1980 State Championship Baseball Team

The 1980 Oak Hills Highlander Baseball Team captured the first state championship in school history, finishing 25–7 overall and 11–3 in league play. Coached by Pat Quinn and Dick Ballard, the Highlanders won every level of competition — league, city, sectional, district, regional, and state — before dedicating their title to retiring principal Willard Sweeder.

The roster was filled with standout performers, including All-City honorees Steve Oliverio, Mark Gerdsen, Bud Cox, and Dan Sehlhorst. Sehlhorst was named Cincinnati Post Player of the Year, while Oliverio and Hellman led a dominant pitching staff. Coach Quinn earned Greater Cincinnati Coach of the Year honors.

This championship squad set the standard for Oak Hills athletics, achieving what no Highlander team had done before: bringing home a state title.

Carolynn McHugh Heyl

Carolynn McHugh Heyl, a 2001 graduate of Oak Hills High School, is one of the most accomplished swimmers in school history. A four-year varsity letter winner and team captain her senior year, Carolynn earned two Ohio State Championships in 2001 — individually in the 50-yard freestyle and as part of the 200-yard medley relay team. Over her high school career, she became a 16-time state placer, including seven top-three finishes at the Ohio State Championship meet in Canton.

As of 2025, she continues to hold Oak Hills’ records in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and 200-yard freestyle relay. Beyond high school, Carolynn also competed with the Gamble Nippert YMCA Gators, achieving multiple first-place finishes and helping the women’s team capture the 2001 YMCA Long Course National Championship.

At the University of South Carolina, where she earned a swimming scholarship, Carolynn built on her success. She became a school record holder in the 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard freestyle relay, and 200-yard medley relay, while also ranking among the program’s all-time best in the 100-yard freestyle. In 2004, she anchored the 200-yard freestyle relay team that placed 3rd at the SEC Championships and 5th at the NCAA Championships, setting school records that stood for more than 15 years. That same year, she was a three-time All-American. Carolynn was also named an Academic All-American in her sophomore, junior, and senior years.

After graduating with a degree in business, Carolynn pursued a career in healthcare and is now a registered nurse with The Urology Group. She resides in Green Township with her husband, Mark, and their three daughters — Adeline, Alayna, and Audrey — all students at J.F. Dulles. A proud Highlander, she is remembered not only as a record-setting swimmer, but also as a multi-sport athlete who represented Oak Hills in both swimming and soccer.

Dr. David Brent Argo, MD

Dr. David Brent Argo, MD

Dr. David Brent Argo is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist whose career has been defined by excellence in patient care and a deep commitment to athletics in the Cincinnati community. A graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine in 1998, Dr. Argo has spent more than 27 years providing advanced orthopaedic and sports medicine care to athletes of all ages and levels of competition.

Affiliated with leading regional hospitals including Dearborn County Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital, Dr. Argo is licensed in Sports Medicine in Ohio and has built his reputation as a physician who blends medical expertise with a passion for athletics. His training encompasses every aspect of sports medicine—from injury prevention, field evaluation, and rehabilitation, to biomechanics, conditioning, nutrition, and performance optimization.

For Oak Hills Athletics, Dr. Argo has been a trusted partner in keeping Highlander student-athletes healthy, safe, and able to compete at their highest level. Whether on the sidelines, in the training room, or in the operating room, his guidance and care have ensured that countless Oak Hills athletes have been able to recover from injuries, return to play, and excel both on and off the field.

Dr. Argo’s lifelong dedication to sports medicine, his leadership in the medical field, and his unwavering support of the Oak Hills athletic community make him a most deserving recipient of Meritorious Hall of Fame honors.

Herbie Huesman

Throughout his diving career at Oak Hills High School, Herbie Huesman didn’t just compete—he dominated. A two-sport standout in golf and swimming & diving, Huesman left his mark as one of the most decorated athletes in program history.

