Congratulations to Makayla Vaughn and Drew Suess for being Butler High School's Athletes of the Week!! Makayla has played her best volleyball these past few weeks. Makayla is a junior and one of our outside hitters. During the last two weeks, Makayla has tallied 45 kills on 77 swings with only 5 hitting errors. Her kill percentage during these games was an amazing .584, and even more impressive is her hitting percentage of .519. She also recorded 4 aces and 14 digs. Makayla was voted teammate of the week by her teammates on the varsity team two weeks ago which is a testament to her character and hard work. Makayla is ready and willing to take on any role on any given night. She brings a steady dose of positivity and encouragement whether she is on the court or on the sideline. Congratulations Makayla, Keep working hard!! Drew Suess set two single game passing records against Troy, He threw for a record 441 yards on a record 31 completions against Troy. Drew is a tremendous teammate and team leader. What separates Drew is his incredible leadership on and off the field. As a team captain, he sets the standard and holds his teammates accountable. He is committed to the success of the team over any individual accolades. Drew is also up for TD7 WHIO Athlete of the Week Competition. Voting ends tonight at midnight. You can vote for Drew at https://www.whio.com/sports/athlete-of-the-week/ Congratulations Drew, Keep working hard!!

Congratulations to Ava and Auggie for being Morton Middle School's Athletes of the week!! Ava has shown up every day with a great attitude. She always puts the team first. She is extremely coachable and does whatever is asked of her with a smile on her face. She has tremendously improved her skill level because of the effort she puts in and her positive mindset. She leads by example even when no one is watching! Congratulations Ava, Keep working hard!! Auggie routinely displays the characteristics as a crucial part of his team. He has a work ethic that goes unmatched and a positive attitude that makes those around him better. Congratulations Auggie, Keep working hard!!

Over the past couple weeks a few sports started their post season competition. We are getting close with the others. We had an awesome home crowd last week with homecoming festivities. Lets carry that energy into this week for our Aviators!! This weekend our Cross Country teams kick off the post season competition with the MVL Championships at Piqua. Tonight we honor our Volleyball Seniors as they take on Sidney. This Friday is our last regular season home game for Butler Football. On Friday night we honor our seniors in Band, Kickline, Color Guard, Tennis, Cross Country, Golf, Football Cheer and Football. Senior recognition begins at 6:15. Our girls soccer team and volleyball teams are competing for league titles this week. Good luck to them as they wrap up the regular season competing for that league title.

Senior Drew Suess has been nominated for TD7 Athlete of the Week. Voting ends Monday at midnight. Vote for Drew at https://www.whio.com/sports/athlete-of-the-week/

BUTLER ATHLETICS IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE KIM KURTZ AS THE NEW BUTLER BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING HEAD COACH! Sometimes, the best people to lead a program are the ones who know exactly what it means to wear the uniform. Welcome home, Coach Kim Kurtz! Coach Kurtz is a proud Butler alum who swam for Butler High School from 2007–2010, earning four years of varsity distinction and serving as a 2-time team captain. During her time as an Aviator, she was a 4-time District qualifier and established the Butler school record in the 1650 freestyle (mile), along with many other accomplishments representing BHS. After Butler, Kim continued her swimming career at Youngstown State University, where she was a 4-year varsity walk-on and a member of four conference teams. She earned her degree in Middle School Education with a focus in Math and Science, which took her to Columbus. Kim's passion for swimming has continued well beyond her own competitive career. She began coaching at just 15 years old, starting with Fair Valley and working with swimmers ages 8–13 before becoming head coach. She later spent five years coaching with an elite club program in Columbus. Most recently, Kim has spent the past two seasons serving as the head coach for both Grove City High School and Grove City Christian High School. And Kim is still challenging herself in the pool. She currently trains daily with a Masters team through Lifetime Dublin and has competed in numerous Masters meets, qualifying for Masters Nationals for the past four years. From Butler swimmer, to collegiate athlete, to lifelong coach, Kim brings a wealth of experience, passion, and a deep understanding of what it means to be part of the Butler swimming family. We are thrilled to welcome her back home to Butler and look forward to the future of Butler Boys Swimming & Diving under her leadership! Please join us in welcoming Coach Kim Kurtz back to the Aviator family! WELCOME HOME, COACH KURTZ!

