2011 Dominant Dynasties Award
Basketball
Led by head coaches John Krivohlavek (1975-76) and Rick Hesse (1976-1995) the Clearwater boys basketball teams were for 20 years the small school power in northeast Nebraska and at the state level. The Cardinals appeared in 11 State Tournaments and were the first boys team to win four consecutive state titles. The Cards finished first, second or third almost every season in the 10 team Sandhills-Gateway Conference and later in the 16 team Niobrara Valley Conference. At the 1986-87 state tournament the Clearwater fans hoisted a banner saying “Welcome to the Fourth Annual Clearwater Invitational” which the Cards won. For two decades the Cardinals posted a record of 346 wins against 91 losses, averaging 17 wins and 4 losses per season.
1975 -76 RECORD: 15 WINS 6 LOSSES
1976 – 77 RECORD: 15 WINS 7 LOSSES SHGW CONFERENCE CHAMPS – CLASS D STATE QUALIFIER
1977 – 78 RECORD: 14 WINS 3 LOSSES SHGW CONFERENCE RUNNERUP
1978 – 79 RECORD: 23 WINS 2 LOSSES SHGW CONFERENCE CHAMPS – CLASS D STATE SEMIFINALIST 1979 – 80 RECORD: 17 WINS 7 LOSSES SHGW CONFERENCE RUNNERUP – CLASS D STATE QUALIFIER
1980 – 81 RECORD: 23 WINS 1 LOSS SHGW CONFERENCE CHAMPS – CLASS D STATE QUALIFIER
1981 – 82 RECORD: 10 WINS 8 LOSSES SHGW CONFERENCE RUNNERUP
1982 – 83 RECORD: 16 WINS 5 LOSSES SHGW CONSOLATION CHAMPS – D-8 DISTRICT CHAMPS
1983 – 84 RECORD: 23 WINS 0 LOSSES SHGW CONFERENCE CHAMPS -CLASS D-2 STATE CHAMPS
1984 – 85 RECORD: 20 WINS 5 LOSSES SHGW CONFERENCE CHAMPS – CLASS D-2 STATE CHAMPS
1985 – 86 RECORD: 23 WINS 1 LOSSES SHGW CONFERENCE RUNNERUP – CLASS 0-2 STATE CHAMPS
1986 – 87 RECORD: 25 WINS 1 LOSSES SHGW CONFERENCE RUNNERUP – CLASS 0-2 STATE CHAMPS ,
1987 – 88 RECORD: 19 WINS 2 LOSSES NIOBRARA VALLEY CONFERENCE CONSOLATION CHAMPS
1988 – 89 RECORD: 19 WINS 4 LOSSES NIOBRARA VALLEY CONFERENCE RUNNERUP – CLASS D-2 STATE QUALIFIER
1989 – 90 RECORD: 14 WINS 8 LOSSES NIOBRARA VALLEY CONFERENCE RUNNERUP
1990 – 91 RECORD: 11 WINS 11 LOSSES Dl-5 SUB-DISTRICT CHAMPS
1991 – 92 RECORD: 18 WINS 4 LOSSES NIOBRARA VAlLEY CONFERENCE CONSOLATION CHAMPS – 02-9 SUB-DISTRICT CHAMPS
1992 – 93 RECORD: 9 WINS 10 LOSSES
1993 – 94 RECORD: 17 WINS 4 LOSSES D2-9 SUB-DISTRICT CHAMPS
1994 – 95 RECORD: 24 WINS 2 LOSSES NIOBRARA VALLEY CONFERENCE CHAMPS – CLASS D-2 STATE SEMI-FINALIST
ASSISTANT COACHES: VERN KNAPP (1975 -76), NEIL WARING 1977 -78), & ROD BRUMMELS (1978 -1995)