Sidney Community Schools Athletic Hall of Fame
Sidney Community Schools
Athletic Hall of Fame
General Criteria and Guidelines for the Sidney Community Schools Athletic Hall of Fame Purpose
The Sidney Community Athletic Hall of Fame honors individuals, establishes pride, and preserves the tradition of the Sidney athletic program by honoring those who have made a significant contribution to the athletic program in the Sidney Community School District.
Award Categories
A member of the Athletic Hall of Fame can include:
1. Athletes
2. Coaches
3. Teams
4. Any other individual who has made a significant contribution to promote Sidney High School athletics.
Requirements for Selection
The Athlete
Must be a graduate of a high school in what is now the Sidney Community High School District or have left school for an honorable reason that would not be detrimental to the image of Sidney High School.
Any person who has earned at least one varsity letter while attending school in the Sidney Community School District.
Must have graduated or left at least 5 years prior to selection to the Athletic Hall of Fame.
Must have demonstrated a distinguished achievement in athletics.
Although athletic achievement while attending Sidney High School is of prime importance, post graduate accomplishments will also be a factor in the selection.
The Coach
Must have demonstrated an unusually high degree of success relative to the same sport. (Coaching can be as a head or assistant coach at the high school or junior high level.)
Success in the program is not necessarily measured by wins and losses but may be determined by the degree of respectability given the person or program by other people.
Preferably has coached the same sport for more than five full seasons and has not left the sport or Sidney High School for reasons detrimental to the image of the school.
Is eligible for the athletic Hall of Fame upon retirement from coaching.
The Team
Any team that has been graduated for at least a period of five years and achieved recognition at a national, state, or district level or has been a dominate team during its period of competition will also be eligible for induction into the Sidney Community School District Hall of Fame.
The Contributor
Any other individual who has made a significant contribution to Sidney High School Athletics
Contributions could include but are not limited to:
1. Long periods of support and service to the athletic department.
2. Severe disability or death as a result of athletic participation.
3. Sportswriter / Sportscaster
A selected member to the Sidney Athletic Hall of Fame must receive 6 votes from the Hall of Fame Committee.
Nomination (Please follow the link to print &mail the nomination form)
Anyone may submit a completed Athletic Hall of Fame Nomination Form to the Athletic Director for consideration. All nominations will remain on file for a period of 5 years from the last nomination and after that time period is up must be re-nominated.
Nominations will be accepted year round but must be on file by May 1 to be considered for nomination for that year. The people that are nominating individuals shall inform those individuals of their nomination and shall be responsible for gathering information on their past accomplishments. They will be responsible for meeting the deadlines set up by the committee. There will be a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 inductees each year.
Timetable
Distribute nomination forms and questionnaires--- Year Round
Deadline for nominations--- May 1
HOF Selection Committee Meets--- May/June
Select and Inform HOF Recipients--- July
Complete information for plaques and media--- July
Order plaques and awards--- July
Announce award winners to the public--- August
Awards Presentation--- Football Homecoming
HALL OF FAME
ALL INDUCTEES
INAUGURAL CLASS - 1980 INDUCTEES
Steve Miller Football/Basketball/Track 1963
Mike Fox Football 1965
Mike Stanley Basketball 1966
Dale Graham Football 1967
A. D. Benson Cross Country 1964
Tom Hudson Football/Basketball 1968
Ted Greedy Football 1968
Curt Starnes Football 1968
Phil Hopkins Football 1968
Max Moore Football Coach
Craig Glasgow Football 1969
Rick Wren Football 1972
Brian Doty Track 1975
Rocky Leonard Football 1976
Brad Doty Football 1977
Brian Schneider Football 1977
Julie Sherwood Softball/Basketball/Track 1979
Wade Ballinger Wrestling 1978
Harold Leonard Football 1979
John Storey Football 1980
Randy Moyer Football 1980
Randy Reeves Football 1980
Kyle Blazek Football 1982
Sherry Berry Basketball 1980
1981 INDUCTEES
Herb Eaton Track 1924
Louis Butts Track 1950
Joy Driever Basketball 1959
