The Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame will induct 11 athletes, five coaches, one contributor and one official at its annual induction ceremony on Oct. 1 in Lincoln.
ATHLETES
Forrest "Frosty" Anderson, Scottsbluff (1969)
Was an all-state selection in football, a two-year starter in basketball and a contributor to the Bearcats' state championship track team of 1968. A three-year letterman for the Huskers, he played split end on the national championship teams of 1970 and 1971.
Kim (Behrends) Buckendahl, Chappell (1997)
She led Chappell volleyball to a 55-match winning streak and back-to-back state championships, earning all-class all-state honors her junior and senior years and was runner-up as Volleyball Magazine's national player of the year. In basketball, she started four years, scoring 1,384 points. At Nebraska, she averaged more than four kills per game for the 34-0 national volleyball champion Huskers in 2000.
Leodis Flowers, Omaha Central (1987)
A two-time All-Nebraska running back, he was a Parade All-American and one of eight finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year after rushing for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns in just seven games in his senior year. At Nebraska, he rushed for more than 1,600 yards in three years.
Erin (Gudmundson) Haussermann, Kearney Catholic (2002)
An all-stater in volleyball and basketball, she qualified for the state track meet in seven events, winning the all-class gold medal in the high jump her senior season. A three-time volleyball All-American at Nebraska-Kearney, she was named the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in 2005.
Richard Knaub, Scottsbluff (1954)
Won the all-class gold in the pole vault as a sophomore and in the vault and the long jump as a junior. Was state pentathlon champion as a senior, then hurt his back during the state meet. Also started at quarterback and was the leading scorer on a state-qualifying team. He went on to win a conference long jump title for UCLA and competed in the 1956 Olympic Trials. Knaub passed away last April.
Laura (Pilakowski) Buttermore, Columbus (1999)
The All-Nebraska first-teamer and regional player of the year in volleyball was also an all-state basketball player and state track qualifier, placing in two events. At Nebraska, she was named a first-team All-American as a sophomore while helping the Huskers to the 2000 national championship and was a second-team selection as a senior. She was a three-time All-Big 12 selection in volleyball and also ended her Husker career with a season on the basketball team.
Barrett Ruud, Lincoln Southeast (2001)
Southeast's all-time leading rusher with 2,988 yards and 54 touchdowns helped the Knights to a 48-2 record and three state championships in four years. A four-year Husker letterman at linebacker, he set a single-season record for tackles his junior year. He went on to play eight seasons in the NFL.
Renee Saunders, Omaha Marian (1995)
The all-state volleyball and basketball player went on to play both sports at Nebraska. She was Marian's first-ever 1,000 point scorer in basketball and was the school's career kills leader in volleyball. Currently the volleyball coach at Omaha Skutt High School, she was the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star Female Athlete of the Year in 1995.
Anne Shadle, South Sioux City (2001)
Won three Class B state cross country championships and three all-class gold medals in track. At Nebraska, she was an NCAA champion in the indoor mile and the outdoor 1,500 meters and a two-time All-American and still holds three Nebraska school records. She ran professionally for three years and competed in the 2008 Olympic Trials.
Daryl Stovall, Bellevue West (1978)
Drafted by Major League Baseball and the NBA, he averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds as a senior at Bellevue West and was a two-time all-state baseball selection. At Creighton, he was a three-year starter in basketball and baseball, signing with the Chicago White Sox before his senior season.
Scott Usher, Grand Island (2001)
Competed in swimming at the 2004 Olympic Games, finishing seventh in his specialty, the 200 meter breaststroke. At Grand Island, he was a gold medalist in the breaststroke and individual medley as a senior after winning the breaststroke as a junior. At Wyoming, he was a four-time first-team All-American and six-time conference champion.
COACHES
Rick Hesse, Clearwater/Valentine
Led Clearwater to four consecutive state basketball titles from 1984 to 1987. The Gering graduate finished with 440 career wins and 12 state tournament appearances.
Kathy Mettenbrink, Centura
The Grand Island Northwest graduate coached girls basketball at Centura for 34 years, winning 549 games, making 11 state tournament appearances and finishing as state runner-up twice before retiring in 2015.
