Four outstanding athletes to be inducted on January 10

From Loveland Schools, Monday, December 16, 2019 – By Susanne Quigley

Loveland High School (LHS) will host the Class of 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame inductions on Friday, January 10, 2020. The ceremony will take place at halftime during the Boys Basketball game against West Clermont High School, and a reception will follow in the LHS Media Center after the game. Members to be inducted include:  Jessica Ajunwa (LHS Class of ’10), Andrew Alten (LHS Class of ‘14), Sam Bolden (LHS Class of ‘72), and Sarah (Fisher) Kruger (LHS Class of ’10).

“Becoming a member of the Hall of Fame is the highest honor that an athlete can achieve at the high school level,” said Kevin Taylor, program chairman. “It is my great pleasure to be able to recognize each of these outstanding athletes who have contributed so much to the athletics program at Loveland High School over the years.”

A biography of each member of the 2019 Class of Loveland Athletic Hall of Fame is provided below:

Jessica Ajunwa graduated from LHS in 2010 and was a member of the Girls Varsity Track Team all four years of high school. She was selected for 1st Team All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference (FAVC) as a sophomore, junior and senior and was named FAVC Runner of the Year in 2010. She earned numerous additional awards her senior year, among others: 1st Team All-City and 1st Team All-Southwest District for 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash, and qualified for 2nd Team All-Regional and 2nd Team All-State in the same events. She placed 2nd in both 100 and 200 meter dash at the Midwest Meet of Champions. Ajunwa continued her track career at the University of Cincinnati.

LHS Tiger Hall of Fame Student/Athlete Andrew Alten was honored for his achievements by Loveland Canoe & Kayak (Photo: Chuck Gibson)

Andrew Alten, member of the LHS Class of 2014, was a three-year Varsity Football letterman and a four-year letterman on the Division I Varsity Wrestling Team. He played on the 2013 Division II Football State Champion Team and only months later earned the 285-pound Wrestling State Champion title. Alten earned numerous awards in both sports throughout his high school career, among others, was named 1st Team All-State Offensive Lineman, Anthony Munoz Offensive Lineman of the Year, and Larosa’s High School MVP Finalist. He holds several school history rankings for wrestling: #1 All-Time Rank for Season Wins (50), #2 All-Time Rank for Season Points (242) and #4 All-Time Rank for Season Take Down Efficiency (155). Alten went on to play football at the University of Findlay, Ohio.

The 2013 Band of Brothers poster for LHS State Championship Football Team (Photo: Chuck Gibson)

Sam Bolden, graduated in 1972. He was a four-year member of the Loveland Boys Basketball Team and a four-year Varsity Letterman for Track. All four years of his high school track career, he placed in the top five in the 220 yard dash, 880 relay, and long jump at the Little Miami and Blanchester Invitational meets. He set several school records in 1972 and placed 9th All-State in the 220 yard dash. Bolden won numerous accolades for his accomplishments in track his senior year, and continued his academic path at Eastern Kentucky University.

Sarah (Fisher) Kruger graduated from LHS in 2010, and was a four-year member of the Girls Varsity Cross Country Division I Team and a four-year Varsity Letterman of the Girls Track Team. In cross country, she made the All-Region and All-State Honors her senior year and was a member of the first girls team to qualify for State. Throughout her high school track career, she made 1st Team All-FAVC, 1st Team All-Southwest District, All-Region Honors and All-State Honors in the 1600 meter run. As a senior, she represented Ohio at the Midwest Meet of Champions. Kruger continued her track & field and cross country careers at Washington University in St. Louis.

LHS Hall of Fame celebrating a proud Tiger Tradition (Photo: Chuck Gibson)