Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2023
Jamie Birkofer ‘89
HOF Class of 2023
Sports: Baseball, Football
Introduction: Mr. Nick Corey
Jamie is a 1989 graduate and multi-sport student-athlete who competed in baseball and football. In baseball, Jamie started as a pitcher and center fielder. He was All-City Honorable Mention as an outfielder in 1987, 1988, and as a pitcher in 1989. He was 1st-Team Metro Country Conference in 1988 and the Metro County Conference Player of the Year in 1989. During his senior year, he was 1st-Team MCC as a pitcher posting a 7-1 record with a 1.85 ERA while batting 500 and earning 1st-Team All-City as an outfielder. Jamie played in the East-West All-Star game in 1989 and won the American Legion World Series Championship in 1988. After graduating, Jamie went on to play for Middle Tennessee State University. He was Honorable Mention as a pitcher in the Ohio Valley Conference in 1992 and 2nd-Team All-Conference in 1993. His teams at Middle Tennessee State University were regular season and tournament champions in 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993.
Jamie resides in Hebron, KY with his wife Kathy & daughters Kyra, & Leah.
Amanda Keehan Bridwell ‘08
HOF Class of 2023
Sports: Volleyball, Basketball
Introduction: Coach Andy Marx
Amanda is a 2008 graduate of Oak Hills and was a standout two-sport athlete in volleyball and basketball. Amanda was a three-year varsity volleyball letter winner. In 2007, she was 1st-Team All-GMC and 3rd-Team District 16, leading the GMC in Blocks, while being named the team’s MVP. She helped lead her team to the 2007 GMC League Championship.
On the court, she was a 4-year varsity basketball letter winner and 3-Time District Champion (06, 07, 08). In 2007, she also helped lead her team to a GMC championship. She was the recipient of the Sandy Pharrell Award and an All-Academic GMC performer. During her senior year, she was 1st-Team All-GMC, District 16 2nd-team, All-City 1st-Team, an Ohio vs. Kentucky All-Star, OGBR Top 25, and a McDonald’s All-American nominee.
Upon graduation, she attended West Virginia on a basketball scholarship where she earned a degree BA in Psychology. Amanda is currently a Sergeant for the Cincinnati Police Department & resides in Cleves, OH with her Husband Tyler (Green Township Officer), and 3 boys Lane 4, Eli 2, & Beau 4 months old.
Ricky Cornelius ‘04
HOF Class of 2023
Sports: Football, Basketball
Introduction: Coach Mike Price & Coach Steve Sheehan
Ricky is a 2004 graduate and was a multi-sport athlete competing in basketball and football. He was a three-year varsity letterman in basketball, as well as captain in 2003, and recipient of the Mike Ensminger and Dick Haucke Awards. In football, Ricky was a 4-year varsity letterman and two-way starter from 2001-2003. He is 2nd all-time in interceptions (9) on defense while posting a career average of 5.74 yards per carry. He was 2nd-Team All-GMC in 2001 and 1st-Team All-GMC in 2002 and 2003. In 2002, he earned 2nd-Team All-District Honors, the Captain’s Award, and was named the team’s Offensive Back of the Year. He capped off his senior season by earning 1st-Team All-District and 1st-Team All-City, as well as being named a finalist for the “That’s My Boy” award. He was nominated to play in the East-West All-Star game and received the Barb Delconte Award.
After graduation, Ricky attended Morehead State University on a football scholarship. He was a 4-year starter and earned the Freshman of the Year award during his 1st season. He was named 1st-Team Pioneer League fullback and a 4-Time Academic Excellence Pioneer Football League award.
Rick has been at GE Aviation for 12 years as a Quality Engineer and is currently coaching youth football and basketball for Oak Hills youth programs. Ricky resides in Bridgetown with his wife of 13 years & alumni Amanda & their two sons Elijah 10, and Maxson 8.
Mike Kessler '89
HOF Class of 2023
Sports: Baseball, Football
Introduction: Coach Kyle Prosser
Mike is a 1989 graduate & was a multi-sport athlete competing in football & baseball. He was a four-letter varsity letterman in both football & baseball. Mike capped off his senior year by earning 2nd-Team All Conference in both football & baseball. That Summer Mike was selected as the American Legion National Player of the year. He hit .390 that Summer with a pitching record of 10-1. Mike finished with an overall pitching record of 25-4 that year between high school & Summer ball. As a member of the 1988 Budde Post American Legion Team, his squad went on to win the National Championship that year. They were the first team to win the American Legion National Championship where all the players on the team came from the same high school, Oak Hills.
After graduation Mike attended the University of Cincinnati.
Mike currently owns and operates Kessler's Pro Turf for 23 years serving The West Side of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Takes great pride in getting the fields and schools looking their best. Mike also helped coach youth football at St. Dominic for 6 years.
Mike resides in Harrison, OH with his wife Susie & two children Danny 11, and Lucy 7.
