MORROW - The Little Miami Schools' athletic department announced the 2024 Class for their Athletic Hall of Fame on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

In celebration of The District's sixth class, the 2024 Class will feature one former coach and six former standout Panther student-athletes. The 2024 Class will be officially inducted into The Hall on Saturday, August 17 at 1 PM  at Bel-Wood Country Club in Morrow.

"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 Panther 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 classes followed before The Pandemic. Unfortunately, inductions were suspended in 2021 due to the Covid 19 Pandemic.

A complete listing of Panthers in The Hall can be found HERE!

Hall of Fame Ceremony Information
Hall of Fame Dinner Tickets

Little Miami's 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame Class

Randolph "Randy" Gray (Coach) 
In 1977, Randy Gray began teaching science while also coaching football and baseball with Little Miami Schools. Gray's prolific career in education has spanned nearly five decades (47 years) as he's taught physical science, CP biology, advanced anatomy & physiology, chemistry, honors physics, honors chemistry, and AP chemistry during his partnership with the LMHS. However, Gray's commitment to Little Miami did not stop when the school day ended, as he dedicated six seasons to LMHS baseball as the JV head coach from 1978-80 and again from 1987-88. Gray was elevated to the varsity head coaching post in 1989 and 1990. On the gridiron, Coach Gray joined hall hall-of-fame coach Barry Schaad in 1981 and held various coaching roles in 39 seasons of Panther football until 2023. He was the freshman head coach from 1981-83, and a varsity assistant coach from 1984-98, 2000-05, 2007-2012, and 2016-2023. Coach Gray called the Little Miami defensive during three stints as the defensive coordinator from 1991-98, 2002-05, 2007-09, and 2011-12. He also held the head football coaching position during the Panthers 2006 campaign. Additionally, Gray umpired baseball games for four years during the 1980s and was tabbed a 'Warren County Teacher of the Year' in the 1990s. Gray currently resides in West Chester with his wife of 38 years, Patricia. 

What was your most memorable season? "The 1992 season has a special place for me - a 10-0 regular season record, making the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, and winning the First-Round game against London High School in a comeback win after being down 14-0, early. The loss in the regional finals against Valley View was another close game that they won in the final minutes. There have been many outstanding high school football players that have come through the program during my years of coaching, but that team was a collection of some of the best players the school has seen." 

What was your most memorable game? "I have been involved in many great football games through the years. Including many with exciting overtime wins (and losses) including schools like our rival Kings. However, winning a game that on paper we should have never been able to brings me to our Round 1 playoff game in 2022 as the No. 16 seed at the No. 1 seed Xenia. Winning that game with a field goal in overtime was a culmination of our players playing their hearts out and the excellent coaching staff working together to create a great game plan." 

Football – 39 years  
Baseball – 6 years 

• Taught science at Little Miami High School for 47 years, with the intent of teaching 50. 
• Coached high school football for 39 seasons and baseball for six. 
• Coached every LMHS football team in program history that has qualified for the OHSAA postseason. 
• Was the varsity football head coach in 2006 and spent numerous years on the staff with Little Miami Hall of Fame coaches Tim Martin and Barry Schaad. 
• Married to wife Patricia for 38 years.

Barry Craig (1978)  
1978 Little Miami graduate Barry Craig was a standout Panther student-athlete on both the boys' tennis team and on the gridiron for the Panthers earning seven total varsity letters. Long after graduation, Craig was known for decades as arguably Little Miami's best boys' tennis player, ever. At graduation, Craig had lettered four years in tennis on three FAVC championship teams (1974-75, 75-76, and 76-77) while compiling a school record in singles play with a mark of 72 wins to 6 losses and was also undefeated during the 1976 and 1978 regular seasons. As a junior in 1977, Craig was 16-1 overall in singles play as Little Miami charged to an FAVC championship with a 7-0 league record. For his efforts, Craig was twice named All-FAVC in tennis and once as a senior in football. Craig was also a finalist for the prestigious 'That's My Boy Award' given annually by the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Football – 3 years  
Tennis – 4 years  

• All-FAVC – 1977 (1st) and 1978 (1st) in tennis. 
• All-FAVC – 1977 (1st) in football. 
• Earned seven (7) varsity letters; Four in tennis and three in football. 
• At graduation, held tennis school records in singles play at (72-6) and consecutive singles wins (22).  
• Played tennis and football collegiately at Williams College in Massachusetts.

