Hall of Fame athletes honored

The Danbury High School Athletic Hall of Fame wall was recently moved at the high school which brought together past athletes and inducted new athletes.In a brief ceremony at half-time of the varsity boys basketball game on Friday night, each athlete was presented with a certificate and plaque. After the ceremony the plaques were then hung on the new "Danbury Athletic Hall of Fame" where they will stay. The plaques contained the athletes picture, date they were inducted and description as to why they were named a hall of fame athlete.The new inductees included: Becky Ball a four-year letter winner and 1993-1994 TAAC player of the year in volleyball; four-year letter winner and 1993 TAAC player of the year in basketball; four-year letter winner, four-time TAAC champion shotput, four-time TAAC champion discus, third in shotput at 1991 OHSAA division III state meet, OHSAA Division III state champion in shotput (1992-1994), OHSAA Division III state champion record holder and collegiate accomplishments at Ashland University included 1996 NCAA Division II national champion in 20 pound weight, 1996 Olympic trials in hammer, 1997 NCAA Division II National champion in 20 pound weight, 1997 NCAA Division II athlete of the year, 1997 Ashland University athlete of the year, 1998 NCAA Division II national champion in 20 pound weight, 1998 NCAA Division II National Champion in shotput (outdoors), 1999 Ashland University athlete of the year and 2-time NCAA Division II All-American.Dennis Bird graduate of Danbury High School and Bowling Green University had 31 years in education, coached 25 years of basketball and 10 years varsity football, head track for 4 years and head cross country for 5 years; Athletic Director at Danbury for 17 years; one of the founding fathers of golf, cross country and softball for the TAAC; past TAAC secretary; helped form the Lakeshore Conference as well as the Mid-Ohio Conference and a member of the TAAC Hall of Fame.Chad Clemons a 2003 state high jump champion was 2003 4th place 110M high hurdles state meet, 2003 5th place 300M hurdles state meet; Ottawa County track meet high jump record of 6'6"; 2005 all conference high jump at Kent State University and 2006 all conference heptathlon at Kent State University.Bev Fanning a 1996-1998 letter winner in basketball; 1998 AP All-Ohio special mention; 1998 District 7 player of the year in basketball; 1998 conference player of the year in basketball; 1998 2nd team All-State; 1,324 career points in basketball and 1st team all conference volleyball in 1997. Post high school included: attended University of Findlay and was a tri-captain and twice named defensive player of the year; coached at Savannah College of Art & Design while earning her Master Degree; currently a professor at Arizona Western College in Yuma Arizona and a member of the TACC Hall of Fame.Jake Fanning in basketball: 2005 State of Ohio Associated Press first team All-State Selection, 2005 State of Ohio Associated Press first team All-Academic state selection, 2005 North-South all star game selection,2004 A.P. Northwest Ohio District "Player of the Year", 2003-2005 district seven first team, 2003 &2005 TAAC player of the year, 2002-2005 first team all-TAAC, 2004 State of Ohio third team selection, 2004 A.P. Northwest Ohio all district first team selection, 2003 state of Ohio associated press honorable mention, 2003 A.P. Northwest Ohio all-district second team selection, Danbury school record of leading score (1,889 points) and all time leading assists (519). Football; 1002 & 2004 1st team all-TAAC defense, 2001, 2002 & 2004 2nd team all-TAAC offense. Track; 2002 TAAC long jump champion; 2003-2005 400M regionial qualifier and 2003 TAAC 2nd team 400M. Post high school included; received a full ride for basketball at Hillsdale College; transferred to Capital University where he became a tri-captain on the winningest men's basketball team in Capital University history; lead Capital University in assists that year and free throw percentage where he currently ranks second all time; upon graduation from Capital he went on to OSU and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy and is also a member of the TAAC Hall of Fame.Joe Fetzer a teacher at Danbury School from 1988 to present was a Danbury Athletic Director from 1998-2009 (TAAC president for 4 years); served as Northwest Ohio District 7 Basketball Coaches Association secretary/treasurer from 2001-2004 and a member of the TAAC Hall of Fame. Coaching at Danbury includes; assistant baseball 1989-1994, JV boys basketball 1990-1993, assistant girls basketball 2007-2008 and junior high track 2006 and 2010 to present. Coaching the varsity girls basketball from 1993-2003, 2013-2014 with 163 wins and 102 losses also included: won TAAC championships 1995-2000; sectional champs 1999 & 2014, 1994-1995 ranked 15th in final Ohio AP poll, 1996-1997 ranked 4th in final Ohio AP poll, 1997-1998 ranked 8th in final Ohio AP poll, 1998-1999 ranked 5th in final Ohio AP poll, 1998 Northwest Ohio District 7 coach of the year, named 2001 Ohio-Indiana all-star game coach and 2011 inducted into Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Honor.Larry Indorf has taught and coached at Danbury Schools 35 years from 1977-2013. He was athletic director for 8 years and a member of the TAAC Hall of Fame. He was head coach for varsity baseball 18 years, varsity boys' golf 11 years, varsity boys' basketball 10 years and when he retired from each coaching position he had the most wins in that sport in school history (at that time). He was assistant coach for varsity football 2 years, varsity baseball 1 year, varsity girls' basketball 2 years and varsity boys' basketball 2 years. He was also a junior high coach for the boys basketball team for 10 years.Jim Rinaldo coached at Danbury for 36 years, won 21 league championships a member of the TAAC Hall of Fame and Ohio Northwest District High School Athletic Association "MAC" Morrison Lifetime Achievement Service Award in 2013. He coached 13 years for girls varsity basketball with a record of 203 wins and 76 loses, won 6 sectional championships. The 1977-1978 and the 1983-1984 teams were undefeated, In the final poll 8 times his team was ranked in the top 20 in the state including number one state championship position in 1978, five member of his team were picked first team All-Ohio, five members received Division 1 scholarships and four received Division 2 and 3 scholarships, was a three time league coach of the year and was district coach of the year in 1984. In coaching varsity girls track they won seven league championships and had 137 wins with 37 losses in dual meets; he coached cross country boys and girls for 17 years and was boys coach of the year in 2000 and twice coach of the year in girls.Past athletes (or family members) who were also honored included: Fred Norton; Steve Adams; Craig Braithwaite; Chad Clemons; Pete Fontana; Heidi Gast; Diane Gresh; Tom Gdovicak; Emil (Red) Ihnat; George Ihnat; Denette Kolbe; Tom Koran; John Krohe; John Krynock; Dick Miller; Krishna Meyers; Robert Pettibone; Chris Pryor; Joe Smorgala and Tony Vitello.