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SPORT: Football

Chuck Walroth

Induction

2015

Sports

Men's Baseball, Basketball, Football

Graduation

1968

Chuck was a member of the class of 1968, and was a varsity athlete in Baseball, Basketball, and Football. From 1967-1968, he was All-League and All-City in all three sports, which included leading Oak Hills to league titles in Baseball and Basketball. He was the leading scorer for the Oak Hills Football team, as well as led the city in his senior year in scoring. Chuck also led the Oak Hills Baseball team with a .330 batting average, and was 7-0 in starts during his senior year. He accepted a full athletic scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University, where he was awarded Newcomer of the Year before suffering a career ending knee injury in his final game against University of Kentucky. 

Chuck Walroth

MEET

1968

Meet

Dave Burke

Induction

2012

Sports

Men's Football

Graduation

1990

Dave Burke is a 1990 Oak Hills graduate. Dave has been called one of the best football players in the history of Oak Hills. He was a two year varsity letter winner and team captain. Dave was an important part of the 1988 Metro County Conference League Champion team. In his senior season Dave was named first team all-conference, first team all-southwest district and first team all-state. After his career at Oak Hills ended Dave continued his playing days at Thomas More College. To date Dave still holds the school record for most tackles in a single game at 28 vs. Earlham College. 

Dave Burke

MEET

1990

Meet

David Soult

Induction

2016

Sports

Men's Football, Basketball, Baseball

Graduation

1989

David Soult, class of 1989, was a 3 sport Varsity Athlete, competing for the Varsity Football, Basketball and Baseball teams. As a football player, he earned 3 Varsity Letters, and earned multiple awards, including 2nd Team All-League his Junior year and 1st Team All-League and 2nd Team All-City his Senior year. He still holds multiple football records at Oak Hills, including Touchdowns for a career (35) and tied for 1st in Touchdowns in a single season (23). As a member of the Varsity Baseball Team, Soult earned 3 Varsity Letters and earned many awards during his playing career at Oak Hills. He earned 1st Team All-League all 3 years he was a member of the Varsity team, and 1st Team All-City his Junior and Senior Seasons. After high school, he accepted a Baseball Scholarship to the University of Kansas. 

David Soult

MEET

1989

Meet

Fred Rayhle

Induction

2004

Sports

Men's Football, Basketball, Track

Graduation

1972

Fred Rayhle was an Oak Hills graduate of the class of 1972, and played Varsity Football, Basketball, and Track during his time at Oak Hills. Rayhle was a 3 year Varsity Football and Basketball letterman, and a 2 year Varsity letterman Track athlete. Rayhle was a key component of the 1971 City Championship Basketball Team, and participated in the East-West All-Star Game for Basketball. Rayhle attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after his time at Oak Hills on a Football Scholarship, where he was selected to the All-Time University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Football Team over the first 50 years of the sport, and after college he went on to play in the National Football League with the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks.

Fred Rayhle

MEET

1972

Meet

Grant Griesser

Induction

2010

Sports

Men's Baseball, Football, Basketball

Graduation

1985

Grant Griesser is 1985 graduate; Grant was a three sport standout for the Highlanders. As a member of the football team he earned all-league honors during his junior and senior seasons. On the basketball court he was a member of the 1984 squad that posted a perfect 20-0 record on their way to a conference and city championship. His senior basketball season, Grant lead to the team to a conference and district championship. While his success in football and basketball are impressive, his love and passion was baseball. During his two seasons as the starting catcher for Oak Hills, he led the team to two conference championships and a record of 49-3. During his senior season, Grant was named first team all-conference in three sports. His combined record in games started for Oak Hills is an amazing 92-24, including 116 starts. Grant was awarded a baseball scholarship to Miami University where he went on be a four year starting catcher and earn All Mid-American Conference honors for two years. Following his college career, Grant signed to play with the Kansas City Royals organization. He played minor league baseball for six years. After his playing days were complete, he went on to earn his undergraduate and master's degree. 

Grant Griesser

MEET

1985

Meet

Jamie Birkofer

Induction

2023

Sports

Men's Baseball, Football

Graduation

1989

Jamie is a 1989 graduate and multi-sport student-athlete who competed in baseball and football.   In baseball, Jamie started as a pitcher and center fielder.  He was All-City Honorable Mention as an outfielder in 1987, 1988, and as a pitcher in 1989.  He was 1st-Team Metro Country Conference in 1988 and the Metro County Conference Player of the Year in 1989.  During his senior year, he was 1st-Team MCC as a pitcher posting a 7-1 record with a 1.85 ERA while batting 500 and earning 1st-Team All-City as an outfielder.  Jamie played in the East-West All-Star game in 1989 and won the American Legion World Series Championship in 1988.  After graduating, Jamie went on to play for Middle Tennessee State University.  He was Honorable Mention as a pitcher in the Ohio Valley Conference in 1992 and 2nd-Team All-Conference in 1993.  His teams at Middle Tennessee State University were regular season and tournament champions in 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993.  

