(TEUTOPOLIS) — The National Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee has announced its’ 2025 class of inductees, to be formally enshrined on Friday, Nov. 21 at the Teutopolis Banquet Hall. Three of the individuals, in the Former Student Athlete, Professional Athlete, and Media categories, carry with them enormous historical importance to the Little Illini Conference as a whole, and in the communities of Newton and Olney in particular.

Congratulations to Ross Wolf, Britanny Johnson, and Mark Weiler!

Ross Wolf

Wolf is a former Major League pitcher and standout athlete from Newton High School. Wolf was a key member of the Newton Eagles’ 2001 IHSA Class A state championship team and went on to continue his baseball career at Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel.

In 2002, Ross was selected in the 189th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft and signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins. Over the course of his professional career, he made stops with several Major League Baseball organizations including the Florida Marlins, Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. He also competed internationally, playing in the Korean Baseball Organization in South Korea.

Ross concluded his professional playing career after returning to the Texas Rangers organization in 2014 and officially announced his retirement in 2016.

Brittany Johnson

Brittany was a four-year all-state player at (Olney) East Richland High School. Among her staggering accomplishments were 4,031 points scored, 1,500 field goals made, 855 free throws made and being named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. She was also named Illinois Ms. Basketball in 2007, and has since had her high school jersey number (No. 40) retired.

Brittany went on to be a three-year starter at Ohio State University, helping the Buckeyes win the Big Ten Conference Tournament. While in Columbus, she scored more than 1,000 points and set the career 3-point field goal mark at 48.1%.

Johnson enjoyed a two-year professional basketball career in Greece and Israel before joining the coaching ranks at Chattanooga under Hall of Fame head coach Jim Foster. She is currently serving as the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Northwestern University in Evanston.

Mark Weiler

Weiler, the Sports Director at WVLN-WSEI-WIKK-WOWA in Olney since 1998, has dedicated 35 years to covering athletics throughout southeastern Illinois.

He has broadcast well over 1,000 high school baseball and basketball games and has served as the Voice of Olney Tiger and Lady Tiger basketball as well as Olney Central College men’s and women’s basketball. Mark’s distinctive voice and enduring passion for sports have made him a fixture in the league and community, and a respected leader in regional sports media.

Mark is also a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, inducted in 2014.