BUTLER ATHLETICS IS PROUD TO WELCOME KATHRYN HOLBROOK AS THE NEW HEAD COACH OF BUTLER GIRLS SWIMMING & DIVING! Swimming has been a lifelong passion for Coach Holbrook. She began competing at age 11 and continued swimming throughout high school and college. Along the way, swimming gave her far more than a sport — it taught her discipline, resilience, teamwork, and how to show up for others. Those are the same lessons she wants to pass on to the next generation of Butler athletes. For Kathryn, coaching is about more than times, meets, wins, and losses. It’s about helping young women discover what they are capable of, persevere through challenges, support one another, and grow into confident leaders. Kathryn’s coaching journey began in high school as a middle school assistant swim coach and continued in college as a summer swim coach. She has remained connected to the sport through triathlon, Masters Swimming, and recently serving as a swim official with SOSL. Her passion for mentoring young people extends beyond the pool. Kathryn has led award-winning high school STEM programs, served as a youth ministry leader, supported AES’s college co-op program, and currently coaches Vandalia Youth Soccer. After 16 years in corporate America, Kathryn recently chose to step away from her corporate career to spend more time with her young family. With her children becoming Aviators this fall, she is excited to bring her leadership experience, love of swimming, and passion for mentoring young people back to the community she calls home. Coach Holbrook’s philosophy is simple: student-athletes are people first, students second, and athletes third. Her goal is to help young women become the best versions of themselves while building character, confidence, leadership, and a lifelong love of the sport. Please join us in welcoming Coach Kathryn Holbrook to Butler Athletics! We are excited to see the impact she will make in and out of the pool. Welcome to Butler, Coach Holbrook! Go Aviators!

Senior Captain for the boys soccer team - Heath Thompson has been nominated for Dayton Daily News Athlete of the Week contest. Voting is held through midnight Wednesday. Vote for Heath at https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/who-s-your-pick-vote-for-the-dayton-daily-news-athlete-of-the-week/article_87a8503c-3898-5ef7-acbe-32ec8be5f796.html

Congratulations to Alice and Shane for being Morton Middle School's Athletes of the Week!! Alice is a member of the girls cross country team and is having a great start to her first season. Her work ethic has strengthened an already strong girls' team. The team has placed high in several meets, and Alice has contributed by being in the top 10 for every race. She took 1st place at Lost Creek and has followed that up by placing 7th and 5th twice in very big races. Congratulations Alice, Keep working hard!! Shane is a member of the football team. He is an outstanding athlete and great teammate. Shane is an integral part of the football team on both sides of the ball. His hard work and dedication to not only the 7th grade team ,but to the entire Morton football program doesn't go unnoticed. Congratulations Shane, Keep working hard!!

The Aviators would like to give a huge shoutout to Coach Doring on his team earning Coach Doring's 200th victory last week vs Sidney. One incredible legacy. While 200 wins is an incredible milestone, Coach Doring’s impact goes far beyond the scoreboard. His care, dedication, and passion for the game have made a lasting difference in countless players’ lives. Coach Doring doesn’t just coach high school soccer—he invests in the future of the game. He gives his time to work with youth players and teams, helping young athletes develop their skills while creating a genuine love and passion for soccer. For Coach Doring, it has never simply been about wins and losses. It’s about building players, building teams, building character, and building a soccer community that will last well beyond the final whistle. 200 career wins is a remarkable achievement—but the legacy behind those 200 wins is what makes this milestone truly special. Congratulations, Coach Doring, on an incredible accomplishment and an even greater legacy! 200 WINS. ONE COACH. COUNTLESS LIVES IMPACTED. ONE TEAM. ONE GOAL. FOR THE BADGE.

Congratulations to Charley Johnson and Jack Rosson for being Butler High School's Athletes of the Week!! Charley is the kind of athlete and teammate every coach hopes to have on their team. She consistently shows up to practice ready to work, takes feedback to heart, and is always looking for ways to improve her game. She is a dependable doubles partner who is always willing to step up and compete alongside a teammate, but she also isn’t afraid to challenge herself and take the court on her own in singles. One of the things that stands out most about Charley is the way she supports her teammates. When she isn’t playing her own match, you can almost always find her cheering on and encouraging someone else on our team. She genuinely wants to see everyone around her succeed, and that positive energy makes a difference. Congratulations Charley, Keep working hard!! Jack placed 6th this past week at the Northmont Invitational with a time of 16:25. Jack has been consistent all season and is primed for a great championship season and is working towards a return to the OHSAA State Championships. Congratulations Jack, Keep working hard!!

