Larry Station – Omaha Central
Athlete. Strength is the best word to describe this fine athlete who graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1982. He gained all-state football acclaim as a two-way player. His linebacking play showed the promise and the prowess that would carry him to a great college career. His achievements in track & field were spectacular. […]
Zane Smith – North Platte
Athlete. Before graduating in 1979 Zane starred in football and basketball for the Bulldogs. He was selected All-Big Ten conference in basketball in 1978 and 1979 averaging 15.3 points a game. In the 1979 season he had an 81.9 free-throw percentage and led the team in rebounding and steals. In football he was All-Big Ten […]
Joe Salerno – Omaha Central
Athlete. (1988)From nearly as far back as he can remember, Joe Salerno found tennis in his back yard. He won four straight No. 1 singles championships in high school – the second player in Nebraska history to do so — within sight of his home. The Salernos lived in the upstairs of the Dewey Park […]
Amy Stephens – Alliance
Athlete. High school basketball state scoring leader in several categories for a number of years. Career points: 1,656. Points in one season: 779. Points in one game: 48. Frankly, there was nobody quite like her. She was a four-year starter at Nebraska. She averaged over 17 points. Kodak District V All-American. Twice All-Big Eight. Second […]
Philip C. Sprague – Lincoln High
Coach. In his 18 years as Lincoln High gymnastics coach (1951-69), the Links won seven state championships and were runners-up nine times. Twenty-three of his gymnasts won 41 state championships. The 1946 Beatrice graduate competed in his sport in high school and was the state pommel horse champion as a senior. His support of his […]
Debbie Spickelmier Noble – Hayes Center
Athlete. (1985) A small-school superstar who, along with her twin sister, Donna, made Hayes Center a player on the state tournament scene where the Cardinals won back-to-back Class D state track championships in 1984 and 1985, the Class D-2 state basketball championship in 1985 and finished second in volleyball in 1984. Debbie excelled in track, […]
Enid Schonewise – Beatrice
Athlete. A triple-talented athlete in the sports of volleyball, basketball and track; this 1983 graduate of Beatrice High School ranks high on the list of best women athletes in the state. All-state in volleyball (178 ace spikes, 93 per cent server), she was also all-state in basketball, leading South all-stars to its first win in […]
Willard Schmidt – Swanton
Athlete. Despite his height – 6 feet, 6 inches – Willard Schmidt did not start playing basketball until his junior year when he joined the team coached by Hall of Famer Joe Sukovaty. His junior year, Schmidt led his team to a Class L state basketball championship. Schmidt scored 43 of the 107 points the […]
Donna Spickelmier Vallin – Hayes Center
Athlete. (1985) A mirror image of her sister, Debbie, the Spickelmier twins dominated Class D throughout their high school careers that included two state track championships, a state basketball championship and two state track and one volleyball runner-up finish. Donna won 16 medals at the state track meet, including an all-class gold medal in the […]
