Four distinguished New Richmond alumni became the latest members of the New Richmond Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 21, 2023.
Matthew Dean (Class of 2003), Katie Middeler (2005), Austin Skaggs (2012) and Kevin Walriven (1974) became the newest inductees following the boys’ basketball team’s 52-45 win over West Clermont earlier that same afternoon.
Matthew Dean
Dean was an athletic and academic standout at New Richmond. He was a member of the National Honor Society and a stellar three-sport athlete.
Dean was an integral part of New Richmond’s first three football playoff appearances, posting a combined 29-1 record in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
On the diamond, Dean helped the Lions to the 2003 regional championship with a .453 average. He also competed in the district wrestling tournament as a heavyweight.
During his time at New Richmond, Dean was named the Southern Buckeye Conference player of the year in 2002. He was a first-team football all-star in 2001 and 2002 and The Clermont Sun’s male athlete of the year in 2002-2003.
After graduation, Dean attended Wright State University on a full Army ROTC scholarship. He graduated from the university in 2007 with a degree in biology. That same year, Dean was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Army, where he served two tours in Iraq from 2007 to 2011. He also was an Army Reservist until 2018.
Katie (Middeler) Flaugh
Flaugh quickly made a name for herself on the soccer field, the basketball court and the track, racking up accolades throughout her career at New Richmond.
She earned four varsity letters in soccer, basketball and track during her time on campus prior to graduating in 2005.
On the pitch, Flaugh was a key member of New Richmond’s trio of SBAAC American Division soccer championship teams during her career. She was also named a first-team all-conference honoree in 2004.
In 2003 and 2005, Flaugh earned first-team all-league track and field honors. She was voted New Richmond’s MVP in 2002 and earned the most valuable field event award in 2003 after setting a school record in the shot put (35 feet, 10 inches). She also anchored the 800-meter relay team that broke the SBAAC record with a time of 1:49.60.
Flaugh stood out on the basketball court as well, finishing her career as the district’s all-time leading scorer at the time of her graduation with 1,376 points. She also held the single-season scoring average at 20 points per game.
Flaugh earned three first-team all-star awards, the SBAAC player of the year award in 2005 and the District 16 player of the year honor that same season.
After graduation, Flaugh attended the University of Cincinnati, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2015 and a Master’s degree in Nursing in 2018.
Austin Skaggs
Skaggs made a profound impact athletically at New Richmond, earning induction into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
An outstanding three-sport athlete, Skaggs competed year-round on the New Richmond golf teams, the wrestling team and the baseball team.
On the links, Austin earned a second-team all-league honor in 2011 and a first-team all-league nod in 2012.
As a wrestler, Skaggs won sectional wrestling championships in 2011 and 2012. He qualified for the district tournament three times and earned first-team all-league honors for three straight seasons from 2010-2012.
Skaggs advanced to the OHSAA Division II State Championship tournament twice, once as a sophomore in 2010 and again in 2012, his senior season.
His 117 wins are good for sixth all-time in New Richmond history.
Skaggs’ baseball career lasted four varsity seasons. As a senior, he led the team with a .460 average, 28 runs batted in, 37 runs scored and 18 steals. He also led the league in wins as a pitcher with seven.
He earned every possible first-team honor as a senior, picking up all-conference, all-city, all-district and all-state honors.
After graduation, Austin attended the University of Kentucky, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing in 2016.
Kevin Walriven
Walriven graduated from New Richmond in 1974 and has been a life-long member of the community. A stalwart volunteer, his passion, warmth, devotion and spirit have earned him the admiration and respect of the New Richmond community and far beyond.
Walriven served as the New Richmond High School junior varsity and varsity basketball clock operator from 1997 to 2020. He also ran the middle school boys clock from 1994 to 1996.
He was a varsity football spotter from 1995 to 2002 and a middle school wrestling tournament clock operator from 1994 to 2000.
In 2017 Walriven earned the Mercy Helath Most Valuable Person Award at Batavia High School. He was awarded the Dale Creamer Friends of Athletics Award from the Southwest District Athletic Board in 2020 and a hall of honor award from the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association in 2022.
Walriven also volunteered his time by serving on the New Richmond Exempted Village Board of Education. He was a key figure in the planning and construction of the New Richmond football complex in 2004 and the New Richmond baseball and softball complex in 2010.
Walriven was a member of the Clermont County League champion New Richmond baseball team in 1972 and he lettered in varsity tennis his senior year in 1974.
The full 2023 New Richmond High School Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is available on YouTube.