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. […]
Kevin Penner – Aurora
Athlete. (1980)Nebraska high school’s athlete of the year in 1980, he was a three-sport prep standout whose fourth – and best sport – baseball, took him to the 1982 College World Series and the 1983 Pan American Games. Drafted by the Texas Rangers, he was All-American in baseball in 1985. At Aurora, Penner quarterbacked a […]
Al Papik – Lincoln
Contributor. The large majority of Al.’s professional career was on a collegiate level, but he continually worked with, and for, the high schools in the state of Nebraska. A 1950 Doane College graduate, Al accepted his first coaching position at Laurel, followed by two years at Crete Public Schools. In 1955, he was selected as […]
Jack Payne – Omaha
Contributor Few probably would recognize his face, but many knew his voice from radio broadcasts to the public address announcements at many events. Jack Payne provided the soundtrack to numerous high school and college events, including the state track meet, which he announced for 27 years. He also loaned his voice to the Metro Conference […]
Glenn Presnell – DeWitt
Athlete. An all-state football player from DeWitt, Glenn went on to UN-L where he was all-conference for two years and part of the team that beat Illinois and Red Grange in 1925. After college Glenn moved on to pro football passing up a contract with the New York Giants to play for the Ironton, Ohio […]
John Petersen – Columbus Scotus
COACH John Petersen’s coaching career in volleyball and basketball set the gold standard for girls athletics. He built Columbus Scotus into a volleyball dynasty, winning 15 state championships and seven runner-up trophies in a 36-year span (1973-2013) that included 28 state tournament appearances. Nine of his teams went undefeated. Including a brief stint at Newcastle, […]
