Jody Rhodes- Paxton
Coach Jody Rhodes- Paxton Nearly 1,100 victories in two sports. It’s an enviable record Jody Rhodes compiled in volleyball and basketball at Paxton before his retirement after the 2021-22 school year. His teams were State Champions in volleyball five times and twice in boys’ basketball. The Exeter native came to Paxton in 1985 after […]
Sammie Resh- Shelton
Athlete Sammie (Resh) Gdowski Shelton (1985) Running pushed Sammie throughout her life. From Shelton High School to the University of Nebraska to the International circuit, Sammie’s stride carried her forward. At Shelton she immediately became a premier distance runner, going undefeated in the 1,600 M and 3,200 M races all four years, setting a Class […]
Robert Rands-Bellevue East
Athlete-2005 Robert Rands carved out a spot in Nebraska sports history by breaking Gale Sayer’s long jump record that had stood for 44 years. But Rands was more than a one-jump wonder. The State’s consensus Athlete of the Year in 2005, he was an outstanding football player who rushed for over 2,650 yards in his […]
Richard “Richie” Ross- Lincoln High
Athlete- 2019 (2000) A gifted athlete in multiple sports, Richie Ross earned All-Class, All-State honors in football and basketball and was the All-Class gold-medal winner in the triple jump at the State Track meet. The consensus 2000 Nebraska High School Athlete of the Year, Ross earned nine varsity letters at Lincoln High, established school single-season […]
Diane Rouzee-Grand Island Northwest
Coach Diane Rouzee’s 30-year career as head volleyball coach of Grand Island Northwest produced three state championships, six runner-up finishes, 23 trips to the state tournament and a 768-183 record. The recipient of the National Coach of the Year Award in 2018, Rouzee retired with the eighth-highest win total in Nebraska history. Called a “second […]
Rochelle Rohlfs-Omaha Marian
Coach Rochelle Rohlfs forged Omaha Marian into a volleyball power, rolling up a 718-245 record in her 26 years as head coach. Her career included four state championships, four other state finals appearances and a total of 21 trips to the state tournament. She coached in the Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Game three times and […]
Katie Robinette Kock-South Sioux City
Athlete South Sioux City (Class of 2001) Katie (Robinette) Kock collected almost every basketball honor available to a prep athlete. Her coach, Kelly Flynn, said she was a coach’s dream ╨ a great player and hard worker who never hesitated to help younger players improve their game. Her list of honors included prep All-American, Gatorade […]
Danis Richards Willet-Benkelman
Athlete Benkelman (Class of 1975) Danis (Richards) Willet made the quarter-mile race her specialty, winning the Class C gold medal all four years and claiming all-class honors her junior and senior seasons. She finished her high school track career with 15 medals in the 440-, 880- and 220-yard dashes as well as the mile relay. […]
Barrett Ruud-Lincoln Southeast
Lincoln Southeast (Class of 2001) Touchdowns highlighted Barrett Ruud’s football career before tackles made him a pro. The cornerstone of three Lincoln Southeast state football championships, Ruud made the Knights varsity as a freshman, started as a sophomore and set school career records with 2,988 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns. The Lincoln Journal-Star’s Athlete of […]
Kevin Ramaekers – Norfolk Catholic
Norfolk Catholic (Class of 1988) Good at everything he did, Kevin Ramaekers locked up the Athlete of the Year award in 1988 by earning all-state honors in football, winning gold at the state wrestling meet and winning the all-class gold medal in the shot put at the state track meet. […]
