The Inaugural Class
George Keel, Class of 1937, was a multi-sport athlete and a longtime coach at Kenton Senior High School. A gifted athlete as a student, George was the starting quarterback for three years, a team captain, and was named MVP his senior year. On the basketball court, he was the starting point guard for the Wildcats, a captain and MVP his senior year. On the baseball diamond, he was again a team captain and recognized as an MVP. He was also the school tennis champion for two years. As a coach, he garnered over fifty wins on the basketball court, with his best season resulting in a 13-5 record in 1955. In 1957, he coached the team to a WBL Championship. He served the Wildcats as Head Football coach for ten years, Golf coach for twelve years, and as Athletic Director for thirteen years. As the Golf coach, he led the Wildcats to a third place finish at the State Tournament in 1971. His golf teams were also WBL Champions in 1962, 1966 and 1971.
He retired from Kenton City Schools after 33 years in education. Married to Mary Keel (Conover) for 57 years, he passed away in 2010 and is survived by his two daughters, Kathy Landsittel, and Nancy Parshall.
Bob Davis, Class of 1967, was a standout basketball player and coach for the Wildcats. As a student-athlete, Bob excelled in basketball, where he helped lead the Wildcats to the 1967 WBL championship and was named First Team All-WBL. He averaged 16.1 points his senior year and still holds the record for Most Assists in a game with 14. As a coach, Bob found himself active in four different sports; baseball, track, cross country, and basketball. During Bob’s two stretches as coach of the Lady Wildcats basketball team, he amassed 216 victories, and was named as coach of the 1985 All-District 8 Girls All-Star Team. Bob currently ranks second all-time for total victories as a coach, seventh in win percentage, and fourth for coaching longevity.
Bob retired after 35 years in education, and resides in Kenton with his wife, Lyn. The Davis’ have six children and seventeen grandchildren who live throughout the US and Canada.
Mike Merchant, Class of 1968, excelled in basketball at Kenton Senior High School. A two-time All-WBL player, he was named the Western Buckeye League Player of the Year in 1968, was All-Ohio, and earned an honorable mention nod as a Prep All-American. His 1967 team still holds the school record for best overall season (17-3), and finished as WBL Champions. Mike continues to appear in the basketball records, holding Most Points in a Season, and Game Scoring Average, while his record for most career points stood for over fifty years.
Mike currently resides in Tempe, Arizona with his wife, Bonnie.
Anthony K. “Tony” Osbun, Class of 1977, excelled in three sports as a student; track basketball, and football, and he was a longtime assistant coach for the Kenton football team. On the football field, Tony was a force on the defensive side of the ball, and often required double-teaming from the opposing team. Tony won the Western Buckeye League shot put title and was a starter for the boys basketball team, where he was an imposing post player. At one time, Tony held the school record for the shot put, only to be broken by his brother, Vic.
Tony is now retired, and lives in Kenton, with his wife, Jill. He has a daughter, Taylor, step-daughter, Alexis, and two granddaughters, Lydia and Emma.
Jane (Dietz) Bryant Klett, Class of 1980, was one of the greatest Wildcats to lace up a pair of basketball shoes. At one point, she held over fifteen individual records in Points, Rebounds, and Field Goals. She earned First Team All-WBL honors her junior and senior years, as well as AP All Northwest Ohio District 2nd Team, and Honorable Mention All-Ohio. Her Senior year, she became the first Lady Wildcat to be named WBL Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Jane lives in Grayslake, Illinois with her husband, Peter. They have six sons and four grandsons. A retired scientist, Jane is very active in her church and her community.
Heather (Spencer) Huarte, Class of 1985, was a leader for the Wildcats on both the volleyball and basketball courts. Heather lettered all four years in both sports and garnered many team and individual honors. In volleyball, she was All-Western Buckeye League all four years, including three times on First Team. In 1984, she led the Wildcats to a League and District Championship. On the basketball court, Heather was also a skilled player and still holds the records for the Most Assists in a game (15), Total Season Assists (148), Average Assists per game (6.4), and Career Assists (497).
Heather now resides in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband, Matt. She has three children, Zach, Luke, and Sophia. She is active in philanthropic work, focusing on improving the lives of children and their families.
Todd Black, Class of 1988, excelled in Cross Country and Track. A two-time All-Western Buckeye League runner in both Cross Country and Track, Todd still holds the KHS track records for 800 meters (1.55.38), and 1600 meters (4:33). He also is the school record holder in Cross Country (16:21). In 1988, he was the 800 meter WBL champion and earned a seventh place finish at the OHSAA State Track and Field Meet.
Todd lives in Toledo, and works as a counselor at St. John’s Jesuit High School, where he also coaches track and cross country. His teams have excelled, and were the Cross Country State Runner-Up in 2006, and earned a State Track and Field Championship in 2023.
Shawn Trent,
Class of 1988, excelled as a multi-sport athlete, and was a four-year letterwinner in Football, Wrestling, and Track. In Football, earned First Team All-WBL on both sides of the ball during his career. Though he excelled in several sports, he shined the most on the wrestling mat, where he won the WBL Championship at 175 pounds his Junior year. Shawn was a two-time District Champion (1986,1987), Regional Champion (1988), and a three time State Qualifier. His Senior year, he was the 1988 State Runner-Up at 189 pounds, and finished his wrestling career with a 96-20 record.
Shawn currently resides in Parrish, Florida with his wife, Valerie, and his two daughters, Taylor and Peyton. He serves as the Athletic Director at Parrish Community High School.
