Sports Briefs: Marion Catholic grad Warren Martin makes hall of fame at Kenyon

Marion Catholic grad Warren Martin makes hall of fame at Kenyon

GAMBIER — As part of Kenyon College's Homecoming Weekend, a class of five will be inducted into the Kenyon Athletic Hall of Fame. The class, which includes Michael Greenberg '10, Claire Howard Low '86, Marion Catholic grad Warren Martin '78, Tony Mohammed '97, and Katy Zeanah '06, will be the 29th group of inductees to enter the Hall since 1988.

The induction ceremony will be held in the Lowry Center on Friday, September 23. The following day, the new Hall of Fame class will be introduced at halftime of the Owls' football game with Ohio Wesleyan University, which is slated for 1 p.m.

A force on the defensive line, Warren Martin developed into a highly-recognized football player, both at the conference and national levels.

He began his Kenyon career as a nose guard, but soon switched to defensive tackle. In his sophomore season, he piled up 54 tackles and 21 assists. Then, as a junior in 1976, he made 100 tackles with 30 assists. Kenyon went 6-3 that season, and the defense allowed an average of just 7.2 points per game.

Injuries put a damper on Martin's senior season, but he still managed 41 tackles and 18 assists in seven games, bringing his career numbers to 246 solo tackles, 124 assists and a Kenyon-record 34 quarterback sacks.

Martin was a three-time All-American and a two-time first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honoree. He was a four-year letter winner, a team captain and Kenyon's 1978 Senior Athlete of the Year.

Marion couple wins state pickleball title

MARION — A Marion couple captured a championship at the Ohio Senior Games held this summer in Westerville.

Playing pickleball in the 80-to 85 age group, Connie and Tom Pannett went undefeated in the round robin phase, going 5-0. This gave the Marion couple the gold medals for Division 2. They were defeated in the open division by a team they defeated in the round robin phase. That team was in Division 1. Pannetts now qualify for the nationals in Pittsburgh in 2023.

The Pannetts took up the sport while visiting Tom's sister in the Villages of Flordia 10 years ago and have been playing ever since. The play three days a week at the Marion Family YMCA, and they were instrumental in the Marion Parks Department's construction two pickleball courts at Marion's Senior Center.

HOJGA organizers offer thanks for 2022 season

MARION — The Heart of Ohio Junior Golf Association ended its 36th season and the Board of Directors thanks everyone who helped during the season to serve area youth in Crawford, Delaware, Hardin, Marion, Morrow, Union and Wyandot counties.

Thanks for to the following golf courses: Three Sticks Golf Club, Marion; Golf Club of Bucyrus; MarysvilleGolf Club; Blues Creek, Marysville; Veterans Memorial Park, Kenton; Kings Mill, Waldo and Valley View, Galion.

Corporate and tournament sponsors to be thanked are Jesse Marketing Associates, LLC; Dr. Paul & Mrs. Kelly Culler, Waldo; Crossroads Original Designs, Bucyrus; Kathy (Allan) Brinkman, Marion; Pam Hartman, Milford Center; McCullough Industries, Kenton; Sims Bros. Inc. and Y-Men Service Club of Marion.

Scholarship sponsors to be thanked are David J. Wensinger Player of Year by Dr. Jerome Wensinger and Jeremy Wensinger; Ross Carley Memorial Player of the Year Runner-Up by Lynn Baldwin and Jesse Marketing Associates; Wensinger Family Player of the year Second Runner-Up by James & Julia Kraschinsky; NUCOR Steel Marion Most Improved; Marion County Youth Foundation M.E.R.I.T.; Knights of Columbus Sportsmanship; Charles Emans Memorial Patriot by Danielle Emans; Steve Mills Memorial 13-15 Player of the Year by Chris & Kelly Mills; and Amy Wensinger Roberts 13-18 Girls Player of the Year.

Gold patrons who helped were Erica and Sean Carr, Matthew and Mary Murphy, Peacock Water, Don Taube, Laipply’s Printing & Marketing Solutions of Marion, American Legion No. 243 of Galion, First Citizens National Bank of Upper Sandusky, Pam Hartman of Milford Center, Kip and Kara Ottley and William and Sara Terry of Powell, Ridgedale Lions Club of Morral, Marysville Moose Lodge No. 1651, and Robert F. Schultz of Delaware.

Silver patrons who helped were Andrews Pastries, Paradise Miniature Golf, El Capesino Restaurante, JerZee Dairy Bar Treats, Perkins Restaurant and Bakery of Marion, Terry & Joanna Barre of Galion and G & R Tavern of Waldo.

Parent patrons who helped were William Ludwig and Abby Songer of Marion, Deborah Graham and Jamie Ottery of Delaware, Justin and Sherry McMullen and Christina Walker of Galion, Patrick Greene of Nevada, Cathy Brackenridge and Kim Reynolds of Ostrander and Leslie Conley of Prospect.

Appreciation goes to all volunteers such as officers and board members Michelle and Todd Crowe, Steve Grimes, Pam Ensign, Pam Hartman, Ed Pickett, Bryan Rinehart, Sam Sandefur and Abby Songer.

Special thanks to all seven-county media and to all area school athletic directors and golf coaches.

Each benefactor has touched our youth in a special way that contributes to the success of the HOJGA program’s goals, and they sincerely thank you.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Sports Briefs: MCHS grad Warren Martin makes hall of fame at Kenyon