School to welcome teams for first time
The Bellefontaine High School Hall of Fame is opening up a new chapter this weekend. In addition to inducting boys basketball coach Will Collins, former Bellefontaine Examiner sports editor Gene Marine and athletes Alisa Hatcher Rising, Devin Brown and Jeff Blair, the BHS Hall of Fame will include teams for the first time.
The inaugural class of Hall of Fame squads includes the 1389-39 boys basketball, the 1972-73 boys basketball, the 1995-96 girls basketball and the 2001 boys cross country.
The induction ceremony is set for 1 p.m. Saturday in the BHS cafeteria. There is no charge to attend.
In addition, the inductees will be recognized between the junior varsity and varsity boys basketball games Friday night against Jonathan Alder.
A closer look at each individual and team follows below:
|
WILL COLLINS |
Will Collins
The late Collins coached the Chieftain boys basketball team from 1971 until 1999, compiling an impressive 416-208 record.
He led the 1972-73 Bellefontaine team to the state Final Four. It was just the school’s second trip to the state tournament.
Two of his teams (1975-76 and 1991-92) finished the regular season with undefeated records. The 1991-92 squad was ranked first in the final Associated Press state poll. His teams won eight Central Buckeye Conference championships.
Collins was named the Class AAA state coach of the year following the 1975-76 season and was selected as the Ohio High School Boys Basketball Coaches Association coach of the year for the 1991-92 season.
He was twice selected to coach in the Ohio North-South All-Star Game.
Collins, who passed away in 2006, is a member of the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.
|
JEFF BLAIR |
Jeff Blair
A 1994 graduate, Blair collected nine varsity letters across three sports.
On the gridiron, he lettered three times. He was named honorable mention all-Central Buckeye Conference as a junior and then was named to the first team as a senior, when he quarterbacked the Chiefs to a 9-1 record.
A four-year varsity letterman in baseball, Blair earned all-CBC honors in three of his four seasons. He was a second-team selection as a junior and a first-team pick as a senior.
Blair also lettered twice in basketball and received honorable mention all-CBC honors.
He was named the school’s male athlete of the year for the 1993-94 sports season. After high school, Blair enjoyed a successful college baseball career at the University of Findlay. He lettered in each of his four seasons at UF and received severall all-conference and all-region awards during his career.
Blair currently serves as the athletic director at Ohio Dominican University. He resides in Blacklick with his wife Lori and their children Mason, Abby and Nolan.
|
DEVIN BROWN |
Devin Brown
A 1999 graduate, Brown excelled on the baseball and football fields as a Chieftain. He picked up three varsity letters in each sport.
He was a two-time, first-team all-Central Buckeye Conference selection in football. He was named to the Southwest District first team and earned all-Ohio special mention honors as a senior.
Brown was a member of Bellefontaine’s first and only team to go 10-0 in the regular season. He was selected as the team’s MVP in 1998.
While collecting three varsity letters in baseball, Brown was named first-team all-conference as a senior and was an honorable mention selection as a sophomore. He was twice honored as the team’s best outfielder and was given the team’s MVP award following his senior campaign.
As a result of his baseball exploits, he received scholarship money to play at the Northern Kentucky University.
Brown now resides in Chicago with his wife Tricia and their infant daughter Tessa. He is employed by Outcome Health as a sales executive.
|
ALISA HATCHER RISING |
Alisa Hatcher Rising
A 2002 graduate, Rising was a three-sport headliner for the Chieftains.
As a four-year starter and letterwinner in volleyball, she helped her teams to a 50-17 record, which is the best four-year stretch in program history.
She powered the Chiefs to a 20-5 mark as a senior and set a state single-season kills record with 414.
Rising finished her prep volleyball career with five school records. She was a third-team all-Ohio selection as a junior and earned second-team all-state honors as a senior.
A standout shortstop on the softball diamond, she started all four seasons during her Chieftain career. She was named to the all-Central Buckeye Conference first team following her junior and seniors seasons. She set a BHS record with 25 stolen bases during her senior campaign.
Rising also played two years of basketball, lettering and starting in both seasons. She went on to a highly successful collegiate volleyball career at Cleveland State University. Rising was named the “Newcomer of the Year” in the Horizon League as a freshman and started every game of her sophomore season. She overcame a severe health scare as a junior to set a CSU single-season digs record with 424 during her season season. She received the Arthur Ashe Award for her courageous comeback.
Rising now resides in Lakewood, Colorado, with her husband Danny and their 2-year-old daughter Paige. She has developed her own company as a graphic designer.
|
GENE MARINE |
Gene Marine
Marine spent 36 years at the Bellefontaine Examiner, including 13 as the sports editor. He covered some of the most talented basketball and football teams in Chieftain history.
He is fond of his time working with BHS coaches Bob Robison, Dean White, H.A. Dodd and Ron Fenik.
Marine made countless friends while covering Chieftain athletics. One of his personal favorite Chieftains to cover was star athlete Jesse Williams. The pair developed a strong bond during their time together and remain close to this day.
Among his other favorites were Dave, Steve and Scott Robinson, who all went on to play college football at Ohio University.
Careful not to embarrass a player in the newspaper, Marine valued respect and sportsmanship in his coverage of the Chieftains.
1938-39 boys basketball team
1972-73 boys basketball team
1995-96 girls basketball team
2001 boys cross country team
Read complete story and team photos in Wednesday’s Examiner.
CLICK HERE to subscribe today!
WEB EDITION STARTING AT $9.50 FOR 5 WEEKS!