Our girls tennis team season came to a conclusion this past week at the OHSAA Sectional Championships. The girls battled all year and finished third overall in the MVL and represented the Aviators with pride at the OHSAA Sectional Championships. Our girls competed with confidence and determination. They challenged their opponents, supported their teammates, and represented the Aviators with Pride!! Way to go Ladies!! Congratulations on an awesome season!!

The Aviators have an exciting week ahead of us with it being Homecoming. We are celebrating our boy senior soccer players on Tuesday and our girl senior soccer players on Wednesday. The homecoming parade is Thursday, with the Homecoming football game on Friday and the dance on Saturday. Lets pack the stands and bring the energy! Come out to socialize, catch up with old friends, make some new memories, and most importantly, support our Aviators!! Our girls tennis team came to a conclusion this past week at the OHSAA Sectional Championships. The girls battled all year and finished third overall in the MVL and represented the Aviators with pride at the OHSAA Sectional Championships. Our girls competed with confidence and determination. They challenged their opponents, supported their teammates, and represented the Aviators with Pride!! Our boys and girls golf teams competed in the MVL championships last week. The boys finished the season tied for 1st place with Greenville and Troy. The girls team finished 2nd overall behind Greenville. Tonight our volleyball team is playing their Pink Out game. Great things are going on with our Aviators. We need your support in the stands!! We Are Aviators!!

The Aviators were honored to welcome home alumna Kendra Herber, Class of 2003, back to the SAC! Kendra shared a powerful message with our student-athletes about overcoming adversity, staying dedicated, making sacrifices, working hard to achieve your goals, and most importantly, making problems into opportunities. Kendra is the #1-ranked para tennis player in the world, and we are incredibly proud to call her an Aviator! A special thank you to the Optimist Club for sponsoring this event and making it possible to have Kendra back at the SAC and share her inspiring journey with our student-athletes. Thank you, Kendra, for sharing your inspiring journey and reminding our student-athletes that with perseverance, dedication, and hard work, anything is possible. #Aviators #Alumni #Inspiration #OvercomingAdversity #HardWork #Dedication #WeAreAviators

🎾 Miami Valley League Tournament Recap! 🎾 Our girls are peaking at the right time! What a day of tough competition, big points, and incredible effort at the Miami Valley League Tournament! 🏆 Tournament Results: 1st Singles: Ava Petty — 🥈 2nd Place 2nd Singles: Emma Filc — 🥈 2nd Place 3rd Singles: 🥉 3rd Place 1st Doubles: Olivia Bonifas & Kennedy Gross — 6th Place 2nd Doubles: Laura Koewler & Sam Cornelius — 6th Place More importantly, the girls showed what this team is all about. They placed the ball with confidence during big points, executed their serves and returns, and competed point-for-point against some really tough competition. We couldn’t be prouder of the fight, focus, and resilience they showed today. 💪🎾 The postseason is here, and this team is ready! 🔥 #GirlsTennis #MiamiValleyLeague #Tennis #Postseason #Compete #ProudCoach #WeAreAviators

🍗⛳️ A BIG THANK YOU TO RAISING CANE’S! 🐔💛 Our Girls Golf Team was treated to dinner from Raising Cane’s before today’s match, and we are so grateful for their generosity and support of our athletes! Thank you for helping fuel our girls and showing your support for our team. We truly appreciate our community partners who go above and beyond for our student-athletes! 🏌️‍♀️❤️ Thank you, Raising Cane’s! #ThankYou #RaisingCanes #GirlsGolf #CommunitySupport #GoTeam #WeAreAviators

⛳️ THE ROAD TO STATE CONTINUES! 🏆 Congratulations to our Boys Golf Team on an outstanding performance at the Sectional Tournament! By placing in the Top 4, our boys have officially qualified for the District Tournament! 🎉 The hard work, focus, and determination are paying off. We’re proud of this team and excited to see what’s next! 🏌️‍♂️ Keep pushing, boys! The road to STATE continues! 💪⛳️ #RoadToState #BoysGolf #DistrictBound #GoTeam #WeAreAviators

