Five Mariemont athletes and coaches will join the Doc Kusel Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Aug. 28, recognized at halftime of the Warriors' varsity football opener against Clermont Northeastern.

The 2026 class is the largest since at least 2022, honoring three former athletes and two longtime coaches: Gerry Storch, Ian Mikesell, Myah Giordulle, Terri Thomas and Steve Peterson. Mariemont Athletic Director Tom Nerl announced the class on Aug. 1 through the school's athletics website, and Cincinnati.com profiled the inductees on Monday.

Peterson's selection comes weeks after he stepped down as boys lacrosse head coach in June following 15 seasons and a 203-80 record. He led the Warriors to five state championships, including the 2017 title, the first boys lacrosse state championship sponsored by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Peterson was inducted into the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2019. He had to step away midseason this spring due to health concerns, with his son Reed Peterson stepping in to guide the team to the state semifinals.

"It's been the best you could ever ask for, seeing my seniors taking extra leadership," Reed Peterson said in June when the team's season ended. "They've been exceptional. The boys really came together and did it all."

Storch, a 1946 graduate of Plainville High School before its consolidation into Mariemont, was a four-sport standout in football, basketball, track and baseball. He played second base on Plainville's 1945 Class B state champion baseball team, which beat St. Henry 9-8 in the title game.

Mikesell, a 2019 Mariemont graduate, qualified for 16 swimming events at the state meet and finished as runner-up multiple times. He was also part of the Warriors' 2019 state runner-up lacrosse team.

Giordulle, class of 2021, started on the varsity soccer team for four seasons and earned All-American honors twice.

Thomas taught health and physical education at Mariemont for more than three decades, coaching basketball, softball, volleyball, cross country and track and field before retiring.

The Hall of Fame was established in 1971 and named for "Doc" Kusel, a member of Mariemont's class of 1939. It has honored athletes, coaches and community members every year since.

The halftime ceremony takes place during the 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Mariemont. An induction dinner at the National Exemplar Restaurant precedes the game; tickets are by reservation only at 513-272-7600.

Coming up:

• Aug. 14: Performing Arts Inc. presents "13 the Musical," 7 p.m. at the Anderson Center. Info: 513-257-4482.
• Aug. 15: "13 the Musical" matinee, 2:30 p.m. at the Anderson Center.