Athlete
Few people possess the size, speed, explosive power and eye-hand coordination that Matt Herian turned into one of the most successful athletic careers at Pierce High School. Six-foot-5, 220 pounds as a senior, he was strong enough to place second in the Class C shot put and fast enough to finish third in the 100 meter dash. Unmatched as a big man on the basketball court, he earned all-state honors as a junior and senior, scoring more than 1,000 points as Pierce qualified for the state tournament four times, finishing runner-up in 2000. Football, however, was where it all came together. All-state three years running, he led Pierce to the state finals in 1999 and 2001. At Nebraska he tied the Huskers’ freshman record with 301 receiving yards. He finished as the all-time leading tight end with 1,243 yards and 65 catches.
