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 […]
Gene Suhr – Papillion-LaVista
Coach A motivator, innovator and a master builder of programs, Gene Suhr created a winning legacy on the football fields at Ord and Papillion. He compiled a 200-95 record over a 23-year head coaching career, which included 21 state playoff appearances. Suhr led Papillion-LaVista to undefeated state championship seasons in 1990 and 1996, with both […]
Ernie Wach – Bartley
Athlete. 1955 Graduate. It was a catchy phrase that brought Ernie Wach a special place in high school lore: “Fifty-Five Five in Fifty-Five.” That was his 55-foot, 5-inch state record shot put in the 1955 state track meet. He wasn’t a one-day flash. He lettered four years in football, basketball and track. Ernie scored 141 […]
Al Bahe – Fremont
Athete, Coach. Attended Wayne High ’42-’44 and Wayne Prep from ’44-’46 where he lettered in football at both schools, making the six man All State in 1945’ much the same in basketball playing on the Class B state runner-up team in 1944 and the 1946 state meet semifinals team at Wayne Prep in 1946. Wayne […]
Roger Berney – Wolbach
OFFICIAL Roger Berney brought his whistle to high school sporting events for more than 30 years, officiating football, volleyball and wrestling. He got his start in wrestling, the sport he competed in at Midland College, working more than 20 state tournaments as well as the 1980 NAIA National Championship. The Wolbach graduate also officiated volleyball […]
Chris Leigh Thomas – Platteview
Athlete. One of the best girl basketball players in high school history, this 1979 graduate of Platteview High School in Springfield, Sarpy County, was a favorite with fans from the time she first stepped on to any athletic arena for her varsity team. She was named all-state in both volleyball and basketball, and she won […]
Jerry Mathers – Lincoln
Contributor. One of the founders of the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame, Jerry Mathers spent his life teaching, coaching and serving as a totally-consumed-in-it historian of high school sports. He authored three books on history and records for Nebraska high school sports and was the first historian of the Nebraska High School Sports […]
Steve Morgan – Ogallala
Coach. Few coaches can match Steve Morgan’s success. Morgan created a dynasty without equal in Ogallala. At the time of his induction in 2012, Morgan’s 38-year volleyball coaching career included 788 victories, three state championships and four runner-up finishes in 25 state tournament appearances. His career did not include a losing season. During his tenure, […]
Louise Pound – Lincoln UNL Latin School
Contributor. Louise Pound was a pioneer among women athletes in the state of Nebraska, enjoying much success during her high school age years although never participating in structured high school athletics. Tennis and golf were her top sports, but she gained acclaim in figure skating, skiing, cycling, basketball, swimming, riding and bowling. She was captain […]
Larry Ribble – Millard South
Coach. Larry Ribble’s boys basketball teams enjoyed more than their share of success, winning seven state championships and qualifying for 10 other state tournaments. His teams’ state championship success started in Class C at Pawnee City before his Millard South squads won five Class A crowns. His 1970 and 1971 Pawnee City teams won 35 […]