Saturday, Dec. 12 was another historic night for the historic Peebles athletic programs as four new members were inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The newest members of the Peebles Hall of Fame, and the fourth class to be inducted, are: Cindy Hopper Zeller, Tom Newman, Greg Seaman, and Arthur Myers.

Cindy Hopper Zeller is a 1995 graduate of Peebles and was a four-year varsity starter for the Lady Indians, totaling 1,452 points in her career, which still ranks second all-time at the school. She was a four-time All Southern Hills League selection, one of only four to do so in school history. Cindy was a Southeast District First Team selection in her junior and senior seasons and an All-State selection in both of those seasons.

She finished her career in the top five of nearly every statistical category and twice averaged over 20 points a game and her career average of 17.4 is still second in school history. She scored in double figures in 74 of her 83 career games and had a high of 45 points against Manchester in her senior season.

Tom Newman is a 1966 graduate of Peebles and one of the all-time coaching greats in southern Ohio. Newman led the Lady Indians from 1979 to 1995 with a varsity record of 267-109, a .710 winning percentage. He led his teams to five SHL titles, including two gold ball seasons, had three 20-win campaigns, and was named SHL Coach of the Year five times. He was the Southeast District Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1987 and was named Class A Ohio Coach of the Year in 1987 when he led his team to an undefeated season and a number one ranking in the state polls.

Newman’s teams captured nine sectional titles and district championships in 1985, 1987, and 1988. He also led the Lady Indians’ softball team to three district titles and five SHL championships, going unbeaten in league play three times. In his basketball coaching career, he coached six 1,000 point scorers, nine All-State players, had three seasons of top 10 state rankings, and is still the all-time leader in coaching wins at the school.

Greg Seaman is a 1973 Peebles graduate who was a three-sport star and three-year varsity starter for Coach Jerry Copley. He scored 905 points in his career, ranking fourth in school history at the time of his graduation. He ranked third in free throws made and attempted and scored in double figures in 55 of his 69 high school games. Seaman was chosen to the All-SHL and All-Tri County teams in his junior and senior seasons and led his teams to a three-year record of 54-15, including a gold ball season in 1972 and a Tri-County title in 1973.

Seaman was an integral part of the powerhouse team of 1973 that finished 21-2, was state ranked, won the sectional, and was district runner-up. He joins his teammates Chuck Johnson and Joe Ryan in the Hall of Fame.

One of the legendary and all-time coaching greats in southern Ohio, Coach Arthur Myers compiled a varsity record of 234-57, an outstanding .804 winning percentage. He was named SHL Coach Of the Year seven times and Southeast District Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1981. Myers’ teams won eight SHL championships, including four gold balls, five Tri-County titles, and had six 20-win seasons.

Myers had six teams that were state-ranked, climbing as high as second in the state polls in 1984. Under his direction, the Indians won eight sectional titles and two district championships (1974, 1984) and from 1980-1984 his Indians compiled a remarkable record of 110-9, which included undefeated regular seasons in 1981 and 1982 with a 60-game regular season winning streak. Myers coached 10 All-State players and is still the school’s all-time leader in coaching victories for boys basketball.

The People’s Defender congratulates all of the new Peebles High School Hall of Fame inductees.

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Four new members honored

By Mark Carpenter

mcarpenter@civitasmedia.com

Reach Mark Carpenter at 937-544-2391 or on Twitter @adamscosports.