Great Moments, By sports – Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame

Cross Country

Jeralyn Poe

Lincoln North Star

Jeralyn is the second runner in Nebraska history to win four all-class gold medals at the State Cross Country meet. She set the state 5000-meter cross country record (18.09) and was named the Nebraska Gatorade Runner of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. She attends Michigan State, majoring in Earth Science/Meterology. She is a member of the Spartan cross country and track and field teams.

Wrestling

Great Moments, Wrestling:

2004: “No. 1 Every Year”:
Four-time wrestling champions Chris Oliver, 125-0 from Omaha Creighton Prep, and Jason Katusin, 139-5 from Springfield Platteview.
2003: “Kingpins.”:
Four-time state wrestling champions Dirk Desmond of Hebron (136-3), Kasey Kohl of Omaha Skutt (139-1) and Jake Rucker of Louisville (140-5. with 104 pins).
2002: “Unbeaten, Untied Career”:
Brett Allgood, Bennington, completed his high school career in 2002 without a single loss. and a record in his four years in NSAA sponsored competition with 140 wins, which placed him in that select group of only ten young men in the history of the sport to gain this elite status of being a four-time State Champion. He was also undefeated in club level competition during those same years. Brett was awarded the Guy Mytty Outstanding Senior Wrestler Award in Class C by the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association plus being named to their All Star team for the year 2002.
2002: “Champion Every Year”:
Todd Menelly, Omaha Skutt Catholic, joined that very elite group of four-time high school state wrestling champions. His high school record was 135 wins and only one loss, which was to Brett Allgood, another four time champ crowned in 2002. Todd received the Guy Mytty award for the outstanding Class A wrestler by the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association and was also selected for their all-star team.
2000: “Shades of Dan Gable”:
The 2000 state wrestling tournament wrapped up a phenomenal high school career for Brad Metzler of Omaha Westside High School. He became the first Nebraska high school wrestler to complete four consecutive seasons undefeated. This also placed him in that elite group of four-time state champions.
1998: “Pin Master”:
A career of record-setting wrestling wins by pin by David Miller of Kearney during 1995-98. His state records: Most pins season (36), career (120), state tournament (13), consecutive (41). He also holds the Class A record for most career victories (141).
1995: “Wrestling History”:
Cousins Don and Ken Nordhues of Greeley both won fourth individual state championships in 1995.

Volleyball

Great Moments, Volleyball:

2005: “Volleyball Aces”:
The Columbus Scotus volleyball team’s state record winning streak reached 115 matches before a loss in the 2004 state championship match to Lincoln Lutheran. The Shamrocks’ last loss was in the 2000 state final when they lost to Central City. After that, the Shamrocks went 29-0 for three straight years and were 28-0 entering the match with Lincoln Lutheran.

Track & Field

Great Moments, Track & Field:

2014: “To Close to Call”:
Darren & Damon Schmadeke of Albion High School

The Schmadeke twins finished in a 1-2 photo finish (Darren at 22.65 and Damon at 22.66 seconds) in the Class C 200 meter dash at the 1991 Track State Championships. Their efforts were a part of the Class C state title secured by the team.
2006: “Robert Rands, Bellevue East, and The Jump that beat THE Jump”:
Just as we’ve touted Gale Sayers’ 1961 long jump record leap of 24-10 1/2 as a great moment in high school athletics, we are just as eager for the athlete who broke that record to be elevated to similar status. The honor goes to Robert Rands, a 2005 Bellevue East graduate, for his 25-feet, 1/4-inch jump in March, 2005, to break the NFL star’s 44-year-old record, and for his 24-11 1/4 that replaced the Sayers’ state meet record.
2004: “Lift Off”:
Grand Island Central Catholic pole vaulters Gable Baldwin and Jenny Green setting state records (16-4, 13-3, respectively) at the Central Nebraska Track Championships and state meet records (16-0, 13-0) in 2003.
2002: “A Track & Field Machine”:
Tony Little, the one-man track team from Mullen, won the 220, long jump, and triple jump and came in second in the 100-yard dash to score all of Mullen’s 38 points in the 1977 State meet to win the Class D state championship single-handedly for his school. Runner-up Cambridge followed by four points.
2001: “Achievement of the Century”:
Gale Sayers’ 24-10 1/2 long jump in 1961 state track meet, coming on his last jump in a duel with Lincoln High’s Bobby Williams, continues to rank as one of this state’s best achievements in high school sports. Now 40 years later, it hasn’t been seriously challenged for the state record.
1999: “A Century of Gold”:
The state track meet, which recently passed its 100th year, is the longest standing high school championship event. The state track meet has produced great entertainment in those 100 years and the Hall of Fame chooses to honor the event for its 100 plus “Great Moments” by saluting those who directed this great meet. In the last 40 years of the century: Charlie Foster, Burton (Bud) Feaster, Willa Scudder, Merle Bauer, Tom Hallstrom, Rex Jones and Duane Haith.
1999: “Barrier Breakers”:
The pole vault is one high school event which has a measuring stick to specifically identify when an athlete “takes it to the next level.” A Great Moment came when the following athletes were the first over the vaulting bar at the even-foot levels.
Boys
12 Feet – John (Choppy) Rhodes, Ansley, 12-0, 1922.
13 – Merlin (Beanie) Lawrence, Alliance, 13-3/4, 1958
14 – Randy Reeves, Omaha Benson, 14-0, 1965.
15 – Bill Lauer, North Platte, 15-1Â¼, 1971.
16 – Bump Novacek, Gothenburg, 16-0, 1985.