Wade Burba, Class of 1993, earned eleven Varsity letters, and excelled in both Soccer and Wrestling. In 1993, Wade finished in second place at the Division II State Wrestling meet in the 119lb weight class. He finished with a 36-5 record his senior year and was both a Sectional and District champion. Wade also excelled on the Soccer field. He was named the First Team All-WBL, First Team All-Region, and was named as the Northwest Ohio Player of the Year. As captain of the defense, he played every minute of every game during his Varsity career. His teams set several defensive records, including: Most Shutouts, and Goals Against Average. These records stood for over 25 years.
Wade resides in Bellefontaine and is the proud father of Chloe, Colin, and Callie.
Mark Molk, Class of 1995, was a two-sport standout for the Wildcats in football and basketball. On the field, as a three-year starting quarterback, he passed for over 5,300 career yards, and was All-WBL, All-District, and All Ohio. On the basketball court, Mark was a three-year starter. He still holds many Wildcat records, including Most Three-pointers in a game (11), and in a Season (81). Mark scored 1,188 career points, and had a career scoring average of 19.5 points per game.
Mark lives in Dover, Ohio with his wife, Rachael, and their four children: TC, Jenna, Marcus, and Ronnie.
Ben Mauk, Class of 2003, led the Wildcats to two straight State Championships (2001 & 2002) and back to back WBL Championships (2001 & 2002) while setting multiple school, state, and national passing records, some of which still stand today. His national records include: First for Passing Yards in a Season (6,540), First for Total Offense in a Season (7,928) – (6,540 passing, 1,388 rushing), Second for Career Passing Yards (17,364), Sixth for Completions in a Season (413), Sixth for Completions in a Career (1,095), and Tenth for Career Touchdowns (178). Ben was a three time All-Ohio selection, two-time Division II Player of the Year, and was named Ohio’s Mr. Football in 2002.
Ben resides in Missouri and is currently the head football coach at Monett High School
Garrick Sherman, Class of 2009, was a standout basketball player for the Wildcats. On the court, he led the Wildcats to two straight Sectional Titles, and set multiple records, including Most Career Points (1,682), Most Career Rebounds (1,372), Best Field Goal percentage in a Game (90%), and Best Field Goal percentage for a Season (68%). Garrick was a four-time All WBL First Team selection, a four-time All District honoree, a two-time WBL Player of the Year, and a two-time All-Ohio selection. In 2009, he was named the Co-Player of the Year in Division II. In Ohio, Garrick ranks third all-time for career rebounds with 1,317.
Garrick, his wife Morgan, and their daughters Hastings and Larkin reside outside of Kenton where he farms.
Maty Mauk, Class of 2012, was a standout on the football field, basketball court, and around the track. He was a three-time First Team All-Ohio quarterback. He led the Wildcats to several WBL titles, and a State Runner-Up (2011) Maty’s football accomplishments are still seen to this day in the state and national record books. A two-time Ohio Player of the Year for Division IV, he continues to hold the following National Records: first in Career Completions (1,353), first in Career Attempts (2,110) first in Career Passing Yards (18,932), first in Career Passing Touchdowns (219), and first in Career Total Touchdowns (278). Maty was named as Ohio’s Mr. Football in 2011. Maty also holds several track and field records for the Wildcats. He holds the school Long Jump record with a leap of 22 ‘4″ and was a member of the school record holding 800 meter relay team (1:31:82). In long jump, he also placed 3rd and 6th in two trips to the State Track Meet.
Maty resides in Missouri, and is currently the head football coach at the Principia School.
Cheryl Huffman, was a long time volleyball coach at Kenton Senior High School. Over the span of 14 years, her teams won 187 games, and captured the Western Buckeye League Championship in 1983. Her teams garnered many accolades, including: six Sectional Championships, one District Championship, and one Regional appearance. She was named the WBL Coach of the Year in 1983, and District Coach of the Year in both 1983 and 1987. Cheryl is the All-Time leader at KHS for both Career Coaching Wins, and Win Percentage in Volleyball. Her teams still hold many records, including: Best Overall Record (19-4 in 1983), Most Wins in a Season (20), and Best Winning percentage in a Season (1983).
Cheryl resides in Findlay. She enjoys spending time with her family and visiting with her former student-athletes.
Mike Mauk, was a longtime coach for the Wildcats in both football and softball. In Football, he ranks first place all-time in Kenton history in career wins (221-football), winning percentage (64%), and coaching longevity (31 years-football). Mike led the Wildcats to nine WBL football titles (87, 98, 01, 02, 08, 03, 10, 11, 13), five Regional titles (01, 02, 03, 11, 13), two State Runners-Up finishes (2003 & 2011) and two State Championships (2001 & 2002). He is a member of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Mike also served as the Head Softball Coach for 10 years and Athletic Director for 13 years.
Mike and his family reside in Missouri, where he is still actively coaching football.
Charles “Chuck” Merold, was a longtime coach and educator at Kenton Senior High School. In 1990, he founded the boys soccer program and remained at the helm for seven years, during which his teams set many records that would not be broken for several decades. Ten years later, he became the first head coach for the girls soccer team, leading the team for three years. Chuck’s contributions to the KHS soccer programs prompted the high school soccer field to be named in his honor. He also served as a coach for the wrestling program for several years.
Chuck showed strength and resilience as he battled through illness during his life. He passed away on October 23, 2024, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the Kenton community and beyond. He is survived by his wife, Deb, and his children, Brett and Bethany.