2008 Hall of Fame Inductees
Ron Aulet '95
Ronald “Ron” D. Aulet was a two-sport athlete at Hiram playing one season of basketball (1991-92), but was known more for his four years of baseball (1992-95). Ron was a three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference baseball player who earned second-team honors as a senior and was tabbed honorable mention twice (1993 and 1994). He was also the recipient of the Hiram Campbell Award as a senior which is given to the top male student-athlete. On the field, Ron had a lifetime .324 batting average at the plate with 118 career hits. He also scored 69 runs in four years and drove in 39 runs. Defensively, he had a .962 fielding percentage tallying 251 putouts and 26 assists. Ron also saw playing time as a pitcher recording seven wins in 22 career appearances, including 12 complete games, and had a 5.45 earned run average. He led his team in strikeouts in two seasons (1993 and 1995) and ended his career with 93 “K’s” in 135-and-a-third innings. Ron is currently tied for the school career record in walks with 62 and is tied for fourth in most career complete games pitched with 12.
Following graduation, Ron accepted a position with “Preston Trucking Company” as an operations coordinator and later returned to his alma mater to become an assistant men’s baseball and basketball coach in addition to being the equipment manager. He then served as the head equipment manager at the University of Kansas before moving on to his current position as the Assistant Athletics Director of Facilities and Operations at the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
Kevin Christie '92
Kevin Christie was a standout four-year soccer player (1987-90) who was a member of the 1989 and 1990 Ohio Athletic Conference Championship Teams. In those two championship runs, he helped the Terriers post a 25-7-3 overall record and an impressive 16-1-1 mark in conference play. Kevin was a two-time first-team All-OAC award winner (1989-90) and an All-Mid-East Region selection as a senior. He also served as a team captain for two seasons (1989-90) and was the team Most Valuable Player in 1990. In addition, Kevin was selected to the Hiram and St. Vincent (Pa.) All-Tournament Teams. Statistically, Kevin scored 14 goals and 20 assists during his career for 48 total points. He currently ranks fourth all-time in school history in assists and sixth all-time in points.
After graduation, Kevin enlisted in the United States Army, achieving the rank of Sargaent, and served two tours of duty in Saudi Arabia (March-August 1993) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (December 1995-November 1996). Presently, he is a deputy sheriff with the Franklin County Sheriff’s office and is a member of the Franklin County S.W.A.T. team.
Bryan Comune '95
Bryan Comune was a four-year member of the men’s tennis team (1992-95) and helped the Terriers post a 52-19 overall record (.732 winning percentage) during his tenure and an impressive 29-5 (.853 winning percentage) in Ohio Athletic Conference play. He was a member of the 1993 OAC Championship Team and won three individual conference titles capturing the number two singles championship as a freshman, the number one singles championship as a sophomore and the number one doubles championship as a senior. In addition, during his individual title run at number one singles in 1993, Bryan went undefeated in conference play. During his junior season in 1994, Bryan earned a scholar-athlete award.
Since graduating from Hiram, Bryan has held a position at Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield where he currently serves as a senior account manager in the Canton sales office.
Melissa (Green) Kane '90
Melissa (Green) Kane was a two-sport athlete at Hiram competing for four years as a member of the cross country and track teams (1986-90). She was a four-year letterwinner in both sports.
Following graduation, Melissa was a middle school teacher within the Crestwood School District. She then left teaching and moved west to California, but later returned to Ohio and teaching at St. Peter Chanel High School until 2001. Melissa is currently a stay-at-home mom.
Tonya (Tallbacka) Eippert '95
Tonya (Tallbacka) Eippert was an accomplished swimmer during her two years of eligibility at Hiram (1994-95). She transferred to Hiram from Division I Morehead State University in Kentucky as a junior. At MSU, she was a member of the women’s basketball team and swim team. In two seasons with the Terriers, Tonya earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference accolades and was a national qualifier. She had set several school records during her tenure and was the recipient of the Helen Petrovsky Award which is given to the top female student-athlete at Hiram. In addition, Tonya was a strong student who earned OAC All-Academic honors and graduated summa cum laude. Tonya continued to receive athlete honors after her collegiate career as she was inducted in the Ashtabula County Basketball Hall of Fame.
After graduation, Tonya went on to graduate from Cleveland-Marshall College of law in 1998 and became a commercial real estate attorney for Thompson, Hine and Flory from 1998-2000. She then spent a year serving as in-house counsel for BP Amoco (2000-01) before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Tonya is still heavily involved in swimming competing in triathlons and is a member of a master’s swim team in Shaker Heights.
Kris Vargo '81
Kris Vargo was a three-year member of the baseball team as a student-athlete and a three-year letterwinner. He saw all of his playing time as a pitcher and helped the Terriers post a 38-18 overall record in three seasons and an impressive 27-9 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. In addition, he was a member of the 1978 PAC Championship Team and was the league’s Most Valuable Player. That same season, he was tabbed as a first-team All-PAC selection. For his career, Kris made 24 appearances, had a 3.66 lifetime earned run average and an 11-8 record. He also tallied 108 career strikeouts in 123 innings pitched. He currently shares the school record for most wins in a season with eight and is the record holder in single-season win percentage with an 8-0 record which he recorded during the 1978 season.
Following graduation, Kris went to become partner/owner of The Vargo Company which handles pension and retirement plan administration. He also serves on the board of directors for a number of local companies. Kris has remained involved in sports as a boy’s baseball coach and girl’s softball coach.
William (Pete) Walker '77
William “Pete” H. Walker was a two-sport athlete who played four years of football and was an accomplished member of the wrestling team for four years. In wrestling, he competed in the 167-pound weight class and was a three-time national qualifier. During his four-year tenure, he helped the Terriers to a 45-17-1 overall record and three runner-up team finishes in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (1973-76). He was also a three-time individual runner-up in the PAC Tournament (1974-77) and placed third as a freshman. During his senior season, Pete served as a team captain and was the team “Most Valuable Player.”
Following graduation, Pete was a teacher and coach in the Warren, Ohio and Dekalb County, Ga. school districts from 1977-89. As a coach, he was a two-time DeKalb County Wrestling Coach-of-the-Year (1988 and 1990) and was a two-time Georgia Athletic Coaches Asssociation Region 5AA Coach-of-the-Year (1989 and 1990). Pete also continued to further his education earning a master’s degree in leadership and supervision from Georgia State University in 1989 and also earned a specialist degree in leadership and supervision from Jacksonville State University in 1995. Since 1989, he has served as a high school assistant principal and a principal and county office administrator.