Girls
11 – Jaime Volkmer, Kearney Catholic, 11-8, 1999.
1998: “Awesome 800”:
State record run of 1:51.7 by Ryan Barrows, York, in the 800 Meters at 1997 State Track and Field Championship Meet, beating a 20-year-old record many believed would be good for another 20 years.
1997: “Miracle Mile”:
1947 State Track Meet, Class A mile run between Marvin Zimmerman, Nebraska City, and Bill Mountford, Red Cloud, a meeting of talented athletes that captured the attention of track and field that season and remains even after 50 years one of the great high school head-to-head competition of all time of any sport. Mountford’s winning time was, of course, a state record 4:26.2. 1997. After 58 years, they meet again.
1995: “Fast 100”:
Hastings College Invitational’s 100-yard dash in 1961 produced five runners all at 10 seconds or faster, led by Bob Williams of Lincoln High at :09.5. Kent McCloughan of Broken Bow, Steve Regan of Hastings, Tom Millsap of Grand Island, Doug McArthur of Hastings and Allan Wingert of Arapahoe followed.

Swimming & Diving

Great Moments, Swimming & Diving:

2015: “Jacob Molacek”:
Jacobs record-setting performance in the 2014 Nebraska State High School Swimming and Diving Championships included his becoming the fastest swimmer in Nebraska Boys High School Swimming history in every event except two. He became the first boy in US. high school swimming history to break 53 seconds in the 100 yd. breast stroke, and being both a two individual event state champion and a two relay event state champion, resulted in his achieving four gold medals while setting six state records and one national record.
2011: “Record After Record”:

Shannon Guy, Millard West

Shannon’s final state swim meet performance was one for the record books, not because she won the same event four

years in a row (a great feat in itself), but because she lowered the state record in the 100-yard butterfly each year. Her times: freshman 56.20, sophomore 56.15, junior 55.71 and senior 55.05.

Coach Tracy Stauffer’s research indicates this has never been done previously in swimming.

Softball

Great Moments, Softball:

2005: “Queen of Whiff”:
Molly Hill turned in one of the great performances in Nebraska softball history by pitching the Wayne High School team to the Class C state championship. Hill had an ERA of 0.00 and struck out 543 during the 2004 season while leading her team to a 34-0 record.

Officials

Great Moments, Officials:

2003: “Fifty Years of Officiating”:
Vern Plambeck of Kearney approaches 50 years in stripes. A referee who has officiated football since 1954, he missed only the 1957 season while serving in the Army Reserve. He also officiated basketball for many years and has been an observer of officials.

Golf

Great Moments, Golf:

2012: “Golf Four in a Row”:
Danielle Lemek, Doniphan-Trumbull.

Danielle is only the second Nebraska high school athlete winning four State Golf Titles (2008-2011) and the 17th in the nation to reach this achievement.

General

Great Moments, General:

2007: “A Home at Last”:
The NSAA’s invitation in 2006 to the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame and to the Nebraska Coaches Association to share building space in Lincoln.

Football

Great Moments, Football:

2012: “Not Once a Foe Inside the 10 Yard Line”:
Grand Island’s 1936 mythical state champs were never out-downed, out-yarded and their ten-yard line was never crossed. They outscored their opponents 128-0, out-yarded them 2,313-728 and out-downed them 114-34.
2011: “Prep-Central 50 Years Later”:
In October, 1960, the two best football teams in the state met at Rosenblatt Stadium and played to a 0-0 tie before an estimated record Rosenblatt crowd of 14,000. Central had the great Gale Sayers. Prep had an star-studded defense. Coaches were legends—Don Leahy of Creighton Prep and Frank Smagacz of Central. They were both 4-0 and never lost after their epic draw. There were no overtime in the rules in 1960. In 2010, was decided to honor the 1960 teams when they met. They went to Rosenblatt Stadium again (for the last competition at Rosenblatt), had reserved sections for the 1960 teams, drew more than 10,000 and, as Prep Coach Tom Jaworski said, “Tonight was our overtime from 50 years ago.” Prep won in 2010, 30-25.Pictured are 1960 players who attended the 2010 game.
2010: “Kicking Spree”:
Jacob Ramsay, Lincoln Pius X, enjoyed a magic night of place-kicking in 2009. In a 26-7 win over Ralston, Ramsay was 4 for 4 on field goals of 32,50,50 and 22 yards. He also as 2 for 2 on extra points.
2004: “On the Run”:
Fillmore Central’s Michael Brower, the first 11-man football player in Nebraska to rush for 1,000 or more yards in each of his four seasons. His season totals in order were 1,063 yards, 1,321, 2,342 and 2,374 in 2003 and 6,099 yards in his career.
2001: “Action Packed Final 2 Seconds”:
In a 1960 high school football game, Broken Bow and Hall of Famer Kent McCloughan lead Valentine by 21-18 with two seconds go. Jim Murphy of Valentine intercepted a Broken Bow pass in the end zone and the clock ran out while he was running 102 yards for a game-winning touchdown. Final score: Valentine 24, Broken Bow 21.