John Miller, Chambers/Southern Valley
Retired in 2016 as the winningest basketball coach in Nebraska history with 709 total victories -- 585 wins and five state championships coaching the Chambers girls, and 124 wins and a state title with the Southern Valley boys. Also coached football for 13 years at Chambers, with the Coyotes winning a D2 state championship in 2007.
Carl Tesmer, Grand Island Central Catholic/Hastings St. Cecilia
Has coached football for 41 years, compiling a 339-89-2 record, the most wins for an active coach. He's coached two state championship teams at St. Cecilia.
Mark Wortman, Elkhorn
Has led Elkhorn football to five state championships, four other state finals and 28 playoff appearances in 36 years. The Lexington graduate has a career record of 333-77.
CONTRIBUTOR
Jerry Stine, Omaha
Retired from coaching at Wheeler Central and Bertrand, he continues to work for several organizations including the high school hall of fame. He is the creator, author and secretary of the Nebraska Coaches Association milestone awards that bear his name.
OFFICIAL
Larry Bornschlegl, Hastings
Officiated basketball in Nebraska for 20 years, working 10 state tournaments and eight state finals. He has been an NSAA observer of officials for 25 years.
HONOREES
Great Moment in High School Sports
Winnebago state championship team of 2015 that captured the attention of the state.
Dominant Dynasty
Omaha Westside swimming, coached by Hall of Fame inductees Cal Bentz and Doug Krecklow, won 24 state championships (13 boys, 11 girls) between 1973 and 1988.
Ron Gustafson Inspiration Award
Taleah Williams of Norfolk was born without a lower left arm but had an outstanding prep career in basketball and track. Now a jumper at Nebraska-Omaha, She competed in the long jump at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.
Fischer Family Award
Pat Novacek family of Gothenburg, including Jim Novacek, All-Pro tight end Jay Novacek and Jason Novacek, Nebraska's first pole vaulter to clear 16 feet.
Golden Anniversary Teams
Schuyler's "Jolly Green Giants" state championship basketball team of 1968; and the Scottsbluff state champion football, cross country, wrestling and boys track teams of 1967-68.
Silver Anniversary Teams
The undefeated state champion St. Paul girls basketball team of 1993, and the Lincoln Southeast championship factory that won seven state titles -- boys and girls cross country, football, girls basketball, girls gymnastics, boys swimming and boys golf in the 1992-93 school year.
ATHLETES
Forrest "Frosty" Anderson, Scottsbluff (1969)
Was an all-state selection in football, a two-year starter in basketball and a contributor to the Bearcats' state championship track team of 1968. A three-year letterman for the Huskers, he played split end on the national championship teams of 1970 and 1971.
Kim (Behrends) Buckendahl, Chappell (1997)
She led Chappell volleyball to a 55-match winning streak and back-to-back state championships, earning all-class all-state honors her junior and senior years and was runner-up as Volleyball Magazine's national player of the year. In basketball, she started four years, scoring 1,384 points. At Nebraska, she averaged more than four kills per game for the 34-0 national volleyball champion Huskers in 2000.
Leodis Flowers, Omaha Central (1987)
A two-time All-Nebraska running back, he was a Parade All-American and one of eight finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year after rushing for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns in just seven games in his senior year. At Nebraska, he rushed for more than 1,600 yards in three years.
Erin (Gudmundson) Haussermann, Kearney Catholic (2002)
An all-stater in volleyball and basketball, she qualified for the state track meet in seven events, winning the all-class gold medal in the high jump her senior season. A three-time volleyball All-American at Nebraska-Kearney, she was named the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in 2005.
Richard Knaub, Scottsbluff (1954)
Won the all-class gold in the pole vault as a sophomore and in the vault and the long jump as a junior. Was state pentathlon champion as a senior, then hurt his back during the state meet. Also started at quarterback and was the leading scorer on a state-qualifying team. He went on to win a conference long jump title for UCLA and competed in the 1956 Olympic Trials. Knaub passed away last April.
Laura (Pilakowski) Buttermore, Columbus (1999)
The All-Nebraska first-teamer and regional player of the year in volleyball was also an all-state basketball player and state track qualifier, placing in two events. At Nebraska, she was named a first-team All-American as a sophomore while helping the Huskers to the 2000 national championship and was a second-team selection as a senior. She was a three-time All-Big 12 selection in volleyball and also ended her Husker career with a season on the basketball team.
