Author: Mike Rasmussen

Ashley Hagemann-Elkhorn

ATHLETE ASHLEY HAGEMANN Elkhorn High School (Class of 2008) Right-hander Ashley Hagemann pitched Elkhorn to four straight Class B softball championships, logging Class B career records of 1,008 strikeouts and 55 shutouts, along with 86 wins and 17 no-hitters. At the plate, her career numbers included a .452 batting average, 120 RBIs (with an all-class […]

Chris Dishman-Cozad

ATHLETE CHRIS DISHMAN Eight years in the NFL capped Chris Dishman’s playing career. A three-sport athlete at Cozad, “Dish” made all-state teams as a junior and senior in football, won two conference heavyweight titles and reached the state finals in wrestling as a senior, and took bronze in the Class B shot put while also […]

Karen Criss-Omaha Marian

ATHLETE KAREN CRISS Omaha Marian (Class of 2006) No other athlete in girls swimming has a gold-medal collection like Karen Criss. In her four years at Marian—while the Crusaders were winning state titles eight consecutive years—she went 8-for-8 in individual events, a standalone state record. She set state records in the 200-yard individual medley and […]

Ron Coleman-Omaha North

Omaha North (Class of 2010) His school’s first four-time state wrestling champion, Ron Coleman was equally talented in football and chose that sport as his path to college at Southeast Missouri State. Known as “Burger” to his teammates for his favorite food, he was a four-year starter for the Vikings in football and a two-time […]

Alan Closter-Creighton St. Ludgers

  ATHLETE ALAN CLOSTER Creighton St. Ludger (Class of 1961) A four-year career in Major League Baseball culminated Alan Closter’s pitching journey that began in his Knox County hometown. A left-hander, Al was a star athlete at St. Ludger. He was the Comets’ ace on their Class C state championship teams of 1959 and 1961 […]

Deverell Biggs-Omaha Central

ATHLETE DEVERELL BIGGS Omaha Central (Class of 2010) Deverell Biggs came up—well—big in key moments of his athletic career. At the 2010 state track and field meet, he won the high jump on the first day with a mark of 7-0, earning his second all-class gold in the event, which tied for seventh all-time. He […]

Reshea Bristol-Omaha Bryan

Athlete   RESHEA BRISTOL-ATHLETE OMAHA BRYAN-1996 A two-time all-state basketball selection who finished with 1407 points, Reshea Bristol led Omaha Bryan to three Class A tournaments and a runner-up finish in 1995.  She earned All-Metro honors in volleyball her junior and senior seasons and competed for the Bears in soccer and track.  The 1996 B’nai […]

Jackie Brandt-Omaha Benson

Athlete   JACKIE BRANDT-ATHLETE OMAHA BENSON-1952 Before winning a Gold Glove as an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, Jackie Brandt was the primary scoring threat for the Omaha Benson football team and four-year letterman on the Bunnies basketball and baseball teams.  His senior year of football, he scored 52 of the Bunnies 71 points.  […]