Ross Local Schools to induct 9 into Hall of Fame

-Ross, Ohio

Official Press Release

The Ross Local School District is set to induct nine new members into the Class of 2025 for their contributions to the schools and community.

Shannon Abbott Broermann (Class of 2005) will be inducted for her contribution to Athletics. Abbott Broermann graduated from Ross High School having amassed an incredible 14 Varsity letters, including three years each in Cross Country, Tennis, and Basketball and four years in Softball.  On the hardwood, Abbott Broermann finished her career with 604 points, including 187 her junior year and 169 her senior year during which she was also named Second Team FAVC for her efforts.  On the softball diamond, Abbott Broermann was a four-year starter, finishing as the all-time career hits leader with a .424 batting average.  Individually, she earned First Team FAVC (3 years), FAVC Player of the Year (2 years), and All State (2 years).  She also led Ramball to four FAVC Championships, two District Championships, one Regional Championship, and one State Runner-up title.

Gregg Combs will be inducted for his distinguished service to the Ross Local Schools as an educator and coach.  Mr. Combs served the Rams as an educator and coach at Ross Middle School for 35 years.  Throughout his career, he helped mold thousands of students in his Social Studies classroom and guided the growth of young people through coaching nearly all sports that RMS offered, most notably as a head football and track and field coach.  Additionally, he was an assistant football coach at RHS and performed scout duties for the 1980 State Championship basketball and softball teams.  Mr. Combs also served as the Ross Middle School Athletic Director for 31 years.  In the classroom, Mr. Combs took a vested interest in helping improve learning opportunities for students through his work with student teachers and his lead in “teaming” students with teachers.

John Evans (Class of 1958) will be inducted for his contribution as a distinguished alumnus.  As a student at Ross High School, Dr. Evans participated in 4-H, served as co-editor of the yearbook, was a member of the National Honor Society and Ross Band of Class, and graduated as Valedictorian.  Upon graduation from Ross High School, Dr. Evans went to medical school and served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War.  He established a medical practice in Lindenwald and served as the president of the Butler County Medical Society and Hamilton/Fairfield Academy of Medicine, the Chief of Staff at Fort Hamilton Hospital, an associate clinical professor in the Department of Family Practice at Wright State University School of Medicine, the Medical Director of Occupational Health at Fort Hamilton Hospital and Alliance Employee Health in Cincinnati, a member of the Board of Trustees of both Fort Hamilton Hospital and the Berkeley Square Retirement Community.  He has also served as the moderator of the Shandon Congregational Church Council and the president of the New London Cemetery Association.

Ray Hamilton will be inducted for his contribution to Athletics. While teaching Physical Education for Ross Local Schools, Hamilton served as both a Varsity football assistant coach from 1989-1994 and the Varsity baseball head coach from 1989-1999.  In baseball, Hamilton finished his time at Ross with a 197-75 record and the Rams won five league championships with him at the helm.  He was named FAVC Coach of the Year four times and Cincinnati Enquirer Coach of the Year in 1998.  Hamilton then moved on to Lakota East High School, winning three GMC Championships, three District Championships, and one State Championship (2011).  Hamilton was named GMC Coach of the Year four times and the Cincinnati Enquirer Coach of the Year again in 2011.  Hamilton finished with a career coaching record of 593-310 and is a member of the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame and the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Tim Lampe (Class of 1982) will be inducted for his contribution to Athletics.  Lampe was a star for the Rams on the basketball court, leading the team to league championships in both his junior and senior years.  During his junior season, Lampe averaged 16.4 points and 10 rebounds per game and was named Team MVP, Second Team FAVC, Second Team Golden Triangle, and Honorable Mention District 15.  During his senior season, Lampe averaged 19.4 points and 13 rebounds per game, recording 30 points, 20 rebounds, 10 blocks, 5 assists, and 4 steals in a single game vs Mason.  He was named the First Team and Player of the Year in the FAVC, First Team and Player of the Year for Golden Triangle, First Team Southwest District, District 15 All Star, and First Team All State.  He finished his Ross career with 655 points before attending Miami University where he was a four-year letter winner, earning three trips to the NCAA Tournament.  Lampe is currently Senior Associate Athletic Director for Facilities at Virginia Commonwealth University, a role he’s served in for seventeen years.

Steve Miller (Class of 1977) will be inducted for his distinguished service to the Ross community.  Chief (Ret.) Miller began his 46-year career in the fire service volunteering for the Millville Fire Department in 1978 before moving quickly up the ranks to Fire Chief in 1992.  While serving as a Senior Firefighter Response Specialist at the Department of Energy Site Fernald from 1987-2004, he pursued several professional certifications, including state fire safety, state fire instructor, Arson investigator, and hazmat specialist.  Miller became the full-time Chief of the Ross Township Fire Department in 2004 and also graduated from the Ohio Fire Executive “Class 9” program.  He also served as the Incident Commander for the State of Ohio/Butler County Incident Management Team and helped nationally during the response to natural disasters such as hurricanes, blizzards, wildfires, and tornadoes.  Miller is a member of many state and national fire associations such as the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association and the National Fire Protection Service and serves on several boards and in other training capacities for local and state fire safety and emergency response organizations.  

