OUTSTANDING ATHLETE

Induction Year: 2006 | Graduation Year: 1984

Tab W. Lewis was born in 1966 to Ted and Carol Lewis and is a native of Clark County, Ohio. He has lived most of his life in the New Carlisle/Medway area and is  a 1984 graduate of Tecumseh High School.  Tab was a four-year letterman in wrestling, ran cross-country, and played football.

Tab’s athletic career began at the early age of five, when he joined his first organized sport.  He was the batboy for Delaney & Simpson Little League Baseball team in New Carlisle.  At age eleven Tab’s baseball success lead him to Cincinnati where he was an eleven-year-old regional representative in the Pitch, Hit, & Run competition.  He spent an entire weekend working out with the Big Red Machine and competed in the hitting competition between the Reds/Dodgers double header.

Tab began wrestling in the eighth grade at Olive Branch Junior High where he experienced immediate success.  He finished his first wrestling season with a perfect 13-0 record.  Tab’s wrestling success continued at the high school level.  During his four year career, Tab was a four time league champion, four time county champion, three time sectional champion, four time district qualifier and a state qualifier his sophomore year.  Tab ended his career with  76 wins and only 18 losses. His career record, along with his Junior season record of 18 wins and one loss, are Tecumseh High School records that still stand today.  In addition to this accomplishment, Tab was also the first four-year letterman at Tecumseh High School.

Tab can contribute much of his wrestling success to his dedication and and hard work during the hot summer months.  He joined the Raiders Wrestling Club, attended summer camps, and wrestled in local, state, and national tournaments.  At age 15 he placed 3rd in freestyle at the Nationals in Lincoln, Nebraska.  He was also the Ohio state champion for three consecutive years in freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling.

After graduating from Tecumseh High School, Tab considered college offers, but instead decided to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Tab remained dedicated to the sport of wrestling as a member of the All Marine wrestling team. In 1986 Tab placed second at the California State Championship.

After his tour of duty, Tab returned home to Medway, Ohio where he would eventually meet his wife Renee. Tab has a daughter, Amber, and two sons, Austin and Easton.

Tab has taken what he has learned as a Tecumseh High School athlete and applied these positive experiences to his life. He is a supervisor at the Moraine Assembly Plant and has discovered his true gift; coaching.  Tab dedicates his spare time to children as a little league baseball coach for the New Carlisle Baseball Association.  His first rule of the game is to enjoy the sport and have “fun”!   He teaches his athletes to compete with integrity and good sportsmanship.  He even takes the time to teach opposing players the fundamentals of the game.

Through his role as a coach, Tab’s vision becomes obvious.  He is giving back to his community by preparing our children to become future Tecumseh Arrow athletes.