🏆 BUTLER ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME 🏆 Our final inductee is an incredible Aviator athlete who made her mark in both basketball and volleyball — Erica Busch Miller! 🏀🏐👏 Erica competed in basketball for two years, earning two varsity letters, before making an unforgettable impact on the volleyball court. 🏐 Volleyball: Erica earned an impressive four varsity letters and established herself as one of the premier players in Butler volleyball history. Her accomplishments include: 🏆 1995 Team Captain & MVP 🏆 Set the single-season kill record 🏆 1st Team All-GMVC — 1993 & 1994 🏆 1st Team All-Area — 1993 & 1994 🏆 1st Team All-District — 1994 🏆 District Player of the Year 🏆 Senior All-Star Team Erica’s talent, leadership, competitiveness, and dedication helped establish a lasting legacy for Butler volleyball. She truly was a beast on the court and a tremendous representative of the Aviators! 💙🏐 As we wrap up our introductions of this year’s Hall of Fame class, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Erica into the Butler Athletics Hall of Fame! Congratulations, Erica Busch Miller! You Earned It!! 🏆👏💙 #ButlerAthletics #ButlerHallOfFame #GoAviators #ButlerProud #HallOfFame #AviatorPride #ButlerVolleyball #ButlerBasketball

🏆 BUTLER ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME 🏆 Our next inductee is Michael Lauber, a standout two-sport Aviator who excelled in both football and basketball! 🏈🏀 Michael played football all four years for the Aviators and two years of Butler Basketball. 🏀 Basketball: Michael earned two varsity letters and helped his team capture a league championship in 1988. 🏆 🏈 Football: Michael earned three varsity letters and was a 2-time All-GMVC selection. In 1988, Michael was named Team Captain and MVP of the Aviators, highlighting his leadership and impact on the football field. 💪🏆 Michael’s dedication, leadership, and accomplishments made him an important part of the Butler Athletics tradition. Congratulations, Michael Lauber! You Earned It!! 🏆👏💙 #ButlerAthletics #ButlerHallOfFame #GoAviators #ButlerProud #HallOfFame #AviatorPride #ButlerFootball #ButlerBasketball

🏆 BUTLER ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME 🏆 Our next inductee is Adam Kirkendall, who made his mark as a dominant force on the mound for Butler Baseball! ⚾👏 Adam’s junior and senior seasons were nothing short of remarkable. ⚾ Senior Year: Adam was named League MVP and earned: 🏆 1st Team GMVC 🏆 1st Team All-Area 🏆 1st Team All-State ⚾ Junior Year: Adam was again named League MVP, earning: 🏆 1st Team GMVC 🏆 1st Team All-Area 🏆 Honorable Mention All-State Adam’s ability, competitiveness, and consistency on the mound made him one of the standout players in Butler Baseball history. Congratulations, Adam Kirkendall! You Earned It!! 🏆⚾💙 #ButlerAthletics #ButlerHallOfFame #GoAviators #ButlerBaseball #ButlerProud #HallOfFame #AviatorPride

🏆 BUTLER ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME 🏆 Our next inductee is John Hauer, whose incredible contributions to Aviator Athletics span more than four decades! 👏💙 Mr. Hauer dedicated 39 years to teaching for the Aviators while also becoming a familiar and beloved voice at Butler athletic events. 🎙️ His contributions include: 40+ years announcing Butler wrestling 25 years announcing boys and girls basketball 10 years announcing Track & Field 40+ years serving as a ticket taker, scoreboard operator, and timer at football games But Mr. Hauer's impact extended far beyond Butler. Throughout the Miami Valley, he announced events for more than 16 years. His contributions to the OHSAA were equally impressive. Mr. Hauer announced numerous boys and girls basketball tournament games and spent an incredible 25 years announcing the OHSAA State Championship Final Four for girls volleyball. For generations of athletes, coaches, families, and fans, John Hauer has been a familiar voice and a dedicated supporter of high school athletics. His commitment, service, and passion for the Aviators have made a lasting impact on our athletic community. Congratulations, John Hauer! You Earned It!! 🏆👏💙 #ButlerAthletics #ButlerHallOfFame #GoAviators #ButlerProud #HallOfFame #AviatorPride #OHSAA