2000: “Unbeaten, Untied, and Unscored Upon”:
Class B Ravenna’s 1968 team completed the season not only undefeated but allowed no opponent to cross their goal line or score a point. Gibbon came the closest, coming within six yards but the threat ended with Gary Reiter’s pass interception. The Blue Jays netted a total season output of 275 points to their opponents nil. Add to this a third consecutive conference championship and things were to be right with the world in Blue Jay land. Dick Roberts was the head coach.2000Roster:

Dana Christensen Terry Ripp Kerwin Stover Don Ondrak Henry Heider Mike Gillming Doug Roth Steve Haught Larry Heathers Barry Solomon	Mike Rager Ron Schroll Kenny Bock Dave Johnson Dean Psota Kerwin Stover Steve Shrader Henry Heider Don Hervert Don Blaschko Gregg Hanna	Don Lammers Cordell Bullis Greg Ondrak Don Kusek Dan Rogers Dave Johnson Kim Stover Gary Reiter Gary Zeller Alan Schmaljohn Ben Rager	Rick Fox Terry Miller Mike McKeon Ron Young Doug Roth Larry Heathers Mike Rager Kenny Bock Dean Psota Steve Shrader Don Hervert

2000 – Football/Basketball: “Historic Double”:
In 1975, the first year of the NSAA-determined football championships, Nelson High School won the Class D 11-man football title and followed it with the basketball championship in March, thus becoming the first official winner of state championships in the two sports in the same year. Gary DeBoer was the football coach, Tom Murray the basketball coach.Team Members:

Dan Buresh Randy Garvin Terry Jensen Craig Jones Dan Judy Marlin Meyer Mark Collins Tom Garvin Vic Jacobitz Leon Michels	Mike Wilford Dave Wroughton Paul Grueber Dennis Holsteen Calvin Meyer Larry Miller Randy Porter Greg Bohling Ivan Culbertson Jeff Harris	Brent Jensen Todd Jensen John Mazour Allen McClure Steve Melvin Jon Meyers Tom Schleif Marty Sunday Randi Thomberry Roger Biltoft	Steve Gerbers Curt Jensen Rick Mazour Byron Myer Lorrell Peterson Doug Porter Nick Biltoft John Ensign Scott Farver Dan Mazour Brian Soulek

1999: “End of an Era”:
Six-man football, the salvations for years for the sport in small schools, was invented in Nebraska in 1934, spread across the country in rural America and flourished for most of the rest of the 20th century, until school consolidations provided schools with larger enrollments and less need for the six-man game. The Hall of Fame inducted its inventor, Stephen Epler of Chester in 1995, and chooses today to honor the sport once more by saluting the two teams playing last November in the final six-man state championship sponsored by the Nebraska School Activities Association–Milligan and Benedict. Milligan won game at Memorial Stadium by the score of 35 to 28. The teams are honored equally here today for making their contribution to high school sports history.Team rosters:

Benedict: Eric Allen Nate Wittgren Josh Larkin Adam Watson Stuart Nickel Jacob Schall Justin Schoch Brian Burhoop Nate Doremus	Gregg Heiden Gertjan DeVries Andy Bowman James O’Rourke Reggie Wittgren Joe Friesen Nick Lott Ryan Doremus Coach Mark Rotter Assistant Coach Phil Burhoop	Milligan: Matt Filipi Corey Koca Arich Uldrich Tyler Bartels Brent Kassik Dustin Filipi Jeff Havel Jon Halama	Tim Uldrich Jon Vavra-Fong Jeff Graham Lance Lock Corey Vavra Dan Hadherny Jason Pribyl Mike Uldrich Coach Dean Filipi Assistant Coach Craig Rafert

1998: “End Zone Blitz”:
John Cook, Beatrice, for 98 points scored in 1912 in one high school football game. His team won by 128-0.
1997: “Running Wild”:
Cory Eikmeier of Dodge, competing in eight-man football, established state records for one season rushing, of 2,965 yards, career rushing of 8,330 yards; one season touchdowns of 68 and career touchdowns of156. His career covered four seasons, 1994 to 1997. His Friday night gains covered almost five miles.
1996: “Gridiron Rampage”:
Falls City Sacred Heart’s 87-game football winning streak challenged for the national record.
1995: “Football Fun”:
To the Nebraska School Activities Association, for initiating the football playoffs.