News

GMC Swimmers Earn All-American Status

In a Cincinnati.com release compiled by Cincinnati Enquirer Sportswriter Brendan Connelly, the GMC and Greater Cincinnati in general garnered numerous High School All-American swimming and diving honors.

How these designations were earned are outlined by Brendan Connelly below:

The National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association has released its 2024-2025 All-American lists and a myriad of Greater Cincinnati swimmers and divers are among this year's honorees.

Prior to the season, the association listed two time standards for each event that would either put athletes under consideration or automatically qualify them for All-American status. The top 100 times in each discipline earned national recognition.

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As far as the Greater Miami Conference is concerned, leading the way is Mason's Bella Teply who qualified as an All-American in three relays and three individual events.

For the rest of the story of the GMC All-Americans:

Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay - Dana Fairbanks, Anna Erickson, Julia Gregory, Bella Teply (Mason).

Girls 200 Yard Freestyle - Bella Teply (Mason) and Addie Robillard (Sycamore).

100 Yard Freestyle - Bella Teply (Mason).

500 Yard Freestyle - Bella Teply and Dana Fairbanks (Mason).

200 Yard Freestyle Relay -Bella Teply, Chloe Wall, Lucy Rhoten and Dana Fairbanks (Mason).

100 Yard Breaststroke - Addie Robillard (Sycamore).

400 Yard Freestyle Relay - Lucy Rhoten, Anna Erickson, Dana Fairbanks, Bella Teply (Mason).

 

USA Lacrosse Recognizes GMC All-Americans

USA Lacrosse recognized four outstanding Greater Miami Conference boys lacrosse standouts as High School All-Americans for their stellar performances this past spring.

Representing the Mason Comets: senior defender, Gus Kleeman, senior mid-fielder, Peter Marietta and junior mid-fielder, Tyler Lupinski.

Representing the Sycamore Aviators: senior defender, Garret Brenkert.

Fairfield Legendary Softball Announces Retirement

Fairfield Athletic Department Press Release and Photo:

Fairfield Softball Legend Brenda Stieger Announces Retirement After 30 Seasons

After three decades of leadership, Fairfield High School head softball coach Brenda Stieger has announced her retirement from coaching. 

Coach Stieger has served Fairfield for 30 years, including 29 seasons as head coach, with one year as junior varsity coach and a season lost to the pandemic in 2020. Her coaching career was defined by excellence, consistency, and a strong commitment to her student-athletes and sport. Brenda retires with a total of 555 career wins, including 364 Greater Miami Conference (GMC) victories, placing her among the top 15 winningest coaches in Ohio softball history.

Under her leadership, Fairfield softball achieved:

  • 14 OHSAA District Championships
  • 4 Regional Finals Appearances
  • 4 GMC Championships
  • A 2024 Division I State Semifinal Appearance — the program’s second-ever trip to the state Final Four and first since 1991.

Brenda Stieger will be remembered as a defining figure in Fairfield Softball — not just for the program’s success on the field, but for the many student-athletes she guided and the lasting impact she made on the overall community.

OHSAA Inducts GMC Official into State Association Hall of Fame

With his induction into the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame, Matthew Kleiner—one of the Greater Miami Conference's top officials—will receive well-deserved recognition from the state association. Over the years, Mr. Kleiner has officiated football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball at the highest levels of competition. The Greater Miami Conference extends its deep appreciation for his service and dedication to young people and applauds his induction as a recognition of a job extremely well done.

Matthew Kleiner - OHSAA Hall of Fame Inductee

OHSAA Press Release:

For Immediate Release – May 7, 2025
Contact – Tim Stried, Director of Media Relations, tstried@ohsaa.org
 
Fourteen Set to Join OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame
Annual Celebration of Officiating banquet will enshrine new hall of fame class, recognize officials of the year and award years of service
 
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Fourteen individuals will be enshrined in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame and 21 individuals will be honored as the OHSAA Official of the Year in their respective sport during the OHSAA’s annual Celebration of Officiating banquet this summer.
 
Additionally, the OHSAA will recognize those who have dedicated 50 years (42 individuals) and 25 years (247 individuals) of service as state-certified officials in Ohio.
 
The banquet is set for June 21 at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris in Westerville.
 
The 14 Hall of Fame inductees are being honored for outstanding officiating careers and significant contributions to interscholastic officiating in Ohio. More information on the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame is posted at: http://www.ohsaa.org/Officiating/HOF.
 
The officials of the year are selected through a process that includes OHSAA staff, OHSAA Directors of Officiating Development and local officials associations.
 
“We appreciate the commitment and dedication of all of our officials across the state,” said Beau Rugg, OHSAA Director of Officiating and a member himself of the OHSAA Officials Hall of Fame. “Each year we take great pride in celebrating the distinguished careers of our hall of fame inductees and officials of the year. Officiating is a service, and each of these individuals is to be celebrated for their excellence in that service.”

DICK'S Sporting Goods Honors GMC Baseball Standouts

DICK'S Sporting Goods applauds the efforts and achievements of the 2025 Greater Miami Conference baseball season. GMC coaches selected Oak Hills junior shortstop Wil Kraus as the conference’s "Player of the Year," and Mason junior Ben Hanley as the "Pitcher of the Year." In recognition of his coaching dedication and program success, Mason’s Curt Bly was named the 2025 GMC "Coach of the Year."

Wil Kraus, junior shortstop for Oak Hills, not only played a stellar defensive role in the infield for the Highlanders, but he was also a force to be reckoned with at the plate. Kraus tied for second in the league with three home runs and added seven doubles and three triples. Utilizing his speed and experience, he swiped 13 bases this season and recorded an on-base percentage of .495 to go along with a slugging percentage of .678. Without question, this two-time First Team All-Conference player was a key factor in Oak Hills’ success story this season.

Wil Kraus - Oak Hills Highlanders  GMC "Player of the Year"

(Photo compliments of Oak Hills Athletic Department)

he GMC coaches recognized the achievements of Mason Comet junior Ben Hanley on the mound by selecting him as the conference "Pitcher of the Year." A three-year varsity player and two-time First Team All-GMC performer, Hanley was a key ingredient in Mason’s dominance within the conference this season. He recorded 56 strikeouts—second most in the league—and finished with a strong 4-1 record, including four complete games. Notably, over his three years of varsity pitching, Hanley has logged 109 strikeouts against opposing batters.

Ben Hanley - Mason Comets  GMC "Pitcher of the Year"

(Photo compliments of Mason SID Dan Hilen)

In recognition of his extraordinary efforts and program-building success, the GMC head baseball coaches selected Mason Head Coach Curt Bly as the league’s 2025 "Coach of the Year." Leading the Comets to a nearly perfect GMC season (17-1), Bly also guided the team to an overall record of 22-8 against an extremely challenging schedule. Under his leadership, the Mason Comets scored at a prolific pace (125 runs) while holding opponents to just 31 runs. Following their OHSAA State Championship win in 2024, it’s clear that Coach Bly has transformed Mason into one of Ohio’s premier baseball programs. Under his direction, the Comets have secured seven consecutive Greater Miami Conference titles, and Coach Bly has now earned GMC "Coach of the Year" honors three times. Without question, it is immensely satisfying to be appreciated by one’s coaching peers.

Mason Head Baseball Coach - Curt Bly  GMC "Coach of the Year"

(Photo compliments of Mason SID Dan Hilen)