Heather Baker
By JEFF HARRISON
For The Times Leader
MARTINS FERRY — It’s time to unveil three more selections for the Martins Ferry Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.
Joining the Class of ’24 to be inducted on Friday, August 30 in conjunction with the Purple Riders’ home football game against River are Pete Beck (Class of 1994), Bobby Tucker (Class of 1995) and Heather Baker (Class of 1997).
Previously announced selections include Steve Santa (Class of 1930), Jodi Janetski (Class of 1985) and Tony Rose (Class of 1986).
The final three members of this year’s HOF Class of 2024 will be announced next week.
Pete Beck
One of the best distance runners in Purple Rider history, he was a four-year letterman in both cross country and track.
In cross country, Beck earned All-Ohio status as a senior when he finished 13th in the OHSAA Division II State Cross Country Championships and set the school record at the 5K distance with a time of 16:11.
After finishing 11th in the Belmont County Meet and 15th in the OVCCL Meet (18:08) as a freshman (16:47), Beck began to make his presence felt as a sophom*ore by finishing second in the Belmont County Meet (16:01), second in OVCCL (17:04), fifth in the OVAC (17:21) and fourth in the Division II District (17:26) to qualify for the D-II Regional.
As a junior, Beck placed fourth at the district (17:21), 24th at the regional (17:02) and ran 16:42 at the state meet; placed second in the county meet (16:27), third in the OVCCL (17:53) and fourth in the OVAC (17:22). He also won the Martins Ferry Invitational (17:38) and was second in the Malone Invitational (16:51).
As a senior, he was fifth in the district (16:47) and 17th in the regional (17:17) before running a sharp 16:11 to place 13th in the state meet and gain All-Ohio honors. He also was the champion in the OVAC (16:50) and Belmont County (15:37) events and fourth in the Malone Invitational (16:28).
In track, Beck’s career began as a freshman with fourth place finishes in the Belmont County Relays in the 3200 (10:51) and 1600 (4:53) and a fifth place effort in the D-II District (10:46) which qualified him for the D-II Regional.
As a sophom*ore, he was first in the district in the 3200 (10:00) and fourth in the regional (10:02) to qualify for the state meet; placed third in the OVAC (10:12) and was second in the Belmont County event in the 3200 (10:02) and 1600 (4:44).
As a junior, he won the district (9:37.8, a meet record at the time) and finished third in the regional (9:39) to again advance to the state meet; won the 3200 at the OVAC (9:53) and placed sixth in the 1600 (4:43); and was first in the county event in the 3200 (10:17) and second in the 1600 (4:47).
As a senior co-captain, Beck won the 3200 at the district (10:09), finished fourth in the regional (9::50) and 14th in the state while also earning a regional spot in the 4×800 relay with his twin brother John, Kurt Petit and Jeff Baggott by placing second in the district (8:34). He won the 3200 at the OVAC (9:57) and placed second in the 1600 (4:44) while at the Belmont County Relays, he was first in the 3200 (9:59) and second in the 1600 (4:40) and on the winning 4×800 relay team (8:37).
Bobby Tucker
A four-year letterman in wrestling, he served as co-captain as a senior when the Purple Riders won the OVAC Class 3A championship, the OHSAA Division III Sectional and District titles and finished fourth in the OHSAA Division III State Tournament.
Tucker’s four-year varsity record was an impressive 92-26 and he was a two-time Division III Sectional and District champion. He qualified for the state tournament as a junior and capped his senior season by finishing as the OHSAA Division III State Tournament runner-up at 119 pounds.
In the OVAC Ron Mauck Wrestling Championships, he placed second at 125 pounds as a senior; second at 119 pounds in as a junior and sixth at 112 pounds as a sophom*ore.
During his career, the MF grapplers won four OVAC Class 3A Tournament titles, three OHSAA Division III Sectional crowns, two OVAC Class 3A Dual Tournament titles, went 46-6 in dual meets and won 17 tournaments.
He continued his wrestling career at West Liberty University where he was a four-year letterman (1996-99). With the Hilltoppers, Tucker compiled a 79-38 record and qualified for the 1997 NCAA Division II National Tournament.
He was inducted into the Martins Ferry Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.
Heather Baker
A multi-sport performer who collected 11 varsity letters, Baker was the fourth player in Lady Rider basketball history to reach the prestigious 1,000-point mark, finishing her career with 1,008 points.
A four-year letterwinner/starter, not only could Baker score, but she was also a quality defender and passer.
As a sophom*ore, she averaged 17 points per game, receiving second team All-Valley ‘Big School’, special mention All-OVAC Class 3A and honorable mention All-Eastern District Division II recognition.
Baker tallied 13.9 points per game as a junior, landing second team All-OVAC Class 3A, third team All-Eastern District Division II and third team honorable mention All-District 12 Division III.
As a senior, she checked in with an 11-point average on the OVAC Class 3A championship squad that posted a 19-1 record and finished fifth in the AP Division III state poll. Baker was awarded second team All-Eastern District, third team All-Valley ‘Big School’ and honorable mention All-OVAC Class 3A and All-District 12 Division III.
Baker was also a four-year letterwinner in softball and a three-year letterwinner in volleyball.
On the softball diamond, as a pitcher-third baseman, she received second team All-OVAC Class 3A honors as a junior and first team recognition as a senior.
She lettered one year in basketball at Marietta College before transferring to Ohio University Eastern where she finished her playing career, scoring 750 points with 225 assists and 200 rebounds at OUE.
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