Don Schilling Track Coach
Craig Doty Track 1971
1982 INDUCTEES
Bill Hennessey Basketball Coach
Lowell Otte Football 1926
Norman Pullman Track 1939
Jack Briggs Football 1951
1983 INDUCTEES
Kathleen Johnson Basketball 1943
Louis Sullivan Basketball Coach
Dean Handy Baseball 1952
Charlotte Graham Tennis 1963
Shirley Hardy Tennis 1963
1984 INDUCTEES
Robert Mason Basketball/Baseball Coach
Rae Keller Track 1948
Robert Henderson Basketball Coach
James Eaton Track 1934
Phil Hummel Track/Cross Country 1951
1985 INDUCTEES
Derek Brake Track 1981
Damon Byers Track 1981
Rollin Greedy Track 1982
Bill Long Track 1981
1986 INDUCTEES
Dwayne Lord Track 1949
John Hein Track 1966
Steve Strong Track 1965
Carol Doty Basketball 1969
1987 INDUCTEES
Donnie Bebout Wrestling 1977
Robert Harris Track 1966
1988 INDUCTEES
Gilbert Benson Track 1929
Tim Travis Wrestling 1981
1989 INDUCTEES
Steve Rasmussen Football/Track 1984
Jack Blazek Football/Track Coach
Terry Graham Football/Track 1984
Tim Jamison Track 1984
1990 INDUCTEES
Rick Songer Track 1985
Jim Harris Track/Rodeo 1965
1991 INDUCTEE
Larry Greedy Rodeo 1964
1992 INDUCTEES
Launa Countryman Volleyball/Track 1986
Julie Hummel Volleyball 1987
Shelly Myers Volleyball/Basketball/Track 1985
Heath Moore Football 1987
1993 INDUCTEES
Sherman Rhoten Wrestling 1983
Terry Travis Wrestling 1981
1995 INDUCTEES
Larry Wendlandt Basketball Coach
Neil Peterson Basketball/Track 1987
Mike Starner Baseball 1987
1999 INDUCTEE
Roger Eitzmann Wrestling Coach
2000 INDUCTEE
Tony Eitzmann Football/Wrestling/Baseball 1995
2002 INDUCTEES
Aaron Loewe Football 1989
Corey Loewe Track 1992
2007 INDUCTEES
Lynn Brownfield Football 1968
Rod Benson Cross Country/Track 1979
Trisha Fox Volleyball/Softball 1992
Larry Hummel Volleyball/Track Coach
2008 INDUCTEES
Lori Ruth Track 1979
Ben Houchin Basketball 1987
Layne Greedy Wrestling 2001
Tina VanScyoc Volleyball 1986
Duane Ridnour Contributor
2009 INDUCTEES
Rich Hall Track 1952
Wendy Moyer Softball/Basketball/Track 1979
Scott DeLong Basketball/Baseball 1985
2010 INDUCTEES
Andy Johnson Football/Basketball/Baseball 2001
Mitch Wendlandt Basketball 1988
TWO NEW MEMBERS INDUCTED INTO
SIDNEY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
2010
Sidney High School is pleased to announce its 2010 Hall of Fame inductees. The new members to the Hall of Fame were inducted on October 1, 2010, during half time of the homecoming football game with the Essex Trojans.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2010 includes:
Mitch Wendlandt (Basketball) Class of 1988.
Known as an excellent all around athlete, Mitch played four different sports and earned a total of 17 varsity letters. Mitch earned All Conference honors in football, basketball, baseball and track. Although Mitch was a two time state qualifier in track, qualifying for the long jump and mile relay, basketball was where he really stood out. During his four year basketball career as a point guard, Mitch compiled an amazing 706 total assists and averaged 16.3 points per game as a senior. Mitch played a key role on the 1984-1985 basketball team that went 22-3 and qualified to play in the Iowa State Basketball Tournament. After graduating as class salutatorian in 1988, Mitch went on to play basketball and baseball at Kearney State College. While at Kearney, he majored in pre-pharmacy and went on to attend the University Of Nebraska Medical Center Pharmacy School where he received his Doctor of Pharmacy Degree in 1995.
Andy Johnson (Football, Basketball, Baseball) Class of 2001.
From his 8th grade season of high school baseball to the end of the baseball season in 2001, Andy had been awarded 25 All Area, All District, and All Conference Awards. He earned all District Football honors both his junior and senior seasons and was selected 1st Team All State as a defensive back his junior season. Andy was voted 1st Team All Southwest Iowa by the Omaha World Herald, scoring over 1,000 points in his basketball career. He also played in the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil senior All Star Basketball game. Andy was a four time First Team All Conference selection in baseball and after graduating from high school in 2001, he went on to play baseball at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa. Andy finished off a four year baseball career at Briar Cliff with a trip to the NAIA Baseball College World Series in 2005. Andy graduated in 2005 from Briar Cliff with a degree in graphic design. He returned to Sidney as head coach of the high school baseball team from 2008-2010, leading the 2010 Cowboys squad to the outright Corner Conference Baseball Championship.
