Ripley County Hall of Fame names 2026 class

(VERSAILLES, Ind.) – The Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame has announced their 2026 class. 

Seven former student-athletes will formally be recognized during the Ripley County Boys Basketball Tournament at Batesville High School in January. 

An official induction will be held on April 11 at the Tyson Activity Center in Versailles. 

Here are the seven new inductees into the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame:

Ted Ahaus (South Ripley) 

Ted Ahaus served as the South Ripley head coach from 1978 to 1985. He led the Raiders to success for seven years including the memorable 1981 season when they won the single-class regional championship. 

He then led the Raiders to a sectional title the following year and finished with a career record of 80-73. 

Ahaus also served as a principal and superintendent for South Ripley while finding success as a baseball coach as well. 

He is also being honored in 2026 as South Ripley has named him to their school hall of fame. 

Matt Callen (Milan) 

Matt Callen led the Indians to plenty of success before graduating in 2000. 

He was a major part of Milan becoming one of the top teams in Indiana in the late 1990’s and including in 1999 when the Indians won their first regional title since 1973. 

Callen finished his time in Milan ranked first on the career assists list, fifth on the all-time scoring list and was a First Team Academic All-State selection while being named a Top 100 player in the state in 2000. 

He was the class valedictorian both at Milan as well as Franklin College in 2004. He now lives in Indianapolis and has a successful business and software career.

Terry Giesting (Batesville)

Giesting was a major part of Batesville’s success in the late 1970’s. He helped lead Batesville to a sectional title his senior season and was named to the All-Regional team. 

He was also an all-EIAC selection and had a career-high 31 points during his final high school game. 

Giesting then took his talents to Jordan College in Michigan where he  earned team MVP and while he majored in Tool & Die. 

He has been an integral part of the basketball community in Batesville and was heavily involved in the Bulldogs 100th year celebration. Giesting currently serves on the board of directors for the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Terry is currently employed at Batesville Tool and Die where he has been employed since his college graduation. He has worked in roles as a designer and Continuous Improvement Manager.

Larry Grills (Sunman) 

Larry Grills was a major part of the Sunman Tigers basketball team in the 1960’s where he amassed merely 600 points in just two varsity seasons. 

He scored a career-high 32 points in the regional game his senior season and was named Sunman team MVP, and was recognized with All-County, All-Conference and All-Sectional honors. 

Grills would later work for Cummins before being driving a semi for Hill-Rom for 25 years. He and his wife, GeGe, had two sons Lonnie and Tom. Larry passed away in 2012. 

Abby (Kirschner) Gesell (Batesville) 

Abby Kirschner was a four-year varsity player who helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to sectional titles in 1992, 1993 and 1994. 

She received numerous honors and finished her Batesville career as the leader in blocks, ranked fifth all-time in rebounds and was named a 40 & 8 All-Star in 1995. 

Abby also was a four-year varsity letterwinner in volleyball and later played collegiate basketball at Lewis University. 

Abby married Mike Gesell and the couple resides in Batesville with their children Sophie, Molly and Nolan, all of whom are continuing basketball careers. 

A youth league and travel coach, Abby has given back to the community through both ventures and is a founding member of the Batesville Girls Basketball Association where she currently serves as president.

Ray Tebbe (Batesville)

The 1970 Batesville High School graduate has been named as the Meritorious Service Award winner by the hall of fame committee. 

Ray Tebbe played three seasons of varsity basketball before finding his true calling on the court as an official. 

He officiated his first game in 1984 between Elkhart Central and Concord which featured future NBA star Shawn Kemp. Tebbe was also one of the officials when Damon Bailey broke the state’s all time scoring record in 1990.

Over 31 years, Tebbe officiated boys and girls state finals games, three football state finals and was even named the IHSAA’s Official of the Year in 1997. 

Ray served as president of the Indiana Officials Association in 1991 and 1992 and was also named an Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Center Circle recipient in 2015. 

He and his wife Denise have been married for over 40 years and have two daughters, Karen and Sara.

Roger Toops (Jac-Cen-Del) 

Roger Toops was part of legendary Jac-Cen-Del coach Dave Porter’s teams in the early 1970’s. 

He led the Eagles to a regional title in 1972 by hitting two free throws in the final seconds against Lawrenceburg. 

Jac-Cen-Del later lost to the undefeated state champion Connersville Spartans to wrap up a 19-6 season that year. 

Following the season, Roger earned the team’s Hustler Award, Free Throw Award and Assists Award. He scored 207 points in his senior year which came out to an average of 11 points per game and was named a 40 & 8 All-Star. 

He was also an exceptional cross country and track athlete and was named Jac-Cen-Del’s most valuable runner.

Roger is married to his wife, Terri, and they have four children. He is a member of the Hopewell Baptist Church and owns and operates Toops Farms LLC.