Richard Brown-Omaha South

Athlete Omaha South (Class of 1958) Richard Brown played a crucial role in bringing a championship atmosphere to Omaha South. A four-time state wrestling finalist and three-time champion, he led the Packers to three straight state championships in wrestling. In football, the standout halfback and cornerback helped the Packers win the mythical state championship in […]

Larry Bornschlegl-Hastings

Official An outstanding athlete at Geneva High School and the University of Nebraska, Larry Bornschlegl never got far away from the playing field, enjoying a long career as a coach, school administrator and referee. Considered one of the premier basketball referees in the 1970s and ‘80s, Bornschlegl completed a basketball officiating career that covered 20 […]

Kim (Behrends) Buckendahl- Chappell

Chappell (Class of 1997) Kim (Behrends) Buckendahl rewrote Nebraska high school volleyball’s record books. From her 42 kills in the state championship match to her 1,643 career kills, Behrends dominated small-town volleyball like no other. She led Chappell to back-to-back undefeated state championships and a 55-match winning streak. All-class all-state for two years and Class […]

Jim Barker – Scottsbluff

Coach           Jim Barker arrived at Scottsbluff in 1988 and turned the Bearcats into a cross country power – a project that has resulted in 11 boys state championships, more than any other coach in Nebraska history. In addition, the Scottsbluff boys accumulated five runner-up finishes. In his 28 years at […]

Terrance Badgett – Omaha South

  Omaha South (Class of 1991)         Terrance Badgett, a two-time all-state player, led the Packers to the Class A state championship in 1990 and averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds per game the following year while earning honors as the Gatorade Nebraska Player of the Year. A Nebraska Cornhusker recruit, he […]

Fred Brown – Omaha Tech

Athlete–A 1950 graduate of Omaha Technical High School, this fine athlete excelled in the sport of wrestling. Showing that size is not always an indication of toughness, he showed championship style by winning his weight class every one of his four years in high school: as a freshman in 1947 in the 85-pound class, as […]

Fred Bessler – Chase County

Coach.  Fred Bessler had a career football coaching record of 248-81-1 and got his start in Brule. From there, Bessler went to Madrid where he was the head coach of their 9-0 eight-man team that was ranked No. 1. He then moved on to Cozad where he was an assistant coach for the state champion […]

Dan Brost – Mullen

Dan Brost Mullen Coach After one year as an assistant coach in 1978-79, Dan Brost went to work producing a wrestling dynasty in the small town of Mullen in the heart of the Sandhills.  In 31 years as a head coach, Brost guided the Broncos to five Class D state wrestling championships, three runner-up finishes […]

Cal Bentz – Lincoln

Coach.  No one understood the sport of swimming better than this great aquatic coach. Arriving at Westside High School in Omaha in 1963, he became their swimming and diving coach until 1977. During his tenure there the Roman Warriors of Westside High became a dominating force in the state, gaining plaudits across the nation. Westside […]

Paul Brungardt – Humphrey St. Francis

Coach, Humphrey St. Francis: Brungardt compiled a career basketball coaching record of 473-159 over 29 years, winning Class D-1 state championships in 1990, 1992 and 1994 at Humphrey St. Francis as well as a state runner-up trophy in 1988. He also coached at Hayden High School in Topeka, Kan.; Cathedral High School in Denver; Norfolk […]