Jamie resides in Hebron, KY with his wife Kathy & daughters Kyra, & Leah.

Jamie Birkofer

MEET

1989

Meet

Jason Martin

Induction

2016

Sports

Men's Football, Basketball, Baseball

Graduation

1998

Jason Martin was a member of the Oak Hills Graduating Class of 1998, in which he played varsity Football, Basketball, and Baseball. He earned the Senior Athlete Award and the Archie Griffin Award for Leadership in 1998. Martin had sustained success for the Highlander Baseball team, being a starter on 2 league championship teams. He currently holds the 2nd place records for single season batting average (.519) and Career average (.456). His senior season, he was named to the Mizuno All-Ohio All Star Team, All-City 1st Team, and Conference Co-Player of the Year. That season, he led the team in Hits, RBI's, Triples, and HR's. 

Jason Martin

MEET

1998

Meet

Jeff Schroeder

Induction

2019

Sports

Men's Football, rack & Field

Graduation

2002

Jeff Schroeder was a 2002 graduate of Oak Hills who starred as a football player and track and field athlete.  During his high school career, Jeff left his mark on the Oak Hills record books. He was a part of the school record 4x100m team and still holds the school record for the 300m Hurdles and 110m High Hurdles.  In 2001, he was the GMC champion in the 300m Hurdles and the 110m High Hurdles, with a winning time that is still a GMC record. In addition, he still holds the GMC Hurdle record with a time of 14.0 seconds. In 2002, he defended his crown by winning both races again and was named the GMC Track and Field athlete of the year.  Jeff was district champion in the 110 High Hurdles, 300m Hurdles, and anchored the District winning 4x400m relay. Jeff finished 5th place at state in the High Hurdles in 2002, was named 1st team All-State and still holds the 20th fastest High Hurdle time in Cincinnati History. As a football player, Jeff was a 2 way starter on the only playoff team in school history.  He was a team Captain his Senior year as well as 2nd-Team All-GMC. In 2002, Jeff had 14 receptions in a game against Colerain.  Following High School, Jeff went on to play football for Miami University where he played 152 straight quarters spanning three seasons.  Jeff was nicknamed “the bulldog” by teammate Ben Roethlisberger for his tenacious play as a receiver. Jeff was an integral member of Miami’s success in the early 2000's, including their 2003 MAC championship and was awarded their “Tip of the Spear Leader” award.  

Jeff Schroeder

MEET

2002

Meet

Jim Schnur

Induction

2005

Sports

Men's Football, Track

Graduation

1973

Jim Schnur is a 1973 graduate who excelled in varsity football and varsity track at Oak Hills. Jim Schnur became Oak Hills first individual state champion when he won the 440 yard dash his senior year. Schnur was a school record holder in ten different events while at Oak Hills. He received several All City and All State honors during his career in track and field. He received All City honors in football his senior year. In 1973, Jim was awarded the Cincinnati Enquirer "Male Athlete of the Year". Jim continued his Football and track career at the University of Cincinnati, where he was recently inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame. Upon graduation from UC, Schnur competed on the USA national team. His highest world ranking was 4th in the Decathlon. Jim ended his career at the 1984 Olympic trials. 

Jim Schnur

MEET

1973

Meet

Joe Dooley

Induction

2011

Sports

Men's Football, Track, Basketball

Graduation

1980

Joe Dooley is 1980 graduate and was a standout football, track and basketball student athlete at Oak Hills earning All-League honors in all three sports. As a member of the Oak Hills track team he was crowned League Champion in the shot put and discus in 1979 and in discus in 1980, qualifying for regionals both seasons. Joe is most widely known at Oak Hills as a dominant football player. As a senior Joe earned All-State honors and earned a full football scholarship to the Ohio State University. While a member of the Buckeyes football program, Joe was a three year letter winner. His senior season as the starting center, Joe lead the Buckeyes to a 9-3 record and a Fiesta Bowl Championship under head coach Earl Bruce. In 1984 Joe was the second Oak Hills Highlander to be drafted by the National Football League when he was taken by the Los Angeles Rams in the 10th round. 

