Class of 2026

Christi Barlis Bates, (Class of 1986) Athlete

Christi Barlis Bates is being inducted into the Salineville-Southern Local Hall of Fame as an athlete. She earned three varsity letters during her four years she played volleyball. During her three varsity seasons, she passed the ball 833 time and set the ball 1025 times. She received the following awards: First Team Tri-County League, Third Team All-Area, and Honorable Mention All-County. Her senior year, she was instrumental in leading the team to a Tri-County League Championship and being the Wellsville Invitational Tournament Champions. Christi was named to the Wellsville All-Tournament Team.

Tom "Tommy: Rodgers, (Class of 1993), Athlete

Tom "Tommy" Rodgers is being inducted into the Hall of Fame as a two sport athlete. Tommy earned four varsity letters in track. He still holds the school record as part of the 4x100 relay team.

Tommy earned four varsity letters in his second sport, football. He received the following accolades: 1990 Leading Rusher, 1991 Eldon P. Bott Memorial Player of the Year, 1992 (senior year) Tri-County League All-Star (defensive back), First Team Quad-County Coaches Associations All-Star Defense, First Team Columbiana County All-Star for defense.

Mervin "MJ" Williams, (Class of 2014), Athlete

Mervin "MJ" Williams is being inducted into the Hall of Fame as a three sport athlete. He earned ten varsity letters in football, basketball, and track. MJ's athletic journey at Southern Local began as a freshman, when he contributed on special teams for the school's first-ever playoff team.

As a sophomore, he lettered in three sports - football, basketball, and track - emerging as a defensive started as Cornerback. That season, the team achieved a remarkable 9-1 record, setting a school benchmark for the most wins in a single year. That season, MJ enjoyed playing his first full high school basketball season, where he contributed 6 quarters of basketball each and every game, competing at both the J.V. and Varsity level.

His junior year, football season, MJ started on both sides of the ball as Cornerback, and Wide receiver. He took pride in lead blocking on offense and being a defensive menace. Basketball season, he was the first man off the bench with a specific duty of guarding the opposing team's best player.

As a senior, MJ was named team captain in both football and basketball. He ended his total career turnover stats for football with 8 interceptions and 8 forced fumbles. Basketball season, he broke the Blocks in a game record with 8. MJ averaged 2.5 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game. He helped lead his team to 16 wins.

His awards included: 2nd Team Morning Journal (Football), Honorable mention Columbiana County (Football), 2nd Team ITCL (Basketball), Honorable mention upper tier (Basketball) and Columbiana County Sr. All-Star game participant (Basketball).

Hannah Brothers Sevek, (Class of 2016), Athlete

Hannah Brothers Sevek was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a two-sport athlete. She participated in both volleyball and basketball. Volleyball became her greatest passion. She helped lead the team to the District Championship game, broke four Southern Local school records, and earned numerous postseason honors, including District 1 Division VI Player of the Year, 1st Team, 1st Team ITCL, 1st Team all-county, OVAC All conference, OHSVCA All Star Game participant, ITCL All Star Game participant, Penn Ohio Game participant. She broke the following records: Most sets in a single season: 2019, Most assists in a single season: 836, Most sets in a career: 6158, Most assists in a career: 2188.

In basketball, she was Honorable mention All-county and Honorable mention ITCL.