by Gregg Meadows
Since its inception 57 years ago in the fall of 1966 – when three school systems came together as one to form the Tri-Valley school district – there have been hundreds of Scottie student-athletes compete in interscholastic competition whose sustained performances have been exceptional. These Tri-Valley graduates are the ones who have helped form Tri-Valley’s rich athletic tradition and written its storied past.
On Friday night, Oct. 6 – in front of a jam-packed house at Jack Anderson Stadium in Dresden on the TVHS campus – the 15th class of the Tri-Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame was recognized, inducted, and celebrated, prior to the kickoff of the scheduled TV vs Philo football game, bringing the total number of inductees of Scottie athletic giants to 60.
Here’s a look at the TVHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023:
From the TVHS graduating Class of 2014: Collin Prouty
Collin is Tri-Valley High School’s most prolific shot put and discus thrower. He was a two-time All-Ohioan in the discus – earning a 5th place finish at the 2013 OHSAA State Track and Field Meet, and improving to a 3rd place finish his senior year at the 2014 State Meet. Collin was also the Regional Champion in Discus in 2014. He was a two-time MVL Discus champion, and the 2014 MVL Shot Put champion as well. Collin is the current school record holder at TVHS in the Discus (176′ 2″) and Shot Put (54′-11″). In football, Collin was the Muskingum Valley League’s Lineman of the Year for the 2013 season for the MVL champ Scotties; he earned 1st Team All-MVL honors, All-District Lineman honors and was named 2nd Team All-Ohio for the 2013 season.
Also, from the TVHS graduating Class of 2014: Jade Hawkins Hilliard
Jade is Tri-Valley High School’s two-time All-Ohioan in the pole vault as a member of the Lady Dawg’s track and field team. Jade pole vaulted to a 5th place finish at the 2013 OHSAA State Track and Field Meet her junior year, then followed that up her senior year finishing as the state runnerup at the 2014 State Meet. Jade was the State Champion in Pole Vault at 2014 State Indoor Meet, and was also the 2013 Muskingum Valley League pole vault champion. She is the Tri-Valley School current record holder in the pole vault with a record height of 12′-3″. Jade was also a member of multiple Muskingum Valley League 4×100, 4×200 sprint relay title teams for TVHS in track and field. After high school, Jade enjoyed a most successful collegiate career at University of Louisville in pole vault, tying school record in 2016 w with a height of 13′-6″.
From the TVHS graduating Class of 2016: Marcus Dempsey
Marcus is Tri-Valley High School’s most prolific scorer in Scottie boys’ basketball history, setting the school record for career points (1,284), high single-game with 41 points, and single-season with 531 points in 2016. He’s a two-time All-Ohioan, two-time 1st Team All-MVL and All-District for basketball. On January 28, 2016 in Dresden at The Dawg House, Marcus hit ‘the shot heard round the world’, when he broke the school’s career scoring mark and single game record as well with one shot. After high school, Marcus continued his record setting basketball career at Muskingum University, where he became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,118 points, set the record for the highest scoring average per game (30.6), high single game (57 points) and single season scoring record (764 points). Marcus was also a NCAA D-3 Academic All-American.
And the fourth and final inductee from the TVHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023, is former Scottie educator, coach, administrator and athletic director Kim Waaland.
Mr Waaland was a much treasured Tri-Valley High School educator, coach, and athletic director for 35 years. As TVHS Athletic Director from 1995-2010, Mr Waaland diligentl – and tirelessly – headed the Muskingum Valley League’s largest athletic department. Tri-Valley High School won the prestigious MVL All-Sports Trophy for 14 of his 15 years as athletic director. Mr Waaland was also a TVHS Business and Accounting teacher for 15 years and Dean of Students and Assistant Principal at TVHS for two years as well. He also served as a valued assistant coach for football for 20 years at TVHS and wrestling for 15 years as well. When Mr Waaland retired in 2010, he penned a letter to all TVHS coaches, reminding them that character, class, and humility are key components for your respective teams. “While losing with them is no fun, winning without them is no accomplishment,” stated Mr Waaland.
Congratulations to the TVHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023 inductees, Collin Prouty, Jade Hawkins Hilliard, Marcus Dempsey, and Kim Waaland.
CAPTION: Left to right: Collin Prouty, Jade Hawkins Hilliard, Marcus Dempsey, Kim Waaland (Photo by Dan Vincent)