Joe Dooley

MEET

1980

Meet

Joe Rothwell

Induction

2010

Sports

Men's Baseball, Football, Basketball

Graduation

1975

Joe Rothwell is 1975 graduate, and was a three sport standout for the Highlanders. He was a three year varsity letter winner in football, helping the team to the 1974 league championship. He also lettered in basketball. His passion was baseball where he earned three varsity letters. During his baseball career at Oak Hills, Joe was named all-conference and all city three times. In 1974, he led the Highlanders to a baseball conference championship. While Joe was offered several football scholarships, he decided to accept a baseball scholarship to Southern Illinois University, a Perennial National contender in the mid to late 1970's. After his freshman season at SIU, Joe was selected in the 12th round of the Major League draft by the Kansas City Royals. In 1975 Joe was selected to the All-Rookie team while playing for the Sarasota Royals. After two seasons in the Royals organization he was traded to the Detroit Tigers where he played for an additional three seasons. While with the Detroit Tigers he was selected to the Appalachian League All Star Team in 1978. After his playing career was complete, Joe completed his college education at the University of Cincinnati under the Professional Baseball Scholarship Plan. 

Joe Rothwell

MEET

1975

Meet

John Maher

Induction

2019

Sports

Men's Wrestling, Track & Field, Football

Graduation

1972

John Maher played three varsity sports, graduating in 1972. He was one of the first in school history to qualify for the state tournament in wrestling. John earned a varsity letter three years in track. In football, he was voted MVP his senior year by his teammates. John credits his great coaches at Oak Hills for guiding him to set goals and continue his education. After attending Middle Tennessee State University on a football scholarship, John settled in the Nashville, Tennessee area and taught and coached for ten years before beginning his second career as a homebuilder/developer. John Maher Builders has built thousands of homes and has land holdings suitable for thousands more. John and his company have won numerous awards throughout the years. The Nashville Business Journal honored John as one of the twenty five people that most influences business in Williamson County. In 2017, John received the Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce Community Partner Award which illustrates his commitment to and impact on the city in which he builds. In May of 2018, John received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Oak Hills High School. Since athletics and education played such a large role in John's life, he has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support charities, school projects, and provide scholarships to worthy recipients. As a thank you to Oak Hills and in recognition of his most influential coaches (Wil Rutenschroer and Frank Shaut), John donated $100,000 for the original artificial turf for the Rutenschroer/Maher Field and $100,000 for a future wrestling room to honor Coach Shaut. John has been married to his college sweetheart, Margie, for 42 years and is proud of his four children, Beth, Jennifer, Kathleen, and Jack.

John Maher

MEET

1972

Meet

Jonathan Sweet

Induction

2009

Sports

Men's Baseball, Football

Graduation

1990

Jonathan Sweet was part of the 1990 graduating class of Oak HIlls. He was a 2 year varsity letterman in baseball and football. Sweet was named All-Conference and All-City for 2 season and was a part of a string of 8 consecutive league baseball championships. In his junior season, he was the catcher on the Oak Hills District Championship team, which finished the season as regional runner-up. That team was also the #1 ranked team in the state of Ohio and the only Oak Hills baseball team to be ranked in the USA top #25. Sweet was named team MVP during 1989.  

Jonathan Sweet

MEET

1990

Meet

Justin Ray

Induction

2019

Sports

Men's Football, Basketball

Graduation

2004

Justin Ray is a 2004 graduate and multi-sport student-athlete who competed in football and basketball.  In football, Justin broke 13 career, single season, and single game school records as a quarterback including attempts, completions, yardage and completion percentage.  From 2002-2003, he was a two-time All GMC quarterback and All GMC. He was also recognized as an All City punter and a two-time Team MVP. In the winter, Ray dominated the basketball court, earning all GMC honors twice, and first team All District and City. As a senior, Ray finished fourth in the conference in scoring and helped his team finish 7th in the City. Justin earned a scholarship to Christian Brothers University where he contributed to their first ever Season Championship, Conference Tourney Championship, and National Tourney birth. He went on to coach and find great success at Christian Brothers, Wright State, Mount St. Joseph and is the current head coach of Thomas More University. 

Justin Ray

MEET

2004

Meet

Mark Bonfield

Induction

2021

Sports

Men's Football, Basketball

Graduation

1989

Mark Bonfield is a 1989 graduate of Oak Hills High School.  Mark was a two-year varsity starter for football, earning first team all-league and all-district honors, as well as honorable mention for All-Southwest Ohio.  Mark was also a three-year starter for basketball and second-team all conference.  

At the time of his graduation, Mark held 12 receiving records, many of which still stand.  Mark still holds records for most receiving yards in a season (1,167), most receiving yards in a game (333), most career receiving touchdowns (21), most receiving touchdowns in a season (18), and most receiving touchdowns in a single game (5).   His 10 catches, 333 yard performance is still the 5th best game in Ohio history!

