Chuck Sharpe – Omaha Westside
Athlete. One of the best high school swimmers in history, this 1977 graduate of Westside High School in Douglas County competed at a time when freshmen did not participate in high school sports and swimmers were limited to just two individual events plus relay. So Chuck Sharpe “maxed out” with nine state swimming titles in […]
Jodi Stineman Emsick – Lincoln Southeast
Athlete. Jodi Stineman Emsick had “champion” written all over her from the start of her career at Lincoln Southeast. She played and starred on state championship teams in cross country, basketball (twice) and track. She was the first Lincoln Southeast athlete to win 12 varsity letters along with these laurels: Female high school athlete of […]
Joe Silverman – Lincoln
Game Official. Joe Silverman was an established football and basketball referee in West Virginia before being stationed at the Lincoln Air Base during World War II. After service, Lincoln became his home. The Marshall University graduate worked the Nebraska state basketball tournament for the first time in 1943. He worked more tournaments later in the 1940s and 1950s, […]
George Sauer – Lincoln High
Athlete–One of many great high school football players to wear the red and black of Lincoln High School, in 1928 as a junior he scored four touchdowns in the state championship game, As a senior in 1929, all-state honors were awarded him as a fullback. He also did well in track, serving on a state […]
Kelly Stauffer – Rushville
Athlete. The picture of a poised quarterback comes to mind in describing this 1982 graduate of Rushville High School. He was named all-state in both football and basketball during his secondary education and was outstanding as a pitcher in the summer. During his senior year he led the Rushville High Longhorns to a basketball winning […]
Clarence Swanson – Wakefield
Athlete. A 1917 graduate of Wakefield High School where he played football, basketball and baseball. He was a freshman starter on the football team. At the University of Nebraska, Swanson was a four-year letterman on the football team. He set a school record for career touchdown receptions (17) that stood until after his death in […]
Reggie Smith – West Point Central Catholic
Athlete. Class of 1966 With eight carries, six touchdowns, 284 yards in a victory over a previously unbeaten team. Reggie Smith proved unstoppable at times. He led West Point Central Catholic to an undefeated season with 1,566 yards on 160 carries. A leader with a great attitude, he played with intensity and was a natural […]
Val Skinner – North Platte
Athlete A legend in Nebraska women’s golf, this 1978 graduate of North Platte High School earned an individual medal at the very first Nebraska high school girls golf state championship. She followed that with a win in the state amateur tournament, then attended college at Oklahoma State, and eventually proceeded into the ranks of professional […]
Ron Simmons – Sumner
Athlete. Ron could be best described as “Mr. All” at Sumner High School. Before graduating in 1964, his honors in basketball were All Conference (’61 ,’62,’63,’64), All Region (’61,’62,63,’64), All District (‘6 l,’62″6 3,’64), Class D All State (’62,’63,’64), All Class All State (’64) and All American (’64). He is second on the list of […]
Erick Strickland – Bellevue West
Athlete. A 1992 Bellevue West graduate, Strickland advanced to the NBA after standout high school and collegiate careers in Nebraska. At Bellevue West, Strickland starred in football, basketball and baseball and was the 1992 prep athlete of the year. He earned all-state honors in all three sports and led Bellevue West’s basketball team to three […]