THREE NEW MEMBERS INDUCTED INTO
SIDNEY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
2009
Sidney High School is pleased to announce its 2009 Hall of Fame inductees.
The new members to the Hall of Fame were inducted on October 2, 2009, during
half time of the homecoming football game with the Essex Trojans.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2009 includes:
Rich Hall (Track) Class of 1952
Rich was a four-sport athlete during his career at Sidney High School, but his passion was track. In 1949, he was the only freshman to earn a letter in track and he qualified for the state track meet his sophomore, junior, and senior years. In 1950, Rich broke the Fremont County track meet record in the mile run,a record that had stood for 22 years. In 1951 and 1952, he broke the mile record again, running a record time of 4:50.1 in 1952. As team captain in 1952, Rich won both the mile and half mile runs, leading Sidney to the Fremont County meet title for the second straight year. He also was the 1952 Tri-State Conference Champion in the mile run and was on the winning mile relay team, both in record time. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1956-1960, Rich attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha and earned a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1968. He has continued as a certified starter for track and cross country meets in the states of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota from 1976 to the present time. In 1996, he was recognized by the Iowa High School Athletic Association for Track Coaches for his dedicated service to the track athletes of Iowa.
Wendy (Moyer) Handy (Softball, Basketball, Track) Class of 1979
Wendy was one of Sidney High School’s best athletes in basketball, softball, and track in the late 1970’s. Before Sidney played volleyball, the cowgirls played fall softball as well as summer softball. Wendy earned 9 letters in softball from 1975-1979. She earned All Corner Conference honors every year. Named second team All Conference outfielder as an 8th grader, she was a first team All Conference outfielder for the next four seasons. In six-on-six Basketball Wendy played post guard for the cowgirls earning All Corner Conference honors for four straight seasons. She was a first team member her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. Her career statistics include 691 rebounds and 386 steals. Wendy also ran on the track team. She qualified for the State meet for two years earning medals her sophomore year in the 880 yard relay and in the 880 yard medley relay. She continued her education at Southeastern Community College in Creston, Iowa, and Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she earned her Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. She continues to support Cowboy/Cowgirl athletics.
Scott DeLong (Baseball, Basketball) Class of 1985
Scott played football, baseball, and basketball for Sidney from 1980-1985. He was a pivotal member of all three teams his junior and senior seasons. In basketball, Scott played on strong championship teams, regular season and tournament, his junior and senior years. As a key starter his senior year, the Cowboys went 22-3 and qualified for the State tournament. The Cowboys finished the season ranked #1 in Southwest Iowa Class B and 5th in the State. Scott was named first team All Corner Conference and All Area by the Nebraska City News Press in 1985. He was a four-year starter in Baseball and played on the Corner Conference baseball co-championship team in 1984. In 1983 and 1985 his teams finished in second place. Scott was named baseball All Conference his junior and senior seasons. Scott graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Northwest Missouri State University.
FOUR NEW MEMBERS INDUCTED INTO
SIDNEY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
2008
Sidney High School is pleased to announce its 2008 Hall of Fame inductees. The new members to the Hall of Fame were inducted on September 19, 2008, during half time of the homecoming football game with the Farragut Admirals.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2008 includes:
Lori (Ruth) Doty (Track) Class of 1979.
A seventeen time letter winner, Lori was one of the best athletes to ever wear a Cowgirl uniform. Lori was All Conference in basketball for three seasons and an All Conference softball player for four years, earning first team honors as a catcher her senior year. Known for her speed and quickness, it was in track and field, however, where Lori would really shine. Lori qualified for the Iowa State Girls Track Meet all four years she attended high school. In the 1977 State Track Meet as a member of the 880 yard relay and the 880 yard medley relay. She would return home with medals for finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the Class 1A finals. She still holds individual school records in both the 100 meter dash and long jump. After graduating as class valedictorian in 1979, Lori attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville where she earned her B.A. degree in accounting, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1982.
Ben Houchin (Basketball) Class of 1987.
Ben was a participant in football and basketball for four years, graduating in 1987. He was a member of the All Conference Football Teams his junior and senior seasons. Ben was a standout player on several very powerful Cowboy basketball squads in the mid 1980’s. He played an integral part on four consecutive teams that posted a record of 81-13. During that time the Cowboys won 3 Corner Conference regular season championships and 4 Corner Conference Tournament Championships. He was a three year starter and was chosen First Team All Corner Conference in 1985, 1986, and 1987. His 15 points helped the Sidney boys earn a hard fought, come from behind 59-54 victory over Diagonal in the 1985 Substate