Fred Petito-Millard North
COACH FRED PETITO-COACH MILLARD NORTH During the longest head coaching tenure in Class A football, 41 years, Fred Petito produced five state championship teams and the most recent Heisman Trophy winner from the state. The Chicago native, who came to Nebraska as a Hastings College athlete, coached the Mustangs from 1983 to 2023 after his […]
Luke Pinkelman-Cozad
Athlete Luke Pinkelman paved the way for several successful seasons by the Cozad football and track teams. In the throwing rings, Pinkelman qualified for the state track meet in the shot put and discus all four years, winning five Class B gold medals and three all-class gold medals. As a senior, he set the state-meet […]
Niles Paul- Omaha North
Athlete Niles Paul- Omaha North The consensus Athlete of the Year as a senior, Niles Paul epitomized the multi-sport athlete. A Parade All-American in football, he had 78 pass receptions his junior and senior years for 23 touchdowns and was a game-changing return specialist. On the basketball court, he averaged nearly 19 points and 12 […]
Larry Porter- Lincoln
Contributor Larry Porter […]
Meredy Porter- Bellevue West
Athlete Meredy (Porter) Smith […]
Zach Potter- Omaha Creighton Prep
Athlete Zach Potter […]
Elroy Pierce- Eustis-Farnam
Coach In his 50-year coaching career, 48 years at Eustis and Eustis-Farnam, Elroy Pierce earned the title of “Coach”. He started at McPherson County, coaching football, basketball and track. Moving to Eustis, he was the head coach or an assistant coach in football, boys and girls basketball, cross country, golf, and track and field. Preaching […]
Ben Plucknett-Beatrice
Athlete Beatrice (Class of 1972) Walter Harrison (Ben) Plucknett, a four-year letterman in football and track at Beatrice High School and the all-class gold medalist in the shot put and discus throw in 1972, developed into the premier discus thrower in the world. At the University of Missouri, “Big Ben” won three Big Eight Championships […]
Laura (Pilakowski) Buttermore-Columbus
Laura (Pilakowski) Buttermore excelled on every field and court. The first female four-year, three-sport letterman at Columbus High School, she earned all-state honors in volleyball and basketball and qualified for the state track meet all four years. The consensus 1999 Female Athlete of the Year, she was the Nebraska Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year […]
Jim Paige – Official
Official Jim Paige spent more than 50 years calling fouls and penalties in football, basketball and track at Nebraska high school athletic events. Described as “quiet, unassuming and hard-working,” Paige displayed a respect for athletes and coaches while maintaining fairmindedness in the implementation of the rules. Selected as the Nebraska Football Official of the Year, […]
