Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Ohio University

Top scoreboard

(Colin Mayr/Ohio Athletics)

General

Ohio Athletics Set to Induct Kermit Blosser Hall of Fame Class Of 2022

FOLLOW OHIO ATHLETICS: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
 
ATHENS, Ohio—The Ohio Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the Kermit Blosser Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2022 today (Sept. 8). This year's class includes Brandon Hunter (Men's Basketball 1999-2003), Kelly Lamberti (Volleyball, 2011-14), Andy Smiles (Soccer, 1970-73) Frank Solich (Football, 2005-20) and the 1964 Cross Country Team.

Brandon Hunter was a four-year letter winner, playing for the men's basketball team from 1999-03. He earned All-MAC Freshman Team honors in 2000 and was a three-time All-MAC First Team honoree (2001-03).

Hunter is the statistical record holder for rebounds per game in both the MAC and the NCAA (12.6). He's fourth in free throws attempted at the MAC Tournament (2001; 32), ninth in free throws made at the MAC Tournament (2001; 23) and made the MAC All-Tournament Team twice (2001, 2003). Hunter has set multiple MAC records: he's 14th in in career points (2,012), tied at 10th for most rebounds in a game (26), 16th for most rebounds in a season (378) and sixth in career rebounds (1,103).

He leads the Ohio men's basketball program in free throws made (561), free throws attempted (923) and rebounds (1,103). Hunter fifth in the program for career points scored (2,012), 10th in scoring average (16.9), fourth in field goals made (706), sixth in field goal attempts (1,385), seventh in field goal percentage (minimum: 300 FG; .510) and fourth in games started (118). 

Hunter still holds Ohio individual season records as well—he's seventh in points (2002-03; 614) and ninth in scoring average (2002-03; 21.5). His performance in the 2002-03 season put him second in free throws made (199) and first in free throw attempts (335), breaking the records he set during the 2000-01 season. Hunter is also fourth overall in rebounds (2002-03, 378). 

In the second round of the 2003 NBA draft, Hunter was selected as the 56th pick overall by the Boston Celtics. 

Kelly Lamberti was on the Ohio volleyball team from 2011-14 and is the only player in program history to rank in the top-six in career kills (1,642), service aces (113), digs (1,374) and points (1,891.5) in the rally scoring era. She's also second in kills per set (3.71) and attacks (4,763). She is fourth in points per set (4.27) and sixth in digs per set (3.10) as well as service aces per set (0.26). 

Lamberti has multiple rally scoring season records and is in the top ten twice for kills per set in a season: seventh for the 2014 season (4.05) and 10th for the 2012 season (3.95). She set individual season records for attacks in 2011 (seventh; 1,245), 2012 (sixth; 1,248) and 2014 (fifth; 1,253). In 2014, Lamberti's performance put her at ninth in service aces (41) and tied for eighth in service aces per set (0.38). She has two rally scoring season records in points per set— 2012 (ninth; 4.50) and 2014 (fifth; 4.76). 

Overall, Lamberti is seventh in attacks in a season (2014; 1,253) and is fifth in attacks per match (74). 

She is one of two Ohio volleyball alumnae to be a four-time All-MAC First Team selection and made the MAC All-Tournament team twice (2013-14). Lamberti was named 2014 AVCA All-Northeast Region Honorable Mention, 2013 AVCA All-Mideast Region, 2012 MAC Player of the Year and made the 2011 MAC All-Freshman Team. She also earned Academic All-MAC honors three times and was named the 2014 Distinguished Scholar Athlete. 
 
Andy Smiles was on the Ohio soccer team from 1970-73. During his career, Smiles earned a multitude of awards, making the All-Ohio and All-Midwest teams three consecutive times (1970-72). 

Smiles earned All-America recognition twice, making First Team All-America in 1971 and All-America Honorable Mention in 1972. He was awarded the Carl Dale Award (1971), marking him as the top defensive player in Ohio. Smiles was also named First Team All-MAC once (1972).

Frank Solich was Ohio's head football coach from 2005-20 and became the winningest head coach in MAC history with 115 overall victories. His 77 conference-only wins rank second to former Central Michigan head coach Herb Deromedi's 90.

Solich owns a career coaching record of 173-101. His 173 overall wins rank as the fourth most among active NCAA FBS head coaches. His 16 years of service match Deromedi's (1978-93) for the most in MAC history. Ohio is 115-82 during the Solich era. His 115 victories are the second-most in program history behind Don Peden (121; 1924-46). Ohio's conference record was 77-46 during the Solich era. 

Ohio has had a run of 12-straight non-losing seasons that has included 11 winning campaigns and six years with at least nine victories— including a 10-win campaign in 2011. The 2012 season began with the Bobcats earning a signature win at Penn State, upsetting the Nittany Lions by a score of 24-14. Ohio captured division titles in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2016. Solich led the Bobcats to 11 of their 13 bowl appearances and the first five bowl victories in program history, with back-to-back wins in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and '12 Independence Bowl and back-to-back-to-back victories in the 2017 Bahamas Bowl, '18 DXL Frisco Bowl and '20 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (2019 season).

The 1964 Cross Country Team was crowned with an All-Ohio Championship title and earned one of three MAC titles in program history alongside the 1962 and 1996 teams. The Bobcats qualified for the 1964 NCAA championships, where Elmore "Mo" Banton became the first and only Bobcat to win the tournament, posting a time of 20:07.5. Ohio was represented by six other runners—Lawrence Smith, Robert Crooks, Darnell Mitchell, John E. Blair, Richard Alderfer and Alex C. Jamieson—with Smith and Crooks finishing in the top 25. As a team, Ohio earned the bronze medal. 

Banton remains in the record books to this day, holding the best time at four miles (1964; 18:46). He was also a MAC Champion in 1965 and is a two-time All-Ohio Champion and All-American (1964, 1965). In 1980, Banton returned to his alma mater as the head coach for men's cross country and track and field, eventually taking over the women's programs as well. In the 23 years he coached at Ohio, Banton guided his teams to 10 MAC Championships, he coached four All-Americans and he earned 20 Coach of the Year awards from various institutions and governing bodies. 

#OUohyeah
 
Print Friendly Version