Top 10 Athletes in Allen County History
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The following is a list of the ten best athletes in Allen County history. This list only takes into account post-high school accomplishments.
10. Brad Komminsk
Lima Shawnee graduate Brad Komminsk went straight from high school to the minors. Komminsk played five seasons in the minors before making his debut with the Atlanta Braves. Komminsk had nearly 1,000 at-bats in his eight years in the majors.
9. Justin O’Neal
Lima Shawnee graduate Justin O’Neal is one of the best tennis players ever from Northwest Ohio. O’Neal was a three time All-American for the Florida Gators in 1997, 1999 and 2000. He was twice named First Team All-SEC and Second Team All-SEC. He was named SEC Player of the Year as a senior and graduated as the winningest player in Gators history.
8. Caity Matter
Bluffton graduate Caity Matter became the first Northwest Ohio athlete to play in the WNBA. Prior to her years in the WNBA, she was a star for the Ohio State Buckeyes. She scored 1,523 points in college and graduate as the Buckeyes’ career leader in three-pointers made and free throw percentage. She was named Second Team All-Big Ten three times and made the Big Ten All-Tournament team in 2003. She was also named honorable mention All-America in 2005. As a captain her senior year, she helped the Buckeyes break a tweleve year conference title drought. Following college she played one year in the WNBA for the Charlotte Sting.
7. Zavier Simpson
Lima Senior graduate Zavier Simpson is a prototypical point guard. At the University of Michigan he was twice named Second Team All-Big Ten and once to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team. He has the second most assists in Wolverines history with 667. He also ranks second and third in Michigan history for assists in a season. He averaged 7.86 assists per game as a senior, the most in Michigan history. He is one of just three Wolverines to have over 1,000 points and 500 assists in a career. Simpson has appeared in 11 NBA games and was a NBA G-League star from 2021 to 2024. Simpson currently plays for Cluj Napoca in Romania.
6. Jim Lynch
Lima Central Catholic graduate Jim Lynch was a hard-nosed linebacker. While playing for Notre Dame, he was a part of two national championship teams and and was a Second Team All-American as a junior and a unanimous All-American as a senior. As a senior he was also voted the as the Maxwell Award winner as the best player in college football. Lynch played eleven years for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was an AFL All Star in 1968 and was a Second Team All-AFL selection twice. Lynch helped the Chiefs to a victory in Super Bowl IV and was selected to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame.
5. Trevor Bassitt
Bluffton graduate Trevor Bassitt took the road less traveled to stardom. While at Division II Ashland Univeristy, he won 10 national championships across multiple events and won three Athlete of the Year awards. He was the USA indoor 400m champion in 2022 and would earn the silver medal at the World Indoor Championships that same year. At the World Outdoor Championships that summer, Bassitt earned gold as a member of the Team USA 4x400m relay squad and a bronze in the 400m hurdles. He also won a gold medal at the 2023 World Championships as a member of the 4x400m relay team. Bassitt competed for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics and missed the finals by one spot. He is the fastest athlete in Northwest Ohio history in the 200m dash, 400m dash, 60m hurdles, 110m hurdles and the 400m hurdles.
4. Steve Arlin
Lima Shawnee graduate Steve Arlin was an ace pitcher in the 1960’s. Arlin was a two-time All-American for Ohio State in 1965 and 1966. Arlin was named the College World Series MVP while helping the Buckeyes lift the national championship trophy in 1966. Arlin held the Ohio State record for career strikeouts for over thirty years despite only playing two seasons. Arlin still holds the Ohio State record for career winning percentage and career ERA. Arlin also still holds the Ohio State season records for innings pitched and strikeouts. Arlin played in the majors from 1969 to 1974 and started 123 games. Arlin is a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
3. William White
Lima Senior graduate William White was a ballhawk in the defensive backfield. White was a four year starter for Ohio State as a defensive back. He is tied for the third most interceptions in Ohio State history and recorded three interceptions in a game against West Virginia. He helped Ohio State win two Big Ten titles. As a senior in 1987 he was named team captain and was selected to the All-Big Ten first team. He played 11 seasons in the NFL from 1988 to 1998.
2. Joe Morrison
Lima South graduate Joe Morrison was a do-it-all player on the gridiron. At the University of Cincinnati, Morrison played quarterback, halfback, defensive back and punt returner. He was a First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 1957. He played in the College All-Star game, Senior Bowl and North-South game in 1959. Morrison played 14 years in the NFL, all with the New York Giants. He played both sides of the ball for Giants, mostly notably as a receiver and halfback. His No. 40 was retired by the team and he was selected to their Ring of Honor.
1. Bob King
Lima Central graduate Bob King is one of the few people to ever call themselves an Olympic Gold Medalist. While at Stanford he was the NCAA High Jump champion in 1928 and was the USA National Champion in 1927 and 1928. At the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, King took the gold medal in the high jump.