The Hamilton Heights Athletic Hall of Fame Committee has announced its Class of 2021, which includes one team and four athletes. This year’s inductees include Ron Ackles (’62), Alicia Bundy (’96), Dennis Lockhart (’95), Rick McCoskey (’71), and the Hamilton Heights 2012 football team.
“On behalf of the Hamilton Heights Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee, I want to offer our congratulations to the 2021 Hall of Fame Class,” said Mitch Street, Hamilton Heights High School Hall of Fame Committee Chairman and Dean of Students. “This was a tough process as we felt there were many deserving nominees. Ultimately, we are happy with this class and feel this is very balanced highlighting a wealth of accomplishments both during their high school career and after their graduation. We are excited to recognize these four individual athletes and outstanding football in September.”
The Athletic Hall of Fame is designed to recognize and honor Hamilton Heights High School athletes, coaches, teams, and athletic program contributors for their achievements and/or contributions to the Hamilton Heights High School athletic program.
“The Athletic Hall of Fame program captures and shares the history and unique experiences of our former athletes, coaches, teams, and athletic contributors to create a legacy for all who have been and will be touched by the Hamilton Heights athletics program,” Street added.
This year’s Hall of Fame Selection Committee includes Dr. Derek Arrowood, Chad Ballenger, Tony Cook, Arnett Cooper, Guy Griffey, Greg Knapp, Jarrod Mason, Ruth McKinney, Maria Mitchell, Kurt Ogden, Michael Thomas, Bill Trachtman, and Mitch Street.
Alicia Bundy, a Heights Class of 1996 graduate, qualified for the state track and field meet all four years of her high school career and still holds records in the 200-meter and 400-meter dash. (Photo provided)
Ron Ackles, a Jackson Central High School Class of 1962 graduate, was an All-County basketball player in 1960, 1961, and 1962, and held all of Jackson Central’s scoring records upon his graduation. (Photo provided)
Ron Ackles
Ron Ackles is a 1962 graduate from Jackson Central High School. He played three sports (football, basketball, and baseball) throughout his high school career.
Ackles was best known for his basketball accomplishments, but many who watched Ron described him as one of the best all-around athletes they ever saw.
Ackles was an All-Hamilton County basketball player in 1960, 1961, and 1962. He scored 1,052 career points and held all of Jackson Central’s scoring records upon his graduation. He was inducted into the Hamilton County Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
Ackles joined the United States Marine Corps upon graduation.
Alicia Bundy
Alicia Bundy, a 1996 graduate, is one of, if not the most prolific and accomplished athletes to come through Hamilton Heights.
Bundy was a state qualifier in 10 events over her four-year career. She qualified for the state track and field meet in each of her four years of high school. She was a sectional champion nine times in four different events (100-meter, 200m, 400m, and long jump). She was a regional champion five times in three events. She had four top 10 finishes in the state meet. In the 1993-1994 school year, she had a fifth-place (400m) and sixth-place (200m) finish in the same state meet. She still holds records in the 200m and 400m dash.
Bundy continued her track and field career at Indiana University upon her graduation.
Dennis Lockhart, a Heights Class of 1995 graduate, was a four-sport athlete at Heights: football, track and field, cross country, and wrestling, for which he won a semi-state championship in 1995. (Photo provided)
Dennis Lockhart
Dennis Lockhart, a 1995 graduate, was a four-sport athlete while at Hamilton Heights. He participated in football, track and field, cross country, but was best known for his success as a wrestler. He was a two-time conference champion, two-time sectional champion, two-time regional champion, and was a semi-state champion in 1995.
Lockhart went on to the West Point Military Academy, where he was a member of the wrestling team. He was a team captain his senior year (1998-99) at West Point. He served 21 years as a pilot in the United States Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Rick McCoskey
Rick McCoskey graduated from Hamilton Heights High School in 1971.
Rick was a multi-sport athlete at Hamilton Heights earning 10 varsity letters during that time. He was a four-year starter on the basketball team. He was on the All-Hamilton County team three times throughout his career. He was an honorable mention All-American in the Coach’s Athlete Magazine in the 1970-71 season. He scored 1,741 career points, which is the third best of all time. He still holds the single-season scoring record with 719 points.
Upon Mr. McCoskey’s graduation, he went on to the University of South Alabama where he played basketball for the Jaguars for four years.
The 2012 Hamilton Heights Football Team was the first team in school history to make it to the state championship game in the modern system. They finished the regular season 8-1, winning a conference championship. (Photo provided)
2012 Hamilton Heights Football Team
The 2012 Hamilton Heights Football Team was the first team in school history to make it to the state championship game in the modern system. They were a team whose sum was perhaps greater than its parts, but played a physical, tough, and disciplined brand of football. They finished the regular season 8-1, winning a conference championship.
The team won the sectional with a 52-16 home win over Western Boone. The Huskies then went on the road to win a tight 19-14 win over Eastbrook to win the regional. They then earned the right to vie for a state championship with a 42-13 win over Mishawaka Marian, in a game where many people considered them an underdog. The team fell short in the state championship, falling to Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 30-13. They finished the season with a 13-2 record and were ranked 21st in the state (1A-5A), according to the final Sagarin ratings.
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The induction ceremony and banquet are set 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 at Hamilton Heights High School, 25802 State Road 19, Arcadia. Inductees will be given a metal display and their names and pictures proudly displayed in the Athletic Hall of Fame located in the new Athletic Center.
The public is invited to help recognize and honor these inductees. Tickets are $10 and are available by calling the HHHS Athletic Office at (317) 985-3551 or Mitch Street at (317) 984-3551, ext. 1092.
Nominations for the Hamilton Heights Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be accepted from Dec. 1 through March 31. Click here to download the nomination form.