Hardin County Sports Hall of Fame “Class of 2024” Selections Released

The Hardin County Sports Hall of Fame is honored to announce the 2024 Sports Hall of Fame class of inductees.

PAIGE PEES CURLIS: Hardin Northern 1988 and University of Cincinnati 1992. Three sport student-athlete who
excelled in volleyball, basketball and track. Three year letter winner in volleyball. BVC 2nd team and District 8 H.M.
while winning HN’s “Best Server” & “Best Offensive Player” and finishing 2nd in Conference and Sectional Champs. All
BVC Volleyball (1986-1987), 2nd Team All-Ohio (1986), 1st Team All-Ohio (1987), 1st Team District 8 (1986), 18 – 0
BVC Record (1986-1987). Team MVP (1986-1987); BVC Player of the Year (1987), District 8 Player of the Year (1987).
Only loss senior year in volleyball was in District Finals to State Champion, St. Henry. Finished 24-1.Three year letter
winner in basketball. 2nd Team BVC (1986); 2-time 1st Team BVC (1987, 1988); BVC Player of Year (1988); 2nd Team
District 8 (1987); 1st Team District 8 (1988); 1,035 career points; Special Mention All-NW Ohio (1987); Leading Scorer
in Kenton Times area. Set a Single Game Scoring Record (34) (1987); Leader of team statistics in over 75% of basketball
categories. In track, finished as an All-State podium performer both sophomore and senior years. Won Duo-Century
Award and finished Runners-up in 4×400 relay with a record that still stands @ 4:06.2 and 4×100 relay record of 51.11
(1986). 4th place State finisher in 4×200 relay and 8th place State finisher in 4×400 relay (1988). While at University of
Cincinnati from 1988-1991, won 4 varsity letters, named Metro-All Tournament (1990), named 2nd Team All-Great
Midwest (1991). Ranks in University of Cincinnati’s top 10 all-time in single matches played (38), Career Assists Per Set
(9.3). Career Service Aces (131), and Career Assists (3,851).

RON BEASCHLER: ONU 1986. Completing his 35th season as ONU wrestling coach and Assistant Athletic Director
of Compliance. Has compiled a 374-250-4 overall record and 99 – 41 OAC winning percentage of 70.7%. Is the all-time
winningest coach in ONU history. Elected into National Wrestling Coaches HOF in 2008. Has coached 5 National
Champions, 2 National Runner-ups, 31 All-Americans, 75 Scholar All-Americans, and 15 Scholar All-American Teams.
Three-time OAC Coach of the Year (1993, 2012 and 2013). Served as the NCAA wrestling secretary rules editor and has
served as Weight Management Program liaison to the NCAA Wrestling Committee. Has served 2 years as Chairman of
the Division III NCAA committee. Former President of the NWCA which represents all levels of NCAA wrestling in the
United States as well as NWCA executive board of directors.

DOUG FRIES: Ada High School 1979 and Bluf ton College 1983. A three sport star for the Bulldogs. Four year
letterman in both basketball and baseball and two in cross country during high school. Scored 1,256 career points, 555
points in one season, and single game of 42 points. Averaged 27.7 points senior season. 1st Team All-NWC in 1977 and 1979. Honorable Mention 1978. 1st Team All-Ohio in 1979. During his 4 years in basketball, the team won 3 NWC
Championships and one Runner-up finishing with a 38 and 2 overall league mark. In baseball, Doug was a 4 year starter
and MVP both his junior and senior seasons batting .403. 1st Team All-NWC baseball selection both junior and senior
seasons. Held scoring records for over 20 years prior to the 3 point line and while only having an 18 game schedule.
Recruited to Wooster College, he was a two year starter and lettermen and led OAC in assists as a freshman, and won
the“Outstanding Freshman of Year” basketball award, played one season of baseball for the Scots, and participated in the
NCAA III National Tournament. Finished career at Bluffton College winning team MVP, Outstanding Defensive Player,
Hon. Mention All Hoosier Buckeye Conference and Academic NAIA All-American. As a Beaver, lettered two years
while playing shortstop and received “Outstanding Senior Athlete Award” for all Bluffton athletes. Presently is the
Superintendent at Greenville Schools following a stint at Lincolnview Schools in Van Wert County.

GREG GRIMSLID: ONU 1978. Ada HS Varsity Assistant Football Coach (1979-1989 and 1999-2005). Junior High
football coach for 8 seasons. Head Boys and Girls Track Coach (1989-2013); Varsity Assistant Track Coach (1980-1989);
Volunteer Assistant Coach (2017-2023); Boys District Track Coach of Year 2013. Coached over 50 qualifiers for State
Meet with 23 making the podium, of which six finished 2nd place. Meet manager for NWC Meet for numerous years as
well as District Meet manager. Was an OHSAA Varsity Basketball Official for 26 years. Has worked home basketball
games for Ada HS (1990 to present). Member of ONU football team (1974-1977); 3 year starter and the team’s Defensive
MVP as a senior while garnering All-OAC Honorable Mention. Graduate Assistant ONU football during 1st year of Law
School 1978. Is the Hardin County Judge presently, a position held since 2005. Inducted into the Ada Schools Hall of
Fame in 2023.

KEN FISH: Ridgeway High School 1962 and Bluf ton College 1966. Hardin Northern High School sports statistician
and Chemistry, Physics, General Science and Advanced Math instructor (1972-2020) Started his educational career at
Bloomville Local Schools with a short stint at Blue Creek/Haviland Wayne Trace prior to becoming a 48 year Polar Bear
faculty member. During his time as an educator at HN, Mr. Fish found time to be a statistician and scoreboard operator,
during fall, winter and spring seasons, a position he still maintains within the Polar Bear athletic department even after
retirement. Football season he’s a scoreboard operator with 50 years of service totaling more than 250 contests. Winter
months, Mr. Fish can be found in the gymnasium as a basketball official scorekeeper with 55 years of using a pencil to the
scorebook for more than 1,200 games. In the spring, he still today can be found at HN track meets as an official timer
having covered more than 200 meets over a span of 45 years.

LARRY DICKINSON: Ridgeway High School 1959. Earned 12 varsity letters: 4 each in cross country, basketball and
baseball. However the hardwood court is where Mr. Dickinson excelled, scoring 1,534 career points. Averaged during his
high school playing days: 11 ppg in 1956: 23.1 ppg in 1957, 28.1 ppg in 1958, 23.2 ppg in 1959. Post season honors
included being named UPI 1st Team All-Ohio (1958) and was a 3-time Toledo Blade 1st Team selection.

2007-08 RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM: (Coach Mary Ann Holderman)
14 – 0 LEAGUE RECORD*
18 – 2 REGULAR SEASON RECORD**
5 – 1 TOURNAMENT RECORD* 23 – 3 OVERALL RECORD**
*Undefeated North Central Conference Champions
**Sectional, District and Regional Champions (Division IV)
***State “Final Four” Appearance, losing