By Garth Shanklin
Sports Editor

Batavia High School has announced the nine-member class that will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Dec. 1 at the high school.

The first inductee is Jacob Ison. A 2005 Batavia grad, Ison left as the defending Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference National Division Wrestler of the Year. He was a district champion, who finished his career with a 147-31 record and 101 pins. Ison qualified for the state wrestling tournament three times, placing sixth in 2004 and fourth in 2005. He was a high school cadet Greco-Roman state champion and a two-time Greco-Roman University All-American.

At Ohio University, Ison was named the team captain and a four-year starter. He finished third in the Mid-American Conference tournament three times, earning NCAA Alternate status in 2006-2007 and an NCAA qualifying berth in 2009-2010. He also placed sixth in the US Open Senior National Greco-Roman event in 2009 and the World team trials that same year. In 2010-2011, Ison served as the United States Olympic Training Center’s Resident Athlete.

The next inductee is Adam Layman. He earned SBAAC player of the year honors for his performance on the soccer field in 1997. That year, he was named to the SBAAC first-team, the Cincinnati Enquirer All-City first-team, and the Southwest Ohio first-team. He also participated in the East-West All-Star game in 1997. He was a Miami Valley Conference honorable mention in soccer in 1996 and a MVC honorable mention in baseball in 1996 and 1997. He was also a member of the sectional champion basketball team in 1997. In 1998, the senior earned first-team all-conference honors for baseball, was named an honorable mention on the all-city squad by the Enquirer and earned honorable mention by the Southwest district.Adam Layman and the 1998 team won the district title.

Lee Layman is the next inductee. Lee Layman set Batavia’s career goals scored record in 1992 with 56. As of his induction in 2016, he sits as the second all-time leading goal scorer in school history. In 1992, Lee Layman was named to the All-Southwest Ohio first-team, the Enquirer first-team, and the East-West All-Star game. He was also named to the MVC first-team all-conference squad.

In 1991, Lee Laymanearned an honorable mention for the all-city squad from the Enquirer. He was named to the MVC second-team for his performance on the pitch that year.

He also played baseball for Batavia, earning all-city honorable mention honors on the diamond in 1992 and 1993. He was a first-team all-conference pick in 1992 and 1993 and a second-team selection in 1991. He earned 12 athletic booster scholar athlete awards during his time in Batavia.

The fourth inductee is Seth Layman. Seth Layman graduated from Batavia in 1997, having earned back-to-back first-team MVC honors for basketball in 1996 and 1997. He was also named to the All-Southwest Ohio third-team squad in both of those seasons, and he participated in the East-West All-Star game in 1997. The Bulldogs won the sectional tournament that season. On the baseball diamond, Seth Layman earned first-team all-city honors from the Enquirer and the MVC. He was named to the second-team all-district squad.

In 1995 and 1996, Seth Layman was a member of the second-team all-MVC squad. He finished his career with 128 career hits and 12 varsity letters earned. He was named the the MVC second-team all-conference squad for his performance as a soccer player in 1995 and 1996. He too finished his career with 12 athletic booster scholar athlete awards.

Tiffany (Burns) Layman is the school’s fifth inductee. She earned MVC first-team honors for softball in 1995, 1996 and 1997. She was named to the Southwest Ohio District and Cincinnati Enquirer’s honorable mention squad in 1997. She set the Batavia single-game home run record with two and the single-game triples record with three that same year. Tiffany Layman also was a member of the first-ever softball league champion in 1997. She also played basketball, where she earned a special mention from the Southwest District in 1997 and was named to the first-team all-conference squad that same year. She was a second-team all-conference performer in 1995 and 1996.

Class of 1997’s Kevin Schubert is the next inductee. Schubert earned all-Southwest district honors in 1997 for his work on the diamond. He also was named to the Enquirer’s first-team all-city squad that same year. Schubert earned first-team all-conference honors for baseball in three seasons beginning in 1995, and a second-team nod in 1994. He was also named to the MVC’s first-team all-defense squad in 1995 and 1996. Schubert lettered in five sports: football, soccer, golf, basketball and baseball. He finished his career with 12 athletic booster scholar athlete awards.

John Steiner graduated from Batavia in 1992 and is the school’s seventh inductee in 2016. Steiner posted a 108-10 career record as a wrestler, twice finishing in third place at the OHSAA State Tournament, once in 1991 and again in 1992. Steiner qualified for the state meet three times, from 1990-1992, qualifying for district all three of those years. He won the district meet in 1992. Stiener won his sectional all three times from 1990-1992, and twice won the MVC tournament in his class. He won the John Boggs Award in 1991, given to student-athletes based on their character, leadership and dedication both in and out of athletic events.

Mark Steiner is the next inductee. Mark also graduated in 1992 and that same year he won the MVC Wrestling championship in his class. He twice won his sectional tournament, in 1991 and 1992, and in the latter year he placed second in the district meet. Mark Steiner was a two-time state qualifier, and in 1992 he placed fifth in the OHSAA state tournament. He also was named to the MVC all-league team twice for his efforts as a cross-country runner, twice qualifying for the regional meet.

Ken Stewart is the final inductee. Stewart lettered in football, track, volleyball and baseball. He has been inducted into the Amelia High School Hall of Fame as a track and cross country coach and has spent the last 49 years as a track official. He served as a track official for the games of the XXIV Summer Olympiad in Atlanta in 1996.

He has competed in Senior Olympic Games in 30 different states. He has also broken three different records for his age group in the Police and Fire games for the state of Ohio: the discus, the 50 yard and 100 yard sprint, and the 50 yard and 100 yard backstroke. Stewart has earned over 600 medals in competition.

The ceremony inducting these nine individuals will be held on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. in Batavia High School. Cost for the dinner is $10 per person and the reservation must be made no later than Nov. 28. Send reservations to the Batavia Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner, c/o Tim Young 4092 Zagar Rd., Batavia OH, 45103. Checks should be made payable to Batavia Athletic Boosters.

Inductees are also invited to the school’s home basketball game on Dec. 2 for introduction between the junior varsity and varsity games.