On January 21st Western High School held its Athletic Hall of Fame induction for the “Class of the 1990s.” Between the girls and boys varsity games with Zane Trace the following teams and individuals were inducted into the Western Athletic Hall of Fame. Members of the 1991 volleyball team that were Southern Hills League champions, sectional and district champions, and regional semi-finalists were inducted as part of that teams. Also inducted as part of a team were the members of both the 1994 and 1995 volleyball teams. Those teams were Southern Hills League champions, sectional and district champions, and both teams made it to the regionals. The 1994 Lady Indians lost in the regional semi-finals but the 1995 Lady Indians made it to the regional finals to play for a berth in the Division 4 state tournament. However, it wasn’t meant to be and the Lady Indians lost in the regional finals. The members of the 1992 boys cross country team were also inducted in honor of their accomplishments. The 1992 team qualified for and competed in the OHSAA state cross country meet in 1992, automatically qualifying them for induction into the Western Athletic Hall of Fame.
In addition to the four teams that were inducted, 7 individuals were also enshrined on January 21st, all qualifying through the automatic induction criteria. 1994 graduate Joey Liming was honored and inducted for his accomplishments in track. He finished 3rd in the OHSAA state track meet in 1994 in the high jump and still holds Western’s high jump record. Joey was also inducted as part of the 1992 cross country team. 1997 graduate Brandy McDaniel was inducted for being a 1000 point scorer in girls basketball. Brandy Humphrey Lightle, a 1996 graduate, was also inducted for her accomplishments in girls basketball. Brandy is a member of the WHS 1000 point club. She was all-SHL, all-District 14, and all-Ohio. She played four years at Shawnee State University and is a member of both SSU’s Athletic Hall of Fame and the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 1999 National Championship Team and was named 2nd team all-conference that year. Brandy was the league and district player of the year during her senior year in addition to being named Division 4 all-Ohio. 1994 graduate Misty Mustard Brewster was inducted for her accomplishments in volleyball, being named Southern Hills League player of the year both her junior and senior years and was first team all-district. Additionally, Misty was named all-Ohio and played in the Ohio Volleyball Coaches Association state all-star game. Kim Conley was inducted as an individual, also. Kim coached both volleyball and basketball at WHS. However, it was her accomplishments in volleyball that earned her the right to be considered for and inducted into the Western Athletic Hall of Fame. During her tenure at Western Kim coached the Lady Indians to 5 consecutive Southern Hills League championships following two years as SHL runners-up. Her teams won two sectional titles and a district title, earning a trip to the regionals in 1991. Under Coach Conley the Lady Indians won 38 consecutive Southern Hills League games. Kim was also inducted as part of the 1991 volleyball team in addition to her selection as an individual. Howie Woods, class of 1991, was inducted for his accomplishments in boys basketball. In addition to being a 1000 point club member, Howie also received a scholarship to Ohio Dominican University to play both basketball and baseball. Unfortunately, an injury ended his college career. Howie was first team all-SHL, first team all-District 14, and was named to the all-Ohio team. Our final inductee for the Class of the 1990s was 1992 graduate Renee Walls Davis. Renee was inducted for her outstanding accomplishments in both girls basketball and softball. Renee is a member of the 1000 point club at Western. In 1991 Renee surpassed Western legend Gabby Smith as the school’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing his previous record of 1775 points. That record was held from 1991 until 2007 when Jeremy McLeod became the schools’ all-time scoring leader just to see that record surpassed the next year when Kaylee Helton broke the 2000 point mark to become the leading scorer in WHS history. During her senior year, Renee was the SHL Player of the Year, District 14 Player of the Year, and was named first team all-Ohio and averaged nearly 35 points per game during that season. After her high school career was over, Renee played for Shawnee State University on scholarship in both basketball and softball. By the completion of her college career Renee had garnered numerous awards. She was named a NAIA all-American in softball during her senior year at SSU. She was named all-conference is basketball and was first-team all-conference twice in softball and had the opportunity to play for the NAIA national championship in 1996. She is still among the leaders in Shawnee State history in both sports. Renee is a member of the Shawnee State University Athletic Hall of Fame as an individual in both basketball and softball.