BELLEVUE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HALL OF FAME
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2006 Inductee Don Didion, 1971

Picture

He was the prototypical “blue collar” athlete in both football and wrestling for the red and white, graduating in 1971 as a true state champion.


Don Didion stood tallest among all 188-pound wrestlers in 1971, bringing home the first-ever individual wrestling state championship for the Redmen and late head coach Bob Bailey, who is also a member of the Redmen Hall of Fame.

Don earned three varsity letters in football and was named All-Northern Ohio League as a nose guard, but it was the sport of wrestling where the local boy really excelled.

Wrestling and lettering just two years at BSH, Don was 39-9 overall, including 21-2 during his championship run in 1971. As a junior, he was first at sectionals and fourth at districts. During his senior season of wrestling, Don was first at the Northern Ohio League meet, first at sectionals and district, and state champion. This was during a time when there were only two divisions and 12 weight classes for wrestling, and Bellevue wrestled in the large-school division.

At the time, Don set career records for most pins in one season (24) and for most wins in one season (21).

During his championship run, Don tallied two wins in the opening rounds on Friday during the 34th annual State Wrestling Meet, held before 11,000 fans in St. John’s Arena on the campus of The Ohio State University.

On Saturday, Didion built an 8-2 lead on Larry Wiggins of Columbus Marion Franklin, then held on for a wild 13-10 win, propelling him into the state championship bout vs. Regel Haynes from Toledo Scott.

The two wrestlers had met just the week before at districts with Didion getting the upper hand. Didion gained an early takedown and took a 2-0 lead into the second period. He then added an escape, another takedown, and was awarded a penalty point when Haynes was guilty of stalling. The final tally was 8-3 and Bellevue had its first-ever state wrestling champion.

So big was the state title news around town that a caravan of 40 vehicles led Don back into town on Sunday to help celebrate the achievement. Wilson Loundenslagel, acting as master of ceremonies, introduced several speakers for their remarks, including head coach Bailey; Rich Woolsey, vice president of the Redmen Boosters; Chamber of Commerce President Floyd Donahue; Father William Janney; Pastor Kenneth Nosworthy; and Bellevue Mayor Bill Artino who offered congratulations on behalf of the city and presented Didion with the symbolic Key to the City of Bellevue.

At the Redmen wrestling banquet later that season, Didion was honored as captain of the team and also picked up the MVP award for the red and white. He also received a certificate for most initial takedowns and was presented a watch on behalf of the Redmen Boosters.

Don is the owner/founder of Didion’s Mechanical. He and his family still reside in Bellevue.


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  • Home
  • Inductees
    • 2004-2013 Inductees >
      • 2004 Inductees >
        • Bob Bailey
        • Milt Bruckner
        • Bob Green
        • Karen Lepley
        • Marc McClain
        • Gary Miller
        • Ed Nasonti
        • Brian Schubert
        • Sam Schubert
        • Lowell Schaffer
        • Joe Siesel
        • Roger Siesel
      • 2005 Inductees >
        • Stewart Behm
        • Jere Crosby
        • Gene Dudley
        • Bob Hart
        • Burnell "Curly" Hoffman
        • Shelley (Cotterill) Krall
        • Alisa Raifsnider
      • 2006 Inductees >
        • William Houle
        • David Beckman
        • Don Didion
        • Gary "Duke" Haynes
        • Martin Goetze
        • Daniel Paul
      • 2007 Inductees >
        • Dick Seymour
        • Chuck Deluca
        • Sheryl (Haynes) Lemaster
        • Jami (Verhoff) Williamson
        • Carl Keske
        • Chad Kuhns
      • 2008 Inductees >
        • Wayne Warden
        • John Green
        • Brad Schubert
        • Jen Swartz
        • Josh Didion
        • Russ Kuhns
      • 2009 Inductees >
        • Sam DeBlase
        • Larran Meador
        • Deb Andrews
        • Ed Haynes
        • Jill (Flicker) Stubbs
        • David Falknor
      • 2010 Inductees >
        • Carol Allan
        • Tom Lopeman
        • Lori (Lafollette) Shiets
        • Jim Vogel
        • Suzi Behm
        • Amber Bollinger
      • 2011 Inductees >
        • Edwin Roberts
        • Duane Warns
        • Joe Green
        • Bryan Kegerreis
        • Pren Trickett
        • Brett Adkins
      • 2012 Inductees >
        • Matt Turner
        • Christie Borgia
        • Ed Baptista
        • Anthony Coleman
        • Matt DePolo
        • Catheran (Bibb) Rodriguez
        • Cody Cramer
      • 2013 Inductees >
        • Jennifer (Windau) Kunka
        • Maggie (Vogel) Massaro
        • John Bollinger
        • Brad Snyder
        • Chad Beamer
        • Ben Snyder
        • 1944-1945 Basketball Team
    • 2014-2023 Inductees >
      • 2014 Inductees >
        • John Lepley
        • Andy Dennis
        • Ian Fultz
        • Andrea Snyder
        • Jeff Polley
        • Kelli Nasonti
        • 1984 Boys' Cross Country Team
        • 1985 Boy's Cross Country Team
      • 2015 Inductees >
        • Bill Bauer
        • Ron Hay
        • Wendy (Vogel) Lilly
        • Levi Spurlock
        • Erica Caranfa
        • Pete Lepley
        • 1985 Baseball Team
      • 2016 Inductees >
        • Jim Windsor
        • Jim Culler
        • Gregg Hogue
        • Laura (Ray) Brown
        • Ashley (Hill) Tyler
        • Greg Keys
        • 1987 Girls' Cross Country
      • 2017 Inductees >
        • Glen Miller
        • Jim DePolo
        • Nikki Schwiefert
        • Derrick Berberick
        • Jeffery Pelton
        • 1984 Girls' 3200 M Relay
      • 2018 Inductees >
        • Hollis Haff
        • Kent Eisenhauer
        • Brad Bollinger
        • Kristy Baptista
      • 2019 Inductees >
        • Don Kegerreis
        • Kim (Zelms) Forman
        • Matt Grant
        • Sarah (Mielke) Gardner
      • 2021 Inductees >
        • Eric Johnson
        • Mike Schoen
        • Jill (Walters) Mohr
        • Bessie (Artino) Guy
      • 2023 Inductees
  • Service Award
    • 2005 Service Award
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    • 2023 Service Award
  • Photo Gallery
    • 2004 AHOF Weekend
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