Class of 2009 joins Holmes County Sports Hall of Fame
The Class of 2009 epitomized the essence of sports greatness, and newest members of the Holmes County Sports Hall of Fame represented a variety of sports, making the induction ceremony Saturday at the Carlisle Village Inn of Walnut Creek a true banquet for nearly 200 friends, family and fans on hand for the 15th biennial event.Mark Lonsinger, the emcee for the evening’s event, said each member of the Class of ’09 was synonymous with what they did.
A pair of successful coaches, from track and wrestling, as well as a baseball player, coach and sponsor, a former basketball star who coached a sport he didn’t even play, and a legendary race car driver were all honored Saturday, along with the 1966 West Holmes baseball team which reached the State tournament and put the new West Holmes High School on the sports map.
Bob Reining introduced the first inductee, Terry Zuercher, using his 800-meter presentation. Zuercher made his mark as a track and cross country coach at Shelby High School after graduating West Holmes and Ashland University.
Zuercher remembered developing his own training regimen by running from West Holmes High School to Millersburg. “It’s a record that can’t be broken, because the road no longer exists,” he said.
“I was blessed with some great athletes over the years and it was my job not to mess them up,” Zuercher said of his coaching career. He added that he was fortunate enough to coach his sons, including one who has taken over for him at Shelby. He credited his wife of 38 years, Linda, as the main reason he was receiving the award.
“When you talk about wrestling, you think of Randy Sponseller,” Lonsinger said.
And West Holmes wrestling coach Jeff Woods, along with Sponseller’s sons Clint and Colt, who helped build the Knights program, introduced Randy Sponseller.
“My dad has coached thousands of kids and there are thousands of kids who are better off because of it,” three-time State champion Colt Sponseller said of his father.
Randy remembered taking Clint to sign up for the youth program about 19 years ago and one thing led to another.
“Great wrestlers aren’t born great,” Sponseller said. “There is no substitute for hard work, and the key to success is to outwork your opponent.”
Sponseller said his wife Sue deserved an award of her own for putting up with him for 33 years.
Dave Mast was the next speaker, and he introduced the late Larry Kaufman.
Mast opened by chiding Lonsinger that for the first time in 17 years, he was able to get a word in edgewise.
Then he got down to the more serious task of introducing his lifelong friend and former teammate.
“There are many reasons why people get elected into a sports hall of fame,” Mast said. “Sometimes the numbers and records achieved will amaze you. Holmes County Athletes have gone onto illustrious college and even professional careers. They’ve become highly successful coaches and achieved greatness...
“But sometimes, hidden among the dazzling numbers, awards and honors... there stands an individual who made his mark in way that you can’t measure with a ‘W’ or a title or batting average,” Mast continued. “Larry’s legacy in our community is one which we can all strive for. He simply made everyone around him feel better about life.”
The Kaufman legacy of which Mast spoke was the three sons Larry left behind: Dustin, Derek and Dylan, who accepted the honor for their father.
“Dad loved to win, but he’d much rather lose and have big smiles on the kids’ faces,” Dustin said.
Kendra Jacobs, the daughter of Kenny Jacobs, presented her father, who recently retired after an illustrious racing career in which he became the only driver to win championships in four countries: the United States, Canada, Australia and Mexico.
Kendra claimed to be her father’s biggest fan, but admitted it was strange to see people lined up for his autograph everywhere they went.
Jacobs said that is was by surrounding himself with good people that helped him become a better race during his 37-year career.
“This is a great honor because I’m not a baseball, football or basketball player or track star. I’m a race car driver,” Jacobs said
Bob Porter then introduced the final inductee, Robert Hunter, who made his mark in sports early on as a basketball star at West Holmes, but then went on to enjoy success as an assistant basketball coach and head soccer coach at West Holmes.
“Bobby was something special,” Porter said. “I taught Bob American History and I remember him as a tall, thin gangly kid who began to blossom.”
Hunter said it was humbling to come into the ballroom at the Carlisle and see the Hall of Fame board which honored former West Holmes stars like Mike Cline and Jerry Craycraft.
“To have my name with a couple guys like that is quite an honor,” Hunter said.
Lonsinger then presented the Knights baseball team from 1966.
Coach Virgil Allison said that Woody Hayes used to say “you won with people.”
“These are the people we won with,” Allison said.
State Rep. Dave Hall and State Senator Bob Gibbs, both from Holmes County, co-sponsored State commendations for the 1966 baseball team. Hall said while they don’t always agree on things in Columbus, this was something they could all agree on: honoring the 1966 baseball team.