WHEELING – The OVAC has named its Hall of Fame selections for the Class of 2026. Now that special group of honorees will be joined by a trio of individuals in the Legends category.

Legends are athletes or former coaches whose schools are currently in the OVAC but were not conference members when those individuals scripted their sparkling careers.

Earning OVAC Hall of Fame Legends status this year are Fort Frye’s Becky Strahler, East Liverpool’s Darryl Hoppel and Fort Frye’s Don Strahler. The Strahlers are a married couple.

The Hall of Fame honorees for the 2026 class are: Weirton Madonna’s Ross Comis and Cambridge’s Eric Fox from the decade of the 2010s; Bellaire’s Ashley Vavrek and Trent Luyster of Harrison Central from the decade of the 2000s while Cameron’s R.C. Anderson and Barnesville’s Ryan Grear are the honorees from the 1990s. Weir’s Erica West and Bellaire’s Charlie Ward were chosen for the 1980s while Jeff Rice of St. Clairsville and Ed “Buzzy” Evans were the 1970 honorees with Steubenville’s Sandy Williams and Warwood’s Bob Dunlevy representing the 1960s.

All the honorees will be feted at Wheeling’s WesBanco Arena on Saturday, Aug. 15.

Here is a capsule look at the three legends:

BECKY STRAHLER – She authored a sparkling coaching resume with the Cadets, be it with her softball teams or her volleyball squads.

Strahler guided the Fort Frye spikers from 1971 to 1992. Her teams won an amazing 320 games while dropping just 78.

Along the way, Strahler’s spikers pocketed nine Pioneer Valley Conference titles to go with eight sectional crowns and three district championships.

Strahler served as head softball coach from 1974-1983. As she did in volleyball, Strahler enjoyed much success with her Cadets on the diamond.

Her career mark was a sparkling 132-38 which included five sectional titles and four district championships. Those district crowns morphed into two regional titles, propelling the Lady Cadets into the OHSAA Final Four. One Fort Frye squad lost in the state semifinals while the second was state runner-up.

She also had two tours off duty as Fort Frye’s head girls’ basketball coach. Her teams compiled a 39-21 record.

Strahler was inducted into the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

DON STRAHLER – He was head coach of Fort Frye softball for six years, succeeding his wife in that role. But he may be best known for his 18 years as the Lady Cadets’ girls basketball head coach, laying the foundation for the great success the program still enjoys today.

Strahler’s hoop teams won 292 games while losing just 95 times. Those 292 wins translated into 13 Pioneer Valley Conference titles, seven sectional crowns and a Ione OVAC championship. On six occasions his teams won at least 19 games and his 1988 team compiled a brilliant 23-1 campaign.

He was a three-time District 12 Coach of the Year and was the recipient of the OVAC Rich Saffield Girls’ Basketball Coaches Award in 2009. Strahler was inducted into the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

His six-year run as Fort Frye’s head softball coach was also one marked with outstanding success.

Strahler’s diamond record was a sparkling 111-36. His teams captured three Pioneer Valley Conference crowns, two sectional titles and a pair of district championships.

DARRYL HOPPEL – When the name Hoppel is mentioned, wrestling quickly comes to mind.

Darryl Hoppel enjoyed a stellar mat career at East Liverpool. He owns the distinction of being the only Potter wrestler to capture two state titles.

Hoppel won the 121-pound championship in 1954 and the next year he claimed the 128-pound state crown.

In 1955, Darryl was joined by his brother, Jim, who won the 134-pound state championship.

It marked the first time in state history that brothers captured state mat championships in the same year.

In his senior year, Darryl was undefeated, winning 15 of 16 matches that winter. His lone blemish was a 0-0 tie.

Darryl has also been enshrined in the East Liverpool Hall of Fame.