Doug Phelps – Hastings
Athlete. A 1975 graduate of Hastings High School, Phelps was the first Nebraskan to clear the 7-foot barrier in the high jump. He won three straight gold medals in the high jump at the state meet and, his senior season, broke the state record five times. He also was a three-year, three-sport letterman for the […]
Gail Peterson – Crofton
Coach. Gail Peterson created a cross country dynasty in the little town of Crofton where his teams won 15 state championships and claimed the runner-up trophy another eight times. His girls teams won nine state titles, including eight straight from 1981-88. The boys teams won six state titles between 1977 and 1991. He coached two […]
Larry Pritchett – Perkins County
Coach. The driving force behind the Grant/Perkins County basketball dynasty, Larry Pritchett coached the Plainsmen to state championships in 1968, 1989 and 1990 and three state runner-up finishes, as well as 22 conference titles. He coached the Plainsmen from 1968-73 and again from 1987-2007. He was an assistant coach on Grant’s state championship team in […]
Maurice H. Palrang – Boys Town
Coach–Success as a coach in at least three different sports and at different high schools throughout a career from 1934-1972 shows the versatility of this fine coach. Prior to World War II, Maurice “Skip” Palrang helped develop the basketball skills of the Creighton Prep Blue jays in Omaha, leading them to winning state tournaments in […]
Gary Power – Gothenburg
Class of 1960 A “late bloomer,” Gary Power developed into a world-class hurdler after graduating from Omaha University. At age 23, he started to grow, adding an inch of height and nearly 20 pounds while shaving half a second off his 100-meter dash time. While living in California, he also became a devotee of weight […]
Scott Poehling – Fremont Bergan
Athlete–One of the best high school runners of all time, this 1976 graduate of Archbishop Bergan Catholic High School still draws raves from Nebraskans who were fortunate enough to witness his performance in the 1976 Boys State Track & Field meet. Winning the team grand championship for Fremont Bergan by himself, his times in those […]
Amy Paulsen-Spiering – Norfolk-Ralston-Oakland Craig
Oakland-Craig Class of 1990 Athlete Amy Paulsen-Spiering is the standard by which Nebraska weight throwers are measured. Paulsen-Spiering won seven gold medals at the state track and field championships. As a freshman, she won the Class A discus and placed second in the shot put at Norfolk.. The next three years, competing for Norfolk, Ralston […]
Bill Pfeiff – Lincoln High
Coach–Inspiring respect as both an athlete and a coach, this likable coach and school administrator became a legend in Nebraska high school track & field by setting a state record in the shot put of 52’ 2” while competing for Lincoln High School in 1936. The record stood for 19 years. After World War II, […]
John Parrella – Grand Island Central Catholic
Class of 1988 Athlete John Parrella played in three Super Bowls–the Buffalo Bills in 1994, the San Diego Chargers in 1995 and the Oakland Raiders in 2003–during a 13-year professional career at defensive tackle. His football days started at Grand Island Central Catholic High School where he excelled in football and was named a high-school […]
Fred Pisasale – Omaha
Coach. An all-around athlete at Omaha Central, Fred lettered in football, wrestling and tennis. During those years Central won the state meet in wrestling and tennis for four years and he won the gold medal in his weight class one year. After high school graduation in 1946, he spent two years in the Marine Corps. […]
