Seven to join Middletown High HOF

The 13th annual event set for Sunday night  at Wildwood Golf Club.

Frazier’s home run lifts Reds to 5th straight win
10:20 a.m.
Spartans head to regional final
5/24/12
Fenwick’s tourney run ends in regional semis
5/24/12
2 Middie jumpers qualify for state
5/24/12
College baseball: Miami tops Toledo in MAC tourney
5/23/12
> More sports headlines

Updated 12:55 AM Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Staff Report

MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct seven new members at its 13th annual ceremony from 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday at the Wildwood Golf Club in Middletown.

Joining the Hall this year are Joseph Cornella, James “Chief” Gillis, Tom Portsmouth, Robyn Wesselman, Gregg Pigg, Greg Armstrong and Carling Coffing.

Cornella is a member of the 1939 class of MHS. He was a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball and baseball. He was the leading scorer for the basketball team in 1938 and ’39. He also holds the distinction of being the first Middie basketball player to be named to the All-Ohio first team in 1939.

Gillis, class of 1961, earned six varsity letters competing in football, basketball and track. Gillis was a Greater Ohio League first team selection in football in 1959 and ’60. He also was the GOL champion in hurdles and was a state qualifier in the hurdles as well as two relay events. Gillis was also a member of the 1958-59 state runners-up basketball team, and he spent many years as the public announcer for Middie games.

Portsmouth, class of 1964, lettered nine times in football, baseball and track. He was named All-Ohio on both offense and defense his senior year in football, as well as being a first-team selection in the GOL. He also was a state qualifier in the high jump as a senior. He went onto play football at Ohio State for three years and was the punter as a senior.

Wesselman, class of 1976, earned eight varsity letters in volleyball, basketball and softball, and was an All-Greater Miami Conference player in volleyball and basketball. She played volleyball and softball at Indiana University and received an invitation to tryout for the Pan American games in softball. Wesselman is still an active volleyball coach in North Carolina, where she was named coach of the year in 1996. She is also a member of the 300-win club and is a member of the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame.

Pigg, class of 1977, played football and wrestled, earning five varsity letters. Pigg earned numerous league, area and district awards as an offensive lineman in football. He also was selected to play in the Ohio North-South All-Star game. Pigg also finished second in the GMC in the heavyweight class in wrestling.

Armstrong, class of 1980, earned nine varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He was named All-GMC, All-District, second team All-Ohio and honorable mention All-American in football. He also played in the Ohio North-South All-Star game. Armstrong also was named All-GMC in basketball and baseball. He went onto play football and Michigan for two years as a fullback.

Coffing, class of 2004, was a four-time GMC champion, four-time sectional champion, two-time district champion and the 2001 state champion in girls golf. She played at Ohio State University where she finished as the Big Ten runner-up in 2006. She turned professional in 2008 and won The Golf Channel’s Big Break Sandals Resorts competition in 2010. Coffing continues to play on the LPGA Futures Tour.

Tickets for the event are $25 each or $45 per couple and are available at the MHS Athletic Office or by calling (513) 320-1156.

Sports

Share this article