Staff report
GREENFIELD — Nine new members of the Greenfield-Central Athletic Hall of Fame were recognized Saturday, Jan. 13 during halftime of the Greenfield-Central boys basketball game against Eastern Hancock.
The Greenfield-Central Athletic Hall of Fame was started in 2004 and covers more than 100 years of athletic tradition from Eden, Greenfield, Greenfield-Central, Hancock Central and Maxwell high schools. The HOF acknowledges accomplishments of student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and community members.
The 2024 class includes athletes Zach Cook, Shyanne Durbin (Milne), Chris Joven, Ben Rader and Drey Jameson and contributors Connie Jo and Jeff Harris, Bill McKenna and DeWayne Roland.
Cook, Durbin (Milne), Joven and Rader were part of the Greenfield-Central swimming and diving program. Jameson was a three-sport standout and all-stater in baseball for the Cougars.
Cook, Joven and Rader were part of the Class of 2018. Jameson and Durbin (Milne) graduated in 2017.
Cook, as a junior, won a state championship in the 100-yard butterfly and reached the state finals podium seven times. He’s the current school-record holder in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
Cook, Joven and Rader were part of G-C teams that won four straight Hoosier Heritage Conference and IHSAA sectional titles. Cook and Joven won multiple conference and sectional titles in relays and individual events.
Joven qualified for the state meet 10 times, joining Cook on relay teams, and making the event in the 50 and 100 freestyle races. He was also a National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association Academic All-American and HHC Scholastic Award winner.
Rader was a standout diver and part of the school’s state champion co-ed cheerleading team. Rader still holds school records in the 6-dive and 11-dive categories. He was a four-time regional qualifier and three-time state meet participant. He won four straight conference and sectional diving titles.
Durbin (Milne) was also a star diver at G-C. She was a three-time regional qualifier and three-time state meet participant with 31st, 15th and 13th place finishes. She is the school’s current record holder in both 6-dive and 11-dive categories.
Jameson earned eight varsity letters in football (1), basketball (3) and baseball (4). He was named All-HHC and All-Hancock County for baseball in 2016 and 2017. He was a member of the 2017 IHSAA Baseball Sectional championship team. Jameson was named first-team all-state and was named a North/South All-Star. He went on to pitch at Ball State University and was selected in the first round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 34th overall pick. He made is major league debut Sept. 15, 2022.
Connie Jo and Jeff Harris were long-time contributors to G-C athletics program.
ConnieJo served as the athletic department’s secretary from 1997-2020 and instrumental in making G-C athletic events run smoothly. She was the first face at the ticket table organizing spectators while welcoming them to Greenfield-Central. She played an integral role in getting Greenfield-Central’s Interact Club organized and was an honorary Rotarian and helped coordinate the “Take Pride in GC” community service day.
Jeff was a 1970 graduate of Greenfield-Central and was recognized posthumously for his contributions to Cougars athletics. He was the owner and operator of Ye Olde Head Shoppe. As a community member and business owner, he was always open to supporting community and school groups. He and ConnieJo Harris were instrumental in creating the Greenfield Fastpitch Softball Association as well as fundraising for improvements for the Greenfield-Central softball complex. He spearheaded the project to salvage and restore the center circles of both Hancock Central and Greenfield High School. Those center circles are still on display at GCHS. He also ran the play clock at varsity football games for nearly 30 years.
McKenna retired from G-C in 2022. He spent 21 years as the Radio and TV coordinator and teacher. During that time he promoted all Greenfield-Central athletic teams through radio shows, television specials, interviews, replays of games and live broadcasts of all GC sports. McKenna enhanced student-athlete recognition by recording trophy presentations, college signings, special interviews and events. He took pride in the fact he was able to cover all Greenfield-Central teams along with the numerous other school groups.
Roland has served as the concession manager at Greenfield-Central since 1996. He has been in charge of the concessions for all football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling and track and field events. He also covered concessions for swimming and diving until 2010.
