It’s time to unveil three more selections for the Martins Ferry Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

Joining the Class of ’26 to be inducted on Friday, August 28 in conjunction with the Purple Riders’ home football game against Columbus Mifflin are Melissa Zaney (Class of 1986), Dave Frey (Class of 1993) and Ron Hill (Class of 2000).

Previously announced selections included Harry Johns (Class of 1941), Walter Veloski (Class of 1941) and Frank Twardoski (Class of 1973).

The final three members of this year’s Martins Ferry Athletic Hall of Fame – Presented by Unified Bank – will be announced next week followed by the choices for the “Wall of Honor” and the “Teams of Distinction.” The Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and the “Wall of Honor” selections will be honored during an afternoon luncheon for families at the MFHS cafeteria and they will be introduced at halftime of the game.

Here’s a look at this week’s three bios:

Melissa Zaney

(Class of 1986)

A three-year letterwinner and two-year starter, Zaney was a key performer on the Lady Riders’ squad that posted a 22-2 overall record which set the school record for victories, winning the OVAC Class AAA championship and the OHSAA Class AA Sectional crown before falling to eventual state champion West Holmes in the District.

The 5-10 Zaney averaged 19.5 points and 11 rebounds per game with a career high of 27 points against Steubenville and 23 career games of 20 points or more. She was rewarded with a third team spot on the All-Ohio Class AA squad. She was also first team All-Eastern District Class AA, All-District 12 Class AA, All-OVAC Class AAA and All-Valley “Big School”, finishing as the runner-up for District 12 Player of the Year.

She played in the OVAC Samuel A. Mumley All-Star Game (12 points) and the Pepsi/District 12 All-Star Game (15 points). She had 12 points and 17 rebounds in Ferry’s district tournament loss to West Holmes.

As a junior, Zaney was honorable mention All-Ohio Class AA; first team All-OVAC Class AAA and All-District 12; and second team All-Eastern District Class AA. She averaged 17.9 points and 10 rebounds that season including a career-high 22-rebound game (fourth best all-time at MFHS) against Wintersville, helping the Lady Riders win the OHSAA Class A Sectional title and post a 17-6 overall record.

David Frey

(Class of 1993)

A four-year letterman, Frey was among the best Purple Rider golfers in history.

As a freshman, he posted an 83 to help Ferry to the Bel-Roe League title; carded a 92 in the OHSAA Division II Sectional and a 94 in the OVAC Class 3A Tournament where the Riders finished in third place.

As a sophomore, he narrowly missed a district berth with an 84 in the OHSAA Division II Sectional; earned All-OVAC Class 3A honors with an 83 in leading the Riders to a runner-up finish; and had an 83 in the Bel-Roe, with MFHS finishing as the runner-up.

Frey enjoyed his best postseason as a junior, carding an 85 in the OHSAA Division II Sectional (Ferry was the sectional runner-up and qualified for the district as a team) and following that up with a 77 in the Division II District (losing a playoff for medalist honors) to advance to the OHSAA Division II State Tournament where he posted a two-day total of 178 – fifth best among individual qualifiers.

That year, he also fired a 76 to earn All-OVAC honors and led the Purple Riders to their first OVAC Class 3A championship and he earned first team All-Eastern District Division II honors.

As a senior, he had a 77 in the OHSAA Division II Sectional to finish third and advance to the District where he shot 79 and just missed a return trip to the state tournament. He was also OVAC Class 3A runner-up medalist with a 76; third in the Bel-Roe Tournament and again received All-Eastern District accolades.

Frey competed in countless amateur golf tournaments in the Ohio Valley after graduation and finished 12th in a U.S. Amateur qualifying event in 2003.

Ron Hill

(Class of 2000)

While also shining on the basketball court, it was on the track where he made his biggest impact as a four-year letterman excelling in springs and relays.

As a freshman, Hill was second in the Division II District in the 400-meter relay (44.2) and Regional (43.31) and a state qualifier while placing first in the 400-relay (44.60) and second in the 800-relay (1:32.75) at the OVAC Class 3A Championships.

As a sophomore, he qualified for the OHSAA Division II State Meet in the 400-meter dash, placing first in the District (51.0) and third in the Regional (50.62) in that event. He was also second in the 200-meter dash (23.4) at the District and a Regional qualifier. At the OVAC, Hill was first in the 400 (51.45), 400-relay (44.49) and 800-relay (1:32.74) and second in the 200 (23.4) while at the Belmont County Relays, he was first in the 400 (51.9), 800-relay (1:33.4) and 1600-relay (3:38.4) and third in the 200 (23.7).

As a junior, he was part of the Riders’ state championship quartet in the 400-meter relay (42.50) that also included Richard ‘JR’ Thomas, Tony Collette and Julius ‘Jay’ Wallace and he qualified for the state meet in the 200 and 1600-relay.

To get to Columbus, he was first in the 200 (22.0) and first in the 400 relay (42.9) and second in the 400 (51.5) at the District; and first in the 400-relay (42.95) and 1600-relay (3:23.5) and second in the 200 (22.36) at the Regional.

Hill was first in the 200 (22.78), 400 (51.73) and 800-relay (1:31.99) at the OVAC Championships; first in the 400 (51.7), 400-relay (43.6) and 1600-relay (3:37.9) and third in the 200 (23.8) at the Belmont County Relays.

As a senior, Hill was part of an All-Ohio quartet, placing third in the 400-meter relay (43.55) with teammates Tony Collette, Zac Bruney and John Yoder while also qualifying for the OHSAA Division II State Championships in the 200 and 1600-relay.

He was first in the 200 (22.38) and 400-relay (43.32) and second in the 1600-relay (3:30.17) at the District and first in the 400-relay (43.2) and 1600-relay (3:24.71) and second in the 200 (22.39) at the Regional.

His final OVAC meet included first in the 800-relay (1:32.07), second in the 400 (50.25) and third in the 200 (23.06) while at the Belmont County Relays, he was first in the 200 (22.8), 400-relay (44.4), 800-relay (1:32.6) and 1600-relay (3:29.1).

In basketball, he was a two-year letterman who averaged 13 points per game as a senior, helping the Riders to a 14-9 record and the OHSAA Division III Sectional title. Hill’s accolades included honorable mention All-Ohio Division III; first team All-OVAC Class 3A; second team All-Eastern District Division III and All-Valley ‘Big School’; and honorable mention All-District 12 Division III.

As a junior, he was the sixth man, averaging nine points per game on a 21-2 record squad that captured the OHSAA Division III Sectional crown.

Hill went on to a stellar four years at Ohio University, earning All-Mid-American Conference honors while competing in the 200, 400 and sprint relays in both indoor and outdoor track. A four-time Academic All-MAC honoree, he ran a leg on the third-fastest 4×100-meter relay in OU history (40.78).