSAA State Championship Meet three times, while also being a state-placer in each of those trips to Columbus. Melissa led the team in scoring four-straight years, enroot to setting three school records while also holding impressive academic accolades in the classroom. After graduation, Melissa went on to compete in track and field for the United States Air Force Academy just north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado.

Cross Country – 3 years
Track & Field – 4 years

• All-FAVC – 2003, 2004 (1st), 2005 (1st) and 2006 (1st).
• 2006 FAVC Field Athlete of the Year.
• Regional Qualifier – 2004, 2005, and 2006.
• State Qualifier & Placer – 2004 (8th), 2005 (5th) and 2006 (3rd).
• Led team in scoring for three years.
• At graduation, she held three school records in the pole vault (12-2), 100 hurdles (15.1), and 300 hurdles. Also, held the district (12-2) and Regional Meet (12-0) pole vault records.
• Attended the United States Air Force Academy and pole vaulted for the Falcons. 

Paul Books (1993)
1993 LMHS graduate Paul Books was truly a football player, and he loved the game. Defined by the Cincinnati Enquirer as, "Perhaps the most terrifying player in the area on the defensive side of the ball." Books was a two-sport star at LMHS while earning six total varsity letters in baseball and football. However, football was his passion and where he excelled. Books started both ways and played special teams for the Panthers, rarely coming off the field. In 1992, Books helped lead Little Miami to the outright FAVC football championship and went 10-0 for the first time in school history. In Week 11, the Panthers won their first playoff game in school history before falling short in a heartbreaker in the Regional Finals. Books was a three-time All-FAVC performer in football, while also being named the 1992 FAVC Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, Books earned Division III first-team All-Southwest District and D-III second-team All-Ohio honors in '92. Also, Books' name is imprinted throughout the Little Miami football record book with marks that may never be matched. The Enquirer went on to state, "If he wasn't there to make the play, he usually inspired someone else to make it for him."

After graduation, he served as team captain and middle linebacker for Lackawanna Junior College's inaugural team, as well as a defensive end at the College of DuPage, where their team won the RC Cola Bowl in 1995.

Motivated to help others as a result of his own debilitating back pain, Paul later returned to school and finished his bachelor's degree in Health Promotion and Education from the University of Cincinnati and a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from Logan University in St. Louis, Missouri. Paul continues to serve the Warren County area with his chiropractic performance and wellness clinic in Mason, and as the team chiropractic physician for the Cincinnati BEN-GAL cheerleaders since 2022.

Baseball – 3 years
Football – 3 years

• All-FAVC – 1990 (2nd), 1991 (1st) and 1992 (1st).
• 1992 FAVC Defensive of the Year.
• 1992 Western Star Player of the Year.
• 1992 Division III First-Team All-Southwest District.
• 1992 Division III Second-Team All-Ohio.

Jason Davidson (1994)
Jason Davidson is a 1994 graduate of Little Miami High School and was a three-sport star in baseball, basketball, and cross country for the Panthers. Davidson logged three varsity letters in cross country, but on the basketball, hardwood was where his success was most prominent. Davidson earned a varsity letter each of his four years in high school under the direction of longtime Hall-of-Fame head coach Rob Blanton, while the team logged 59 wins and two Fort Ancient Valley Conference Championships. For his efforts, Davidson was named All-FAVC during his junior (1992-93) and senior (1993-94) seasons while also setting many school records that are still relevant today. He resides at No. 3 in the LMHS boys' basketball record book in scoring with 1187 points and is still the school's all-time leading rebounder with 513 boards. "Jason was a winner and a fierce competitor," said longtime assistant coach Gary Wirsch. Following high school, Jason enrolled at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio before graduating from the University of Cincinnati.
 
Baseball – 3 years
Cross Country – 3 years
Basketball – 4 years

• Three-time All-FAVC in basketball. 1991-92 (HM) 1992-93 (1st) and 1993-94 (1st).
• All-Southwest District in 1993-94.
• Two-time Western Star All-Star.
• Two-time FAVC basketball champion.
• Third in all-time scoring with 1187 points.
• Ranked No. 1 all-time in career rebounds with 513.

Nathan Huffman (1992)
Nathan Huffman is one of the best basketball players to have starred for head coach Rob Blanton at Little Miami. The 1992 Panther alumni was exciting to watch, and his game had many tools. Huffman was a force in the paint, could shoot from mid-range, and had great 3-point accuracy too. Huffman was a two-time first-team All-FAVC honoree and was also named the 1991-92 FAVC Player of the Year. Huffman still holds four LMHS boys' basketball single-season all-time records. During his tenure, Nathan made 185 field goals, attempted 165 3-point FGs, holds the dunk record with 17, and registered 67 blocked shots in 1992. Huffman ranks No. 9 all-time with 883 points, 473 of which came in the 1991-92 campaign. Also, Huffman checks in at No. 4 with 409 and 139 steals. Following his time as a Panther, Huffman enrolled and played basketball at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio.

Basketball – 4 years

• Two-time All-FAVC in basketball. 1990-91 (1st) and 1991-92 (1st).
• FAVC Player of the Year in 1991-92.
• 1992 Western Star All-Star.
• Single-season career leader in FGs made, 3-pointers attempted, dunks, and blocked shots.
• Ranked No. 4 all-time in career steals with 139.
• Ranked No. 4 all-time in career rebounds with 409.
• Ranked No. 9 all-time in career scoring with 883 points.

Kevin Schulz (1992)
Three-sport star Kevin Schulz earned eight varsity letters for Little Miami during his prolific career as a Panther, but he truly excelled on the wrestling mat. In total, Schulz compiled a record of 82-12, was a three-time FAVC wrestling champion, a three-time sectional champion, a one-time district champion, and a three-time state qualifier. After the 1991-92 campaign, Schulz was also tabbed the FAVC Co-Wrestler of the Year, and from 1990-92 local newspaper publications named him first-team All-Western Star and first-team All-Cincinnati. On the gridiron, Schulz anchored the Panthers offensive line and was a second-team All-FAVC offensive tackle for head coach Tim Martin. He also claimed Western Star and Southwest District accolades following the 1990 and 1991 seasons. After his time at Little Miami, Schulz had a successful career as an educator and wrestling coach with Carlisle Local Schools.

Wrestling – 4 years
Football – 3 years
Baseball – 1 year

• Complied an 82-12 record in wrestling.
• 1991-92 FAVC Co-Wrestler of the Year.
• Three-time FAVC wrestling champion.
• Three-time OHSAA sectional wrestling champion.
• 1991-92 OHSAA district champion.
• Three-time OHSAA state qualifier.
• Two-time second-team All-FAVC offensive tackle.