Seneca East honors Hall of Fame inductees

ATTICA—This year, Seneca East Local Schools inducted its second annual Hall of Fame class on Jan. 13. The Seneca East Hall of Fame was established to identify and honor, in a permanent manner, individuals who have exhibited high ethical standards and integrity while achieving excellence in the former Attica, Republic, and Seneca Huron schools and communities, as well as Seneca East Local School and community. "I am most excited for the well-rounded group of inductees, some having had athletic success, some a commitment to the district for decades, and some impacting the local communities in such positive ways," said Hall of Fame Chair Matt Schock. The 2024 inductees include: Mike Breyman—a 2000 graduate of Seneca East High School who was said to be a standout athlete in several ways. Breyman excelled on the baseball diamond where he placed himself in the OHSAA record books in several categories, was the Division III Player of the Year, the Midwest USA Player of the Year, and he also set the United States National Record for batting average in a season with a .810 average his senior year, a record that still stands today. Rick and Denise Gillet—long-standing community members who have helped shape the Seneca East district. Rick served on the Seneca East School Board on three different occasions while pushing the District forward. The Gillett's have always volunteered their resources and time to the school and community members in need. In retirement, the couple founded a scholarship fund, called Ripple Effect, for graduating seniors, supplemented by their apiary (the Ripple Effect Apiary.) Paul Jones— a former educator and beloved community member who served in the Vietnam War prior to teaching at Seneca East. Jones was hired by the district as an English and reading teacher in 1979, and became very active in the Seneca East community where he taught for 20 years. Since his retirement, he remains involved within the district and uses his skills as an actor and literature enthusiast to give back through productions such as Edgar Allan Poe's "Tell Tale Heart" and Mark Twain's stories of the Mississippi. He is also said to be a driving force behind Reviving Republic and an individual who visits and speaks to students around Northwest Ohio about character. Frank Lamoreaux—a former educator and coach at Seneca East, who impacted many lives throughout his 35-year career. Lamoreaux is the most successful baseball coach in school history winning 406 games, several League, Sectional, and District Championships in his career—accomplishments that also earned him a spot in the Ohio Baseball Coaches HOF. Jeff Phillips—a former cross country and track and field coach of the district. Phillips was the head coach of the Lady Tigers, and had teams qualify for the state championship meets in both cross country and track and field on a yearly basis. As an assistant and head track and field coach, Phillips helped coach the program to nine League Championships, five District Championships, two Regional Championships and three Top 10 Team State Meet finishes. Phillips coached 23 individual All-Ohio track and field performers along with 18 All-Ohio relay teams. Matt Stacklin, Jarrod Schaaf, Nate Miller, and Justin Ruffing—members of the 2001 boys 4x100 meter relay team. These gentlemen were the 2001 boys 4x100 relay champions and they were coached by Rod Schar and Ed Phillips. Throughout the season they won every meet they entered and helped lead the team to a Regional Runner-Up finish and an eighth place finish at State. They still hold the school record of 43.3 seconds.