Simon Stepaniak (Class of 2015) will be inducted for his contribution to Athletics.  During his career in Maroon & Gold, Stepaniak started at both offensive and defensive tackle for the Ross Varsity football team.  Stepaniak earned First Team honors in the Southwest Ohio Conference (‘13 & ‘14) and the Southwest Ohio Football Coaches Association (‘12, ‘13, ‘14).  He was named to First Team All-Area and 1st Team All Southwest Ohio in both 2013 and 2014.  He also earned a spot on Honorable Mention All-State in 2013 and First Team All-State in 2014.  Stepaniak was named the Anthony Munoz DIII Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2013.  He then took his talent to Bloomington, Indiana where he played collegiate football for the Indiana Hoosiers.  After dealing with injuries his Freshman and Sophomore years, he started all twelve games at right guard as a junior.  As a senior, Stepaniak started eleven games and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten before being drafted as a sixth round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2020.

Eddie Traynor (Class of 2006) will be inducted for his contribution as a distinguished alumnus.  Traynor has become a well-known Multimedia Host, DJ, Entrepreneur & Brand Ambassador, currently serving as the official DJ / Host for the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bearcats.  Traynor has worked closely with many professional athletes and entertainers throughout his career, performing at a number of musical, corporate, charity, and private events alongside marquee names such as Kendrick Lamar, Jason Aldean, Machine Gun Kelly, and DJ Jazzy Jeff.  He has represented such household brands as Kroger, Proctor & Gamble, Verizon, Red Bull, and many others.  In 2021, Traynor launched a charity golf outing benefiting Lighthouse Youth & Family Services focused on serving underprivileged youth across Greater Cincinnati and starring current Cincinnati Bengals stars like Jamarr Chase, Tee Higgins, Sam Hubbard, Logan Wilson, Evan McPherson, Zac Taylor, and more.

Sean Van Winkle (Class of 1993) will be inducted for his contribution to Athletics.  Van Winkle was a three-year basketball letterman for the Rams.  During his junior year, he was named First Team FAVC, Third Team Butler County, Third Team Cincinnati Enquirer, Honorable Mention District 15 and Honorable Mention All State.  During his senior season, he led the team and Butler County in assists, was named team captain and team MVP, and garnered First Team FAVC, First Team Butler County, Second Team Cincinnati Enquirer, First Team District 15, and Honorable Mention All State honors.  Van Winkle was also named to the Cincinnati Post Ross All-Decade Team and Ross Player of the Decade.  After his playing days, Van Winkle moved into the coaching ranks, serving as an assistant and then head coach for Ross boys basketball over 13 years and head coach for Ross Cross Country for seven years.  He then coached boys basketball at Lakota West for five years where he led the team to a GMC championship in 2013 and was named GMC Coach of the Year (‘13) and District 15 Coach of the Year (‘09 and ‘13).  Van Winkle finished his boys basketball coaching career at Hamilton High School for four years, after which he served his community in the Ross Youth Basketball Association, the Ross Community Foundation, the Ross Board of Education, the Blue Stars Youth Basketball Association, the Lakota T-Birds Youth Basketball Association, and the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame Committee.

 

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The Induction Ceremony for the Ross Local Schools Hall of Fame, Class of 2025, will be on January 11, 2025 at the Yeager-Benson Memorial American Legion. 

Tickets for the Induction Ceremony will be $35 from September 15 to December 9 and $40 from December 9 to December 30. Tickets are available for purchase online only via www.rossrams.com/box-office  
 

Want to sponsor a table?

Event Sponsorship

The Ross Local Schools Hall of Fame was created to recognize alumni, staff, and community members who have distinguished themselves through their achievements and contributions to the Ross Local Schools and Ross community.

Each year, Ross Local Schools hosts a Hall of Fame induction ceremony to honor its class of inductees.  To help make this event sustainable, we’re now offering sponsorship opportunities.

If you have questions about one of the options below, please contact Jake Richards at jake.richards@rossrams.com.

Presenting Sponsor

Cost: $1000.00
Benefits: 8 tickets to event with preferential seating, Sponsor listed on event banners and in event program, Sponsor message presented in introductory remarks , table logo/name placard 

 

Table Sponsor

Cost: $150.00
Benefits: 2 tickets to event, Sponsor listed in event program, Sponsor mentioned in introductory remarks, table logo/name placard 

 

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please email jake.richards@rossrams.com