Barrett Ruud, Lincoln Southeast (2001)
Southeast's all-time leading rusher with 2,988 yards and 54 touchdowns helped the Knights to a 48-2 record and three state championships in four years. A four-year Husker letterman at linebacker, he set a single-season record for tackles his junior year. He went on to play eight seasons in the NFL.
Renee Saunders, Omaha Marian (1995)
The all-state volleyball and basketball player went on to play both sports at Nebraska. She was Marian's first-ever 1,000 point scorer in basketball and was the school's career kills leader in volleyball. Currently the volleyball coach at Omaha Skutt High School, she was the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star Female Athlete of the Year in 1995.
Anne Shadle, South Sioux City (2001)
Won three Class B state cross country championships and three all-class gold medals in track. At Nebraska, she was an NCAA champion in the indoor mile and the outdoor 1,500 meters and a two-time All-American and still holds three Nebraska school records. She ran professionally for three years and competed in the 2008 Olympic Trials.
Daryl Stovall, Bellevue West (1978)
Drafted by Major League Baseball and the NBA, he averaged 24 points and 11 rebounds as a senior at Bellevue West and was a two-time all-state baseball selection. At Creighton, he was a three-year starter in basketball and baseball, signing with the Chicago White Sox before his senior season.
Scott Usher, Grand Island (2001)
Competed in swimming at the 2004 Olympic Games, finishing seventh in his specialty, the 200 meter breaststroke. At Grand Island, he was a gold medalist in the breaststroke and individual medley as a senior after winning the breaststroke as a junior. At Wyoming, he was a four-time first-team All-American and six-time conference champion.
COACHES
Rick Hesse, Clearwater/Valentine
Led Clearwater to four consecutive state basketball titles from 1984 to 1987. The Gering graduate finished with 440 career wins and 12 state tournament appearances.
Kathy Mettenbrink, Centura
The Grand Island Northwest graduate coached girls basketball at Centura for 34 years, winning 549 games, making 11 state tournament appearances and finishing as state runner-up twice before retiring in 2015.
John Miller, Chambers/Southern Valley
Retired in 2016 as the winningest basketball coach in Nebraska history with 709 total victories -- 585 wins and five state championships coaching the Chambers girls, and 124 wins and a state title with the Southern Valley boys. Also coached football for 13 years at Chambers, with the Coyotes winning a D2 state championship in 2007.
Carl Tesmer, Grand Island Central Catholic/Hastings St. Cecilia
Has coached football for 41 years, compiling a 339-89-2 record, the most wins for an active coach. He's coached two state championship teams at St. Cecilia.
Mark Wortman, Elkhorn
Has led Elkhorn football to five state championships, four other state finals and 28 playoff appearances in 36 years. The Lexington graduate has a career record of 333-77.
CONTRIBUTOR
Jerry Stine, Omaha
Retired from coaching at Wheeler Central and Bertrand, he continues to work for several organizations including the high school hall of fame. He is the creator, author and secretary of the Nebraska Coaches Association milestone awards that bear his name.
OFFICIAL
Larry Bornschlegl, Hastings
Officiated basketball in Nebraska for 20 years, working 10 state tournaments and eight state finals. He has been an NSAA observer of officials for 25 years.
HONOREES
Great Moment in High School Sports
Winnebago state championship team of 2015 that captured the attention of the state.
Dominant Dynasty
Omaha Westside swimming, coached by Hall of Fame inductees Cal Bentz and Doug Krecklow, won 24 state championships (13 boys, 11 girls) between 1973 and 1988.
Ron Gustafson Inspiration Award
Taleah Williams of Norfolk was born without a lower left arm but had an outstanding prep career in basketball and track. Now a jumper at Nebraska-Omaha, She competed in the long jump at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.
Fischer Family Award
Pat Novacek family of Gothenburg, including Jim Novacek, All-Pro tight end Jay Novacek and Jason Novacek, Nebraska's first pole vaulter to clear 16 feet.
Golden Anniversary Teams
Schuyler's "Jolly Green Giants" state championship basketball team of 1968; and the Scottsbluff state champion football, cross country, wrestling and boys track teams of 1967-68.
Silver Anniversary Teams
The undefeated state champion St. Paul girls basketball team of 1993, and the Lincoln Southeast championship factory that won seven state titles -- boys and girls cross country, football, girls basketball, girls gymnastics, boys swimming and boys golf in the 1992-93 school year.