Chad Hegge (1993)  
Chad Hegge graduated from LMHS in 1993 and was known by nearly all Panthers as one of the best all-around naturally gifted athletes in Little Miami athletic history and set a standard for what it means to be an incredible teammate. The 1992-93 school year was an amazing time to be a Panther, as Little Miami won FAVC championships in football (11-1, 10-0 FAVC), basketball (17-5, 9-3 FAVC), and baseball (16-4, 10-2 FAVC), all of which Hegge led as team captain. Although severe injuries plagued Chad during his time as a Panther, Hegge still amassed 10 varsity letters and was tabbed first-team All-FAVC in both football and basketball as senior. Additionally, he was also tabbed first-team all-area by the Western Star newspaper, second-team All-Southwest District and D-II/D-III All-Metro Area. A selfless leader as a sophomore in 1990, Hegge led the football team in tackles which earned him his first first-team All-FAVC status, along with many of the same tabloid honors. He also held the school record for assists on the basketball hardwood. "Chad was the best all-around athlete and teammate I've ever known to have played at Little Miami," said teammate and hall of famer Paul Books. 

Football – 2 years 
Basketball – 4 years 
Baseball – 4 years 

• All-FAVC – 1990 (1st) and 1992 (1st) in football. 
• All-FAVC – 1992-93 (1st) in basketball. 
• Team captain of 1992-93 FAVC champion football, basketball, and baseball teams. 
• One of the best all-around athletes and teammates in Little Miami history. 
• The Chad Hegge Award given annually in memorandum to the boys' basketball top assist leader.

Margaret Hutzel (1980) 
Margaret Hutzel is a 1980 graduate of Little Miami High School and was a record-breaking star sprinter and middle-distance runner for the Lady Panthers in track and field. Dominant in events ranging from the 100-yard dash to the 1500-meter run, Hutzel set the Little Miami and FAVC competitive standard on the track during the late 1970s. Year after year, Hutzel continuously bested her own record marks as she was known regionally for regularly and successfully advancing through the OHSAA postseason at the District and Regional levels, as well as sprinting into the State Champions Meet where she would place as a senior. Following graduation, Hutzel enrolled at Ohio University in Athens where she ran for four years for the Lady Bobcats and continued her record-setting performances there, too. 

Track & Field – 4 years 

• In 1979, placed 4th in the 220-yard dash and 6th in the 880-yard medley relay at the OHSAA State Championship Meet. 
• Held Little Miami school records in the 100-yard dash, 220-yard dash, and the 880-yard dash, individually. Additionally, she was a member of school records logged in the 440 and 880-yard relays. 
• All-FAVC in 1979 (1st) and 1980 (1st). 
• FAVC records in the 880 relay (1:57.2, 1979) and 200-yard dash (26.8, 1979); 100-yard dash (12.9, 1980), and 200-yard dash (26.7, 1980).
• Ran collegiately at Ohio University for the Lady Bobcats and captured school records as a member of the 3200-meter relay (9:15.2, 1982) and the 6400-meter relay (20:18.8, 1984). Also, fourth all-time in the women's 1500-meter run at OU (4:31.29, 1984), and was a member of the 1983 and 1984 MAC Championship teams.

Danny Lewis (2007) 
Danny Lewis' golf career at Little Miami was far better than par. The 2007 Panther grad drove, chipped, and putted his way into LMHS history by setting career standards in boys' golf that have rarely been challenged. At the conference level, Lewis was a five-time All-FAVC recipient in both golf and baseball. He was tabbed a second-teamer in golf as a freshman (2003) and sophomore (2004) and elevated to first-team status as a junior (2005) and senior (2006). Additionally, he was nominated for first-team All-FAVC status in baseball in the spring of 2007, while playing for former Panther head coach and fellow hall of famer Matt Craig. But his accolades did not stop at the end of the regular season, as Lewis advanced twice into the OHSAA Regional Tournament in 2005 and 2006. At graduation, Lewis held Little Miami school records for 'Lowest 9-Hole Round' at 32 (-3), 'Most Rounds Under Par' at three (3), and 'Lowest Season Average' (37.0). After his time at LMHS, Lewis enrolled at Northern Kentucky University where he golfed for the Norse and had a prolific collegiate career in Ft. Thomas, too. In 2010, Danny was named to the GLVC all-conference team after winning the individual championship, and he twice earned All-Midwest Regional honors (2010-11) before scoring his top accolade of being named a 2010 All-American. To date, Lewis still holds four individual golf school records at NKU. 

