2008 Inductee Josh Didion, 1997
Joshua Lamar Didion, one of the newest members of the Bellevue Athletic Hall of Fame, continued a family legacy during his wrestling days at Bellevue Senior High School. Along with the four letters he earned in wrestling, Josh earned three letters in football, but he will forever be remembered for his success in wrestling, earning a State Championship for the Redmen and completing a cycle begun by his father, Don, who was Bellevue’s first-ever state wrestling champion and who is also a member of the Redmen Athletic Hall of Fame.
A 1997 graduate of BSHS, Josh was honorable mention All-NOL in football during his sophomore season. The following year he earned first team All-NOL honors, and was first team All-NOL his senior season. Josh was also named first team All-District, special mention All-Ohio, and was team captain during that 1996 season.
In wrestling, Josh took third place at the NOL Tournament as a freshman. The following year he improved to second place at NOL’s, was second at sectionals, third at districts, and was a state qualifier.
As a junior, Josh was named team captain and eventually earned the school’s fourth-ever state wrestling title. During his senior campaign, Josh was again named captain and nearly pulled off back-to-back state title before settling for state runner-up.
He had a career record of 124-20 and at the time of graduation he was first in number of wins and first in winning percentage. He was a three-time Bellevue Invitational and three-time Oak Harbor Invitational champion, a two-time Avon Lake champion, a three-time state qualifier, and had two undefeated seasons (26-0 in 1996 and 25-0 in 1997).
Josh was also a member of the BSHS National Honor Society, won the Friendliest Junior Award, and took the 1997 Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award.
In college, Josh wrestled for Cleveland State University where he earned a scholarship, was named team MVP, and was a Division I NCAA wrestling championships qualifier in both 1998 and 1999.
Josh and his family reside in Hillsboro, OH