W.L. “Dutch” Zorn – Gothenburg
Coach–How to build a successful track & field program within Nebraska high schools could have been a book written by this winning coach of Gothenburg High School. The cardinal & white Swedes won the Class B state track meet five times, in 1949, 1957, 1962, 1967 and 1971. No doubt the ability to inspire a […]
Richard Beran – Omaha South
Coach. As Omaha South’s gymnastics coach from 1967 to 1988, Rich Beran coached Olympians Jim Hartung and Phil Cahoy (Hall of Fame inductees, too) among his 64 individual state champions. His boys teams won seven state titles and 12 Metro Conference titles and had a 158-27 dual meet record. His girls teams won two state […]
Nile Kinnick – Omaha Benson
Athlete–One of the most nationally known of all Omaha high school graduates, this Benson High product (Class of 35) became a football legend. His athletic skills were abundantly clear, for he starred in track & field, was named all-state in football and helped Benson nearly reach the top in Class A basketball. Attending college at […]
Dennis Logan – North Platte
Official. Inducted with officiating partner, Dan Newmyer. They officiated together for 40 years, so they will be inducted into the Hall of Fame together. They began officiating basketball while students at Doane College in the late 1940s and they retired in the late 1980s. They began officiating football games with Hall of Fame referee Dick […]
Cecil McKnight – Plattsmouth
Coach. Sometime during an outstanding track career at Peru State, Cecil McKnight decided he wanted to be in the coaching profession. He started at Morrill and then moved to Plattsmouth as track and cross-country coach where he spent 38 years. His teams won four Class B championships, of which three consecutive wins were in cross-country […]
Jill Noel Korta – Lincoln Pius X
Athlete. Jill could possibly have been the first four-time state girl’s cross country champion had that sport been sanctioned by the NSAA in 1979, her freshman year at York. So she ran with the boys that year and finished second in her first race. In her next three years, she never lost a race in […]
Jim Puetz – Columbus Scotus
Coach. Puetz compiled a 236-96-6 record coaching football for 34 years, 31 at Columbus Scotus. His teams won state championships in 1984 and 1993. A track coach from 1968 to 1993, his teams won two state championships, two state runner-up trophies, 18 district championships and 19 conference championships.
Roger Sayers – Omaha Central
Class of 1959–Competing in an era where most athletes received a catchy nickname, Rocket Roger Sayers first showed a knack for speed as an Omaha Central athlete in 1957-58-59, winning 100-220 gold medals in 1958, the 220 and a relay gold in 1959. He starred at Omaha University in football and track for four years. […]
Jodi Stineman Emsick – Lincoln Southeast
Athlete. Jodi Stineman Emsick had “champion” written all over her from the start of her career at Lincoln Southeast. She played and starred on state championship teams in cross country, basketball (twice) and track. She was the first Lincoln Southeast athlete to win 12 varsity letters along with these laurels: Female high school athlete of […]
Kathy Travis Miiller – Lincoln Christian
Athlete. Bottom line in the outstanding high school track career for Kathy (Travis) Miiller: She never lost an individual race during an NSAA-sanctioned event. She also was a volleyball all-stater and the female high school athlete of the year in 1991. In her four starring years of track at Lincoln Christian, she led her team […]