Golf – 4 years 
Baseball – 4 years 

• Four-time All-FAVC in golf. Twice first-team (2005 and 06) and twice second-team (2004 and 03). 
• First-team All-FAVC in Baseball in 2007. 
• Holds three LMHS boys' golf school records. 
• Cincinnati Enquirer All-City golf team in 2006. 
• Earned all-conference and all-American status at Northern Kentucky University. 
• Holds five NKU men's golf school records at NKU (Most Under-Par Rounds in a Season-15, Highest Finish Percentage in a Season (91%), Player Career-Lowest Scoring Average (73.2), Career - Most Par or better rounds (48 of 112), and Career-Most Eagles (11). 
• Following his playing days, golfed his way into a full-time career golf pro. 

Jay Todia (1988) 
In 1985, Jay was a sophomore when the Todia family relocated into Little Miami Schools. Over the next three years, Jay would distinguish himself as one of the finest student-athletes in LMHS history, as he excelled on the field and in the classroom. As a member of the football team under the direction of hall-of-fame head coach Tim Martin, Jay was a two-way starter at defensive end and offensive tackle during all three years that he was a Panther. Little Miami's three-season defensive stretch during Jay's time as a Panther, was one of the stingiest in school history as LMHS only surrendered a staggering 8.7 points per game, and Todia amassed 273 total tackles which would have been a school record at the time and remains in the Top 3, still today. Offensively, Todia anchored an offensive line that produced Little Miami's first two 1000-yard rushers in school history, a 24-6 record, and two FAVC championships. For his efforts, Jay was named All-FAVC three times in three seasons, and he crowned his prolific career by earning second-team D-III All-Ohio honors at DE, which was the highest honor ever achieved by a Little Miami Panther football player at the time. Following graduation, Jay took his talents to Hanover, Indiana where he attended and starred on the gridiron for Hanover College. 

Football – 3 years 

• Three-time All-FAVC in football. Twice first-team (1987 and 86) and second-team in 1985. 
• 1987 FAVC Defensive Player of the Year. 
• Three-time First-Team All-Western Star all-star at defensive end. 
• 1987 First Team All-SW Ohio and Second-Team All-Ohio D-III at DE 
• Played football collegiately at Hanover College.

John Wenderfer (1967) 
John Wenderfer was the definition of a true multi-sport student-athlete for Little Miami as he amassed 14 varsity letters during his career, but the 1967 LMHS graduate made his name known as an outstanding player on the basketball hardwood. Little Miami joined the Fort Ancient Valley Conference in 1964, and John was twice named All-FAVC in basketball after the 1965-66 and 1966-67 campaigns when Wenderfer led the Panthers to a 16-2 overall record while also being named team MVP as senior. In track and field, John held the school record in the high jump for a decade after graduating from the Morrow, Ohio high school. Following his prep career, Wenderfer enrolled at Thomas More University in Crestview Hills, Kentucky where he was also a multi-sport star for the Saints. Wenderfer averaged more than 20 points per game for TMU en route to numerous school records in basketball. He also spent time on the cross country and baseball teams in college. Additionally, John is no stranger to Hall of Fame honors, as he is a member of the Thomas More HOF and several other local HOFs, as he also refereed basketball in Kentucky from 1990-2014 and Ohio from 1998-2014. 

Cross Country – 3 years 
Basketball – 4 years 
Baseball – 4 years 
Track & Field – 3 years 

• Earned 14 varsity letters in four sports for the Panthers. 
• All-FAVC twice in basketball in 1965-66 and 1966-67. 
• Multi-Sport star at Thomas More University and resides in their Athletic Hall of Fame. 
• Refereed basketball in Kentucky and Ohio for more than three decades.