Kay Bauer
Kay grew up in Huntington County, Indiana. She attended Clear Creek Township Schools until the 1966 consolidation of the ten Huntington County schools, graduating from Huntington County Community High School in 1967. During high school, Kay participated in volleyball (4 years), basketball (4 years), softball (4 years), and track (4 years). She also participated in Indiana Junior Bowling Association and Indiana Junior Golf Association events.From 1967-1971, Kay attended Ball State University where she lettered in field hockey (4 years), volleyball (4 years), basketball (2 years), and softball (...Read more
Jim Brunner
It all started the night Bill Brunner took his 9-year-old son Jim to see eventual state champion FW Southside play FW Central in front of 10,000 fans at the Memorial Coliseum. Fifty-five years later Jim Brunner has become one of the most recognizable voices in the history of Indiana sports.Since the fall of 1971 Brunner has called games for WBAT Radio and covered all the great moments over the past 40 years in Grant County sports. That includes Marion's six state basketball titles, Marion's state baseball titles, Marion's state tennis title, Oak Hill's state football title, Marion and Eastbroo...Read more
Ben Burnau
Ben Burnau's baseball career started as a batboy for his brother's little league team. From that time on, he felt at home on a baseball diamond. He spent as much time as he could playing the game he loved whether it was an organized team or just a neighborhood pick-up game. Baseball has provided Ben with many memories and opportunities.The 1984 Marion Giant baseball season was the most memorable for Ben. During his senior year he threw a no-hitter while setting a school record 17 strikeouts. He followed that outing with a one-hit, 17 strikeout game. Ben was instrumental in leading the Marion G...Read more
Kerry Clevenger
Kerry Clevenger has two pastimes dear to his heart- sports and supporting his community. His family, friends, and many memories, are a priority after more than 45 years as a loyal spectator, financial supporter, and coach for Grant County athletics.As a Swayzee Speedking in 1958, playing for longtime mentor and Coach, Jack Colescott, a love for sports began. Kerry admired Coach Colescott's organizational skills, strong faith, and his love for history and US Government. As an adult, Kerry learned that hard work would afford him the ability to help friends, and support many athletic programs and...Read more
Natalie Steele Crane
Natalie Steele's love for competition began as a young girl in Greenfield, Wisconsin playing softball. She soon found a passion for basketball, and volleyball, leading her volleyball team to the state championship.Taylor University was the next step on her athletic path receiving a full scholarship in softball, basketball, and volleyball. However, it was in volleyball and basketball that she continued to play all four years earning seven All-American Awards in both sports combined.Natalie holds the single season kills record for any level of collegiate volleyball (NAIA or NCAA) with 1,143 in 1...Read more
Charlie Fisher
Charlie Fisher brought his love of football to Mississinewa in 1954 coaching for the Indians for 36 years. In that time, he compiled 211 wins, 13 Conference Championships, four Sectionals, and one Regional Championship. To show appreciation for these fine accomplishments, the Mississinewa Football Field is appropriately named "Fisher Field", and the enormous rock beside the Stadium sports a plaque honoring Coach Fisher. Charlie has won more games, and coached longer, than anyone in Mississinewa's history. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2006.Charlie was an all-around ...Read more
John Foss
John Foss began his running career at Delton High School in Michigan and was recently inducted into their Hall of Fame. Finishing high school as an All State athlete in both cross country and track, John established varsity records in cross country, the mile, 2-mile and numerous relays. He finished his high school career with an invitation to the International Friendship Games at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.During a four year career at Marion College (Indiana Wesleyan University), Foss was a two-time NAIA All American in cross country, three time NCCAA All-American in the 1,500-M...Read more
Jack Lake
Jack Lake served as the sports editor for The Marion Chronicle Tribune for 34 years when he retired from the newspaper. However, his interest in sports didn't begin when he started with the newspaper in 1954. His family moved to Marion from Peru in 1936 when Jack and his father soon gained an interest in the Soap Box Derby, finishing as high as second in the competition. A love for competitive sports began.Jack enjoyed participating in athletics, and watching all sports while attending St. Paul's High School. He played on the Trojan's varsity basketball teams from 1942-45. Although small in st...Read more
Charles "Ookie" Miller
Of all the inductees in the Grant County Sports Hall of Fame, none helped shape a sport the way Charles "Ookie" Miller did when a member of the NFL's Chicago Bears.The Marion native and former Giants standout athlete was a major participant in the first unofficial NFL Championship game played December 18, 1932, against the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans. That game led to major changes in the passing rules and made hash marks the standard on all football fields.Miller played center and linebacker for the Bears and went on to obtain All- Pro honors. In the early days of pro football, Miller played f...Read more
Reggie Nevels Jr.
The debate rages on forever - who is the best athlete to ever wear the purple and gold at Marion High School? Many names come to mind, but when you really break it down, did anyone ever have the senior year that Reggie Nevels, Jr. had in 2000?This young man, who went on to play quarterback four years at West Point, started his senior season by leading the Marion Giants to a huge upset over Homestead High School in the 2nd round of the IHSAA football playoffs. Reggie separated his shoulder during the first half of the ballgame, but continued to play the second half with the injury not being abl...Read more
Kyle Runyan
Kyle Runyan played varsity basketball at Madison Grant High School (1995-97) for Coach Terry Martin, leading the Argylls to three very successful seasons with a total record of 55-17. The 95-96 team won the Grant Four, Marion Sectional, recorded the first and only regional win in Madison Grant history, and holds the record for most wins with 21. Because of the success of the 95-96 team the 96-97 team was invited to the Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle, IN. Madison Grant was defeated in the afternoon game, but came back strong to win the evening game. The 96-97 team also won the Grant Four an...Read more
Team Category
1984 Marion Giants Baseball
The pre-season expectations for the '84 Baseball Giants were high after finishing 22-10 and sharing the NCC Conference Championship in 1983 with a roster of underclassmen. The '84 Indiana Coaches pre season poll had the Giants ranked #5 in the state. Head Coach Mel Wysong, in his 3rd season at the helm, had his Giants ready for the season, getting off to a very impressive start. However, the team hit a slump midway through their schedule losing back-to back games to County rivals Oak Hill and Mississinewa.After an intense locker room meeting, and a few individual sessions with seniors, Coach W...Read more