Jim Tenopir-Lincoln

  Contributor Jim Tenopir took the path from small-town Nebraska to the peak of high school sports in the United States. The Chief Operating Officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations from 2010-15, Tenopir oversaw the day-to-day operations of the organization that governs high school sports across the nation. He drew on […]

Fran ten Bensel- Arapahoe

  Athlete Fran ten Bensel- Arapahoe The winner of four straight Class C 800-meter races at the state track meet and twice the All-Class gold medalist, Fran (ten Bensel) Benne emerged from Arapahoe to become one of Nebraska’s all-time great runners. She added a gold and two silver medals in the 1,600 before the end […]

Dennis Thorell- Loomis

Athlete Dennis Thorell                                                                                                         […]

Tim Turman- Bishop Neumann

  Coach- 2019 At the time of his retirement in 2018, Tim Turbam ranked seventh in Nebraska’s football coaching ranks with 307 career victories.  His storied coaching career (307-159-2), which began at Fairmont in 1972 and included a stint at David City before he took over the Bishop Neumann program in 1980.  His Bishop Neumann […]

Carl Tesmer-Grand Island Central Catholic/Hastings St. Cecilia

Coach Few football coaches lead a school to 100 victories. Carl Tesmer did it at two schools, climbing into the rarified air of 300-plus coaching victories. At the time of his induction, Tesmer had put together a 339-89-2 record, 39 winning seasons, 13 undefeated regular seasons and more than 25 top-ten teams in a 41-year […]

Larry Tomlinson – O’Neill St. Mary’s

Athlete. Class of 1959. Larry Tomlinson earned his place in Nebraska history when he caught the first touchdown pass for the first touchdown of the Bob Devaney era with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The O’Neill St. Mary’s standout had more than one play in his career. Tomlinson earned all-state honors while leading St. Mary’s to a […]

Ed Thompson – Cambridge

Class of 1995 Ed Thompson wasn’t the typical small-town superstar, he was the prototype. Whether it was football, basketball or track, Thompson excelled on teams that excelled. A three-year starter at quarterback, Thompson led the Cambridge Trojans to a 38-1 record. He earned all-state honors on offense, defense and as a punter. In basketball, he […]

LaVerne Torczon – Platte Center

Athlete.(1953) LaVerne Torczon blazed a trail from Nebraska’s six-man fields to professional football where he earned the nickname “Tarzan Torczon” while playing for the Buffalo Bills, New York Titans/Jets and Miami Dolphins. At Platte Center, he was a three-year starter in football, playing end as a sophomore and running back his junior and senior years, […]

Dennis Troester – Southwest

Coach Dennis Troester never strayed far from home or far from winning. In a 41-year coaching career, he won more than 1,000 games at Republican Valley/Southwest high schools. A Red Willow High School graduate, he returned home to begin his teaching career in 1971. His volleyball teams enjoyed the most success, winning seven state championships […]

Mick Tingelhoff – Lexington

Athlete–When Lexington High School graduated this husky young man in 1958, he had just completed two years as a terrific center on football teams of the Minutemen. In the fall of 1957, for example, they had an undefeated season over almost all Class A opponents ending the year as state champion according to many observers. […]