New Philadelphia announces 2025 Hall of Fame class

The New Philadelphia Hall of Fame Committee has named six individuals and one team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The class will be honored at a banquet Jan. 17 at Buckeye Career Center. They will also be recognized at the boys basketball game Jan. 16 when the Quakers host Mansfield Senior.

The inductees are:

JJ Brindel

As a junior under Coach Claude Brown, Brindel totaled 912 yards and nine touchdowns and was named to the Division II All-Eastern District second team and All-Ohio special mention. He earned the Outstanding Offensive Player Award with teammate Cie Grant.

As a senior, Brindel rushed for 1,049 yards and seven touchdowns. He earned All-Federal League second team and All-Eastern District second team. He was selected for the Times-Reporter East-West All-Star Game and the North-South All-Star Game. Brindel also earned the Captain’s Award and the Bill Kidd MVP Award.

John Stephenson 

A 2010 graduate, Stephenson earned three letters in basketball and four in baseball. In basketball, he was a key player under Hall of Fame Coach Phil Tidrick, helping lead the Quakers to a sectional title in 2008-09, their first since 1995. He was named first-team ECOL in 2009 and 2010 and first-team Eastern District in 2009. He finished his career with 912 points and 520 rebounds.

In baseball, Stephenson played under Hall of Fame Coach Ryan Range. He was a three-time first-team ECOL and first-team Eastern District selection. He recorded 15 pitching wins with 164 strikeouts in 138 innings. At the plate he hit .425 with 15 home runs and 82 RBIs. He helped lead the Quakers to an Eastern District championship and regional semifinal appearance.

He later played baseball at Walsh University.

Megan Rupe Genest 

A 2006 graduate, Rupe excelled in swimming and track and field, setting school records that still stand. In swimming, she was a district champion and a multiple-time state qualifier, placing eighth in the 50 freestyle as a junior and fifth as a senior. She was named ECOL Swimmer of the Year in 2005.

In track and field, Rupe was a standout pole vaulter, placing 10th, 7th, and 7th in her three state-meet appearances. She set the school record at 11-1, which still stands. She also qualified for regionals in hurdles and relays.

Rupe continued her swimming career at Youngstown State University, earning Horizon League titles and multiple relay records.

Rachel Anderson 

A 2019 graduate, Anderson starred in basketball, cross country and track. In basketball she helped lead the Quakers to the Division II Final Four in 2018 and to a 26-1 season in 2019. She earned ECOL second team, District 5 honorable mention, and AP East District special mention as a senior.

In cross country Anderson was a four-time state qualifier, finishing 11th in 2016 and earning All-Ohio honors. She was a three-time ECOL Runner of the Year.

In track she set school records in the 800 (2:17.92), 1600 (5:01.31), and 3200 (11:14.98) and placed fifth in the 800 at the 2019 state meet.

Anderson later competed at Southern Illinois University, where she set multiple indoor school records and earned second-team All-American honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She now competes professionally for the Minnesota Distance Elite.

Dave Aubihl 

A 2002 graduate, Aubihl excelled in wrestling and football. A four-year letter winner in wrestling under Hall of Fame Coach Jack Nutter, he ranked among the program’s all-time leaders at graduation with 108 career wins and 60 pins. He was a three-time ECOL champion and wrestled in the Division II state tournament.

In football Aubihl was twice named first-team ECOL and first-team Region 11, and earned All-Ohio honors in 2000 and 2001.

Aubihl earned degrees from Kent State University and Salem University. He now serves as assistant principal at Buckeye Career Center.

Contributor: Todd Steele 

A 1990 graduate, Steele served as New Philadelphia’s athletic trainer for 29 years through Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital. He was instrumental in expanding athletic training services to ten area school districts and provided on-site medical care for generations of Quaker athletes. Steele credited longtime team physicians Dr. James Moore and Dr. William Belknap for their support.

Steele recently accepted a position with the Hospital for Special Surgery in Florida.

Team: 2018 girls basketball Final Four team 

The 2018 team earned a 25-3 record and became the first girls basketball team in school history to reach the state Final Four. Coached by Tracy Payne, the team won ECOL, sectional, district and regional championships. After an early-season 2-2 start, the Lady Quakers won 18 straight before falling in the state semifinal to Toledo Rogers.

Team members included Rachel Anderson, Bre Robin, Aaliyah Currence, Lily Goodwin, Paige Kaiser, Sabrina Malcolm Flores, Kathleen McEwan, Megan Maurer Zemis, Anne-Marie Monaco, Anna Nguyen, Josie Pry, Julia Ress and Sarah Stoneman.

Buckeye Career Center is located at 545 University Dr NE, New Philadelphia.