Mark has two children, Tyler and Megan and resides in Cleves, Ohio with his wife Kristin.  He is a financial advisor at PNC. 

Mark Bonfield

MEET

1989

Meet

Mike Kessler

Induction

2023

Sports

Men' Football, Baseball

Graduation

1989

Mike is a 1989 graduate & was a multi-sport athlete competing in football & baseball. He was a four-letter varsity letterman in both football & baseball. Mike capped off his senior year by earning 2nd-Team All Conference in both football & baseball. That Summer Mike was selected as the American Legion National Player of the year.  He hit .390 that Summer with a pitching record of 10-1.  Mike finished with an overall pitching record of 25-4 that year between high school & Summer ball.  As a member of the 1988 Budde Post American Legion Team, his squad 

went on to win the National Championship that year.  They were the first team to win the American Legion National Championship where all the players on the team came from the same high school, Oak Hills. 

After graduation Mike attended the University of Cincinnati.

Mike currently owns and operates Kessler's Pro Turf for 23 years serving The West Side of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Takes great pride in getting the fields and schools looking their best. Mike also helped coach youth football at St. Dominic for 6 years.

Mike resides in Harrison, OH with his wife Susie & two children Danny 11, and Lucy 7.

Mike Kessler

MEET

1989

Meet

Mike Weadick

Induction

2012

Sports

Men's Football, Wrestling, Track

Graduation

Mike Weadick lettered in football, wrestling, and track while a student athlete at Oak Hills. As a captain of the football team, Mike was a middle linebacker. He was a member of the 1976 conference championship team earning all-league status his senior year. In wrestling, Mike was a league, city and district champion in 1977. He qualified for the state finals his senior season finishing third overall. Mike went on to DePauw University on a football scholarship. 

Mike Weadick

MEET

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Ricky Cornelius

Induction

2023

Sports

Basketball, Football

Graduation

2004

Ricky is a 2004 graduate and was a multi-sport athlete competing in basketball and football.  He was a three-year varsity letterman in basketball, as well as captain in 2003, and recipient of the Mike Ensmigner and Dick Haucke Awards.  In football, Ricky was a 4-year varsity letterman and two-way starter from 2001-2003.  He is 2nd all-time in interceptions (9) on defense while posting a career average of 5.74 yards per carry.  He was 2nd-Team All-GMC in 2001 and 1st-Team All-GMC in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, he earned 2nd-Team All-District Honors, the Captain’s Award, and was named the team’s Offensive Back of the Year.  He capped off his senior season by earning 1st-Team All-District and 1st-Team All-City, as well as being named a finalist for the “That’s My Boy” award.  He was nominated to play in the East-West All-Star game and received the Barb Delconte Award.

After graduation, Ricky attended Morehead State University on a football scholarship.  He was a 4-year starter and earned the Freshman of the Year award during his 1st season.  He was named 1st-Team Pioneer League fullback and a 4-Time Academic Excellence Pioneer Football League award.

Rick has been at GE Aviation for 12 years as a Quality Engineer and is currently coaching youth football and basketball for Oak Hills youth programs.  Ricky resides in Bridgetown with his wife of 13 years & alumni Amanda & their two sons Elijah 10, and Maxson 8.

Ricky Cornelius

MEET

2004

Meet

Ron Murphy

Induction

2015

Sports

Men's Baseball, Football

Graduation

1989

Ron was a 7 time varsity letter recipient, and 2 time JV letter recipient during his time at Oak Hills, playing both Baseball and Football. As a football player, he was earned 3 varsity letters, while leading the team in return yards and being a two-way starter at Running Back and Defensive Back, which allowed him to be named All-League for Football in 1988 and 1989. In Baseball, he earned 3 league titles (1987-1989), and was named All-League during that time frame as well. He set school records for Triples and Runs, and won both Sectionals and District during the 1989 season. Because of his successes, he was named Student Athlete of the Year in 1989, and accepted a Division 1 scholarship to Ball State University to continue his baseball career. 

Ron Murphy

MEET

1989

Meet

The 1963 Undefeated Championship Football Team

Induction

2014

Sports

Graduation

The 1963 Undefeated Championship Football Team is the first team to ever be inducted into the Oak Hills Athletics Hall of Fame. Under Coach Will Rutenschroer, and led by All League Running Back Ron Ense, the team went 10-0 and won the Hamilton County League Championship in only their 5th year of having a football program. 

The 1963 Undefeated Championship Football Team

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