John Steele '74
HOF Class of 2023
Sport: Wrestling
Introduction: Mr. Isaac Steele & Mr. Joel Steele
John was a 1974 graduate of Oak Hills High School where he was a standout wrestler. John had a fantastic feat of participating in the state wrestling tournament all four years of his high school career. He was the Ohio High School District and State Champion in the 126lb weight class in 1974. In that same year, he was a Scholastic Wrestling High School All-American, the Oak Hills MVP, and Moxy State Champion, as well as the Cincinnati Enquirer Wrestler of the Year To cap off the awards season, he was named Sports Illustrated Award of Merit winner. In 1973, he was the UC Invitational Most Valuable Wrestler and awarded most pins. He was also a Jr. Olympics National Champion in the 132lb weight class.
Lauren Stoffel '07
HOF Class of 2023
Sport: Bowling
Introduction: Todd McGill
Lauren is a 2007 graduate of Oak Hills where she was a standout bowler. From 2004-2007, she was a 4-Time GMC 1st-team All-Conference performer and a 2-Time GMC Bowler of the Year (06, 07). In 2007, she was named the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Player of the Year, as well as the Enquirer’s All-Star Team (06, 07). At the District tournament in 2007, she had the highest 3-game series out of all qualifiers with a 722, which placed her with the highest series heading into the state championship. She was a key member of the team, which helped the Highlanders to finish 6th at State in 2005 and State Runner-Up in 2006. In 2007, she was the inaugural nominee for the High School Bowling Sportswoman of the Year by the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Women’s Sports Associations.
Following graduation, she continued to bowl at a high level. She was the Greater Cincinnati Women’s City All Events Champion (09,10), as well as the Singles champion in those years. She is the current record holder for 3 events and has a highest-scratch 3-game series of 751. She was the Ohio State Women’s All Events Champion in 2011, as well as the Ohio State Women’s Double Champion, with fellow Highlander Hall of Famer, Michelle (Ostrowski) Abner. She was the Greater Cincinnati Women’s Singles and Doubles Champion in 2021 as well as the team scratch champion in 2022. She is a member of the University of Pikeville Athletic Hall of Fame and a 2008 National Champion.
Greg Strochinsky ‘89
HOF Class of 2023
Sports: Wrestling, Football
Introduction: Ed Cicale
Greg Strochinsky was a 1989 graduate of Oak Hills High School.
Greg’s sophomore year at Oak Hills started with playing JV Football for the Highlanders but it was wrestling that he excelled in starting several varsity matches throughout his sophomore year and earning his first varsity O under Coach Rob Von Allmen, Coach Dick Hauck and Legendary Varsity Coach Dick Roche.
During Greg’s junior year, he saw more action earning a varsity O in Football but it was once again wrestling where he enjoyed the most success starting varsity the entire season and earning another varsity O. Greg’s junior season came to and end when his kneecap dislocated during the league finals after losing only one regular season match.
As a senior, Greg earned a varsity O in Football starting every game for the Highlanders and being named first team all league. Greg wrestled 160 his senior season as Team Captain and earned Championships at both the Coaches Holiday Classic and St. X Invitational. He went on to become League Champ, District Champ and Sectional Champ before losing his first match all season during the State Semi-Finals before finishing 4th at state. Greg earned his final varsity O along with first team all league and all city honors. Finishing his Senior year with a 32-2 record earning him Team MVP and an Oak Hills record for most consecutive wins and Championships.
Greg earned a full ride scholarship to Wright State University where he would start as a Freshman only to see his college career end due to a knee injury. He would transfer and graduate from UC with a degree in Economics.
Greg married his high school sweetheart, Bridget Brogan and they have raised 3 beautiful kids who have all been Highlanders. To stay active Greg coached at the Jr High and youth levels both football and wrestling. He also began doing triathlons completing a full Ironman in Arizona and the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco. He is now enjoying retirement and golfing with friends and family.
Coach Fred Meier ‘82-’93
HOF Class of 2023
Sport: Baseball
Introduction: Mark & Brian Meier
Fred Meier was the head baseball coach at Oak Hills High School from 1982 to 1993. Coach Meier is a 1965 graduate of Western Hills High School in Cincinnati. He graduated from Ohio University in 1969 and received his Master’s Degree from Xavier University in 1972. As a player At Western Hills he played for OHSBCA Hall of Fame member Dick Hauck, and participated in the 1965 State All-Star game, which is now the Mizuno All-Ohio Series. At OU, he played for the legendary coach, Bob Wren, who greatly influenced Meier toward a career in coaching. His first coaching job was at Colerain High School as an assistant in baseball, wrestling, and football. In 1972 he became the first head baseball coach at the new Northwest High School. After eight seasons at Northwest, Meier moved to Oak Hills where he coached for fourteen seasons.
In his twenty-two years as head coach, his teams won fourteen Hamilton County League Championships and he accumulated a won-lost record of 357-150. Coach Meier's most rewarding experience was seeing over fifty of his players go on to play college baseball, with two making it to the major leagues. Many of his former players have gone on to coach at the high school level with several becoming head coaches.
Coach Meier has accumulated many Coach of the Year awards, He has conducted many camps and has spoken at numerous clinics. He has served as the Southwest District Representative to the OHSBA for twelve years. He is a Past President of the Cincinnati Baseball Coaches Association. In 2000, he was inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
During his time at Oak Hills he also served as Assistant Football Coach.
Fred's wife, Carol, and sons, Brian and Mark, have contributed much to his coaching career. Carol served as scorekeeper and both sons played for their dad at Oak Hills.