On the boards, he set school records in both the 6-dive and 11-dive events, achievements that cemented his place among the program’s elite. He was a model of consistency, finishing in the Top 4 at the Big East Championships for four consecutive years against the region’s strongest competition. At the state level, he shined even brighter—earning Top 5 finishes at the State Championships all four years, a rare and remarkable accomplishment. His dominance was further proven with four Sectional Championships, four District Championships, and two Southwest Diving Classic titles. He was twice the State Runner-Up, and as a junior, was named the 1994 Swimming & Diving Team MVP. Beyond the pool, Huesman excelled on the links as well, earning the 1993 Golf Player of the Year Award.

Following his Oak Hills career, Huesman continued his excellence at the University of Notre Dame, where he rewrote the record books. By the time he graduated in 2001, he held three of the four school diving records—a testament to his dominance at the collegiate level. His 6-dive, 1-meter record stood unmatched for years after his departure. He was recognized as a First Team All-Big East selection and the recipient of the prestigious Beller Hipp Award, honoring his athletic achievement and leadership.

Herbie Huesman’s legacy is more than numbers, titles, and records. His career reflects dedication, consistency, and the ability to rise to the moment. He not only set the standard during his time as a Highlander but also inspired future generations of athletes to aim higher. Today, he remains one of the most accomplished divers to emerge from Oak Hills, with success that carried beyond high school onto the national collegiate stage.

Huesman now resides in Lutz, Florida with his wife, Sophia, also a proud Oak Hills Class of 1996 alumna.

Scott Klingenbeck

Scott Klingenbeck, a 1989 graduate of Oak Hills High School, distinguished himself as one of the most accomplished pitchers in Ohio high school baseball history.

Early Athletic Success

As a sophomore at Elder High School, Klingenbeck earned varsity letters in basketball, soccer, and baseball—an early testament to his athletic versatility. On the diamond, he quickly emerged as a standout, earning All-City and All-State honors while finishing the season with a 10–1 record as a starting pitcher.

Oak Hills High School & National Recognition

Klingenbeck transferred to Oak Hills High School before his junior year, where he went on to dominate the mound. Across his junior and senior seasons, he compiled a perfect 22–0 record. In 1988, he led his American Legion team to a National Championship, earning “Player of the Game” honors in the title contest.

Before his senior year, Klingenbeck secured a full-ride scholarship to The Ohio State University—an uncommon achievement in baseball at that time. His senior season proved historic: he went 12–0, was named Gatorade National High School Baseball Player of the Year (1989), and was selected in the 40th round of the MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers. He chose instead to honor his commitment to Ohio State. By graduation, he was a three-time All-State honoree.

Ohio State University Career

At Ohio State, Klingenbeck quickly cemented his legacy as one of the program’s greats. As a freshman, he finished with a 10–1 record, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, First Team All-American, and All-Big Ten honors. He followed that with an 11–2 sophomore campaign, again garnering First Team All-American and All-Big Ten recognition.

His junior season brought mixed results statistically (7–7), but he etched his name into Buckeye history by throwing a no-hitter against LSU in the NCAA Regional Tournament. Following that season, Klingenbeck was selected 3rd overall in the 1992 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles—foregoing his senior year.

Major League & International Career

Klingenbeck made his Major League debut in 1994 against the Detroit Tigers, the very team that had drafted him years earlier. The Orioles claimed victory in that matchup, 11–3.

In 1995, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for former Cy Young Award winner Scott Erickson. Klingenbeck went on to play five seasons in Major League Baseball before extending his professional career with a season in Japan’s top league.

Team USA Experience

Klingenbeck also represented his country on the international stage. He pitched for the 1989 USA Junior Olympic Team, earning a gold medal, and later competed for Team USA in 1990, helping the squad reach the finals of the Pan-American Games before falling to Cuba.

Life After Baseball

After retiring from professional baseball, Klingenbeck turned to entrepreneurship, owning and operating Hot Wings from 2003–2013. He continued to give back to his community by coaching with the JB Yeager Organization, alongside longtime friends and colleagues Eric Keeton, Jim Robinson, and Fred [Last Name].

Legacy

From his undefeated high school dominance and national recognition, to starring at Ohio State and competing at the highest levels of baseball both domestically and internationally, Scott Klingenbeck’s career reflects talent, perseverance, and a lifelong dedication to the game.