Five new members were inducted into the Northern Kentucky Hall of Fame on Wednesday at the Gardens of Park Hills.
The inductees are: Mike Lewis – Ludlow, Alan Sullivan – Conner/Boone County, Greg Menetrey – Campbell County, Mike Cruetzinger – Ludlow and Jim Wihebrink – Dayton.
Lewis threw 96 touchdowns during his career with the Panthers, was a four-year NKAC All-Star and named NKY Class A Player of the Year in 2004. He was the first player from Ludlow to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 2,000 yards in a single season. Lewis was also a four-year starter on the hardwood, winning the Ninth Region Defensive Player of the Year. He went on to continue his football career at Georgetown College, a three-year starter, finishing in the top 10 in 10 different passing categories.
Sullivan has been a coach, umpire, scorekeeper or clock operator in NKY in some capacity for 50-plus years from knothole baseball to girls softball to basketball. He was an assistant on Conner’s softball team for 18 years, umpired knothole baseball for over 50 years and was a basketball referee in Boone County leagues. He’s also run the scoreboard or clock for 20 years at Boone County and also did so at Conner.
Menetrey held eight different school records by the time he finished his high school career at Campbell County. He was an honorable mention All-State in 1973 and second team All-State in ‘74. His 14.7 yards per carry still stands up in the Caels record books. On the diamond, he tossed two no-hitters and also ran track. Menetrey also coached eight years in Alexandria, and was later named to the Campbell County High School Hall of Fame.
Creutzinger was a two-sport athlete at Ludlow in football and basketball and named Athlete of the Year at the school in 1967. As a defensive back he was named honorable mention in NKY. He taught and coached from 1972-2007 at Finneytown High School. He also coached at Mason High School from 2009-13 and Mosheim Middle School from 2015-19.
Wihebrink started his coaching career at Dayton in 1968 with the linebackers and then went on to coach track at Purcell, Dixie Heights and Lima Catholic, where he also served as an assistant football coach, holding the same titles at Forest Park High School. In 1977, he returned to Kentucky to coach track and cross country at Boone County for 20 years and was named NKAC Coach of the Year four times. His coaching record with the boys was 825-496 and for the girls was 733-564. His track and field record was 1,302-399.
Randy Marsh was the guest speaker. Marsh, a Covington native and member of the NKY Sports HOF, was a Major League Baseball umpire from 1981-2009. Marsh umpired in the World Series five times and served as crew chief three times.