Butler County Sports Hall of Fame inducts 11

The 36th class to be inducted into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame is “well rounded” and represents a diverse sports background, said Stu Eversole, chairman.

He said the inductees played in a “broad spectrum” of sports and excelled as high school and college athletes or improved athletic complexes in Butler County.

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The 2017 class includes 11 people who will be inducted during a ceremony Sunday at the Courtyard by Marriott in Hamilton, according to Eversole.

Here are the abbreviated bios of the inductees, in alphabetical order:

Robert Cobb, GarfieldHigh School: He lettered in four sports as a senior at Garfield, where he graduated in 1979. He received nine letters at Garfield. He was recruited by colleges to play soccer, football, basketball and baseball. He played baseball at Ohio State University, where he earned four letters and was captain his senor year. When he graduated, he had set career records for hits, runs scored, RBIs, doubles and walks. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos and played three years in the Minor Leagues.

Dave Collins, New Miami High School: He was a three-sport standout at New Miami, graduating in 1978. In basketball, he won league and district honors as a junior and senior. He was the league's basketball MVP as a senior. He also won all-league honors in football.

Lynn Darbyshire, Miami University Middletown: He graduated from Miami University in 1965, and in 1967 was hired as the first basketball coach at Miami University Middletown, coordinator of student activities and athletic director. As basketball coach, his teams compiled a 134-70 record. From 1981 until his retirement in 1995, MUM won the All-Sports Award seven times.

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Larry Holstein, Hamilton Catholic High School: He was a three-sport standout, including quarterbacking the 1965 team, considered by some to be the greatest team in school history. He played at Miami University for three years under Bo Schembechler and one season under Bill Mallory. He also is a member of the Hamilton Catholic/Badin Hall of Fame.

Andy Kolesar, Taft High School: He played basketball at Hamilton Taft for three years, where he was named team MVP as a senior. He was named honorable mention all-state. He played basketball at Virginia Military Institute where he was a two-time team captain. He was named Division I Academic All-American three times. He was inducted into the VMI Hall of Fame in 1991.

Kathleen Long-Maritato, Fenwick High School: She was a three-sport standout at Fenwick in basketball, track and soccer from 1986-90. In basketball, she led the Falcons to two Mid-Miami League titles, two district titles, a regional title in 1990 and a state runner-up in 1990. She claimed two state titles in track on the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relay teams. In soccer, she was a first-team MML for three years. She played basketball at Wheeling Jesuit College where she was team MVP her sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

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Tyler Minges, Ross High School: He played baseball for four years at Ross, and as a senior, he was named All-Ohio Division II Player of the Year. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1998 Amateur Baseball Draft by the Cleveland Indians. He spent nine seasons playing Minor League baseball.

Kim Nuxhall, Fairfield High School: He played four years of football and baseball at Fairfield. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds and played minor league baseball until an arm injury ended his baseball career. He manages the Joe Nuxhall Scholarship Fund and is founder of the Miracle Fields in Fairfield. He taught elementary physical education for 32 years in Fairfield.

Michael Reese, HamiltonHigh School: He lettered for three years in football and basketball at Hamilton High. He was first-team GMC in football in 1990 and Division I co-Player of the Year in basketball his senior year. He played basketball at Ohio University where he started and served as captain as a junior and senior.

Don "Woody" Withrow, Middletown High School: For 50 years, he volunteered, designed, engineered and built many sports related facilities and projects for Middletown and Fenwick high schools and Indiana University. He has volunteered more than 6,000 manual hours, building dugouts, press boxes and locker rooms.

Bradford Woodall, Fairfield High School: He was a four-year wrestler who was a state qualifier as a junior and a three-time Butler County champion. His career record: 88-14-2. He wrestled at Case Western Reserve University where he was a three-time national qualifier.


HOW TO GO

WHAT: Butler County Sports Hall of Fame induction

WHEN: 5 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Courtyard by Marriott, One Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton

COST: $25.Tickets are available at Clark's Sporting Goods, 15 S. B St. in Hamilton, or by calling Kiki Gordon at 513-423-7734. Deadline for ticket orders is Wednesday. Tickets will not be sold at the event.

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