CADIZ — On behalf of the Harrison Central Sports Foundation, the Harrison County High School Sports Hall of Fame Committee has released the names of the HOF “Class of 2024”. Three former Harrison County sports greats, a dominant Coach/Athlete, a more than deserving volunteer and six of Harrison County’s most successful teams will be honored prior to, and at half-time of the Harrison Central — St. Clairsville football game on Sept.27. The Hall of Fame is sponsored by MPLX and the Harrison News Herald. A pre-game social with light refreshments will be held in honor of the inductees and teams in the John Stephenson gymnasium beginning at 5:30 p.m., and inductions will be held on the football field at halftime. Admission to the social is free of charge.

Mike Sliva has been a dedicated volunteer for Harrison County athletics for over three and a half decades. Among his multitude of volunteer organizations he’s involved with, Mike solely maintained the High School football field for 30 years and helped organize a golf scramble that has raised over $100,000 and counting for the Booster Club and Huskies Sports Foundation. Mike served as Cadiz Booster Club President seven times.

Frank “FG” Gregory, a 1976 Cadiz High School graduate, earned 11 letters, was QB for the undefeated 1975 football team and Cadiz’s first OVAC Football Championship. In College Frank started in the infield four seasons for Rio Grande Baseball. As a Girls basketball coach Gregory had 95 wins in five years at Jewett-Scio winning the IVC Title and reaching the Regional Tournament. Gregory went on to win the State Girls Basketball Championship while Head Coach for Meadowbrook.

Phillip Wenner, a 1950 graduate of Jewett High School, was twice in basketball named All-East Ohio Honorable Mention, and as a senior was named United Press All-Ohio Honorable Mention. Wenner was one of only four Harrison County players to receive this honor among nearly 1,000 schools in Class B at the time. In football, Phillip was the team’s leading scorer, and he garnered All-League honors for both seasons of his gridiron career.

Jennifer Crall is a 1987 Jewett-Scio graduate. Jennifer scored over 1500 points in her basketball career, and her dominance on the court earned her the District 5 Class A Player of the Year and a spot on the Associated Press All-State First Team. Crall was also impressive on the track. She led the Vikings to victory in the Harrison County Meet, sweeping the 100-, 200-, 400-, and 800-meter races. Crall qualified for regionals, posting top times in both the 200- and 400-meter events, and anchored the 3200-meter relay team.

Lenny Dean, a 1976 Lakeland graduate, was a 4-year letterman in cross country in addition to track and field who received Most Valuable Runner honors his senior season as he helped lead Lakeland to its second consecutive state cross country meet appearance and fifth place finish. He earned All-Ohio Honors in 1975 as he finished 7th overall. At the 1974 meet, he was 11th as the team finished in 3rd place.

Lakeland’s 1974, ’75 & ’76 cross country program under Coach Ron Cochenour made three consecutive state meet appearances in 1974, 1975 and 1976 with 3rd, 5th and 12th place finishes, respectively. A total team effort led to the 1976 appearance in which only one running from the 1975 state meet returned, but the Raiders ran their best meet of the year at the district level to secure a return trip to Columbus and the prestigious season finale.

Jewett-Scio 1982-’83, ’83-’84, ’84-’85 Girls Basketball Teams led by Coach Frank Gregory racked up 58 wins that included three Sectional Titles, a District Title, and the School’s first Inter-Valley Conference (IVC) Championship. These three teams had winning streaks of 8, 11, 11 and 12 games during their seasons, including twice tying the School’s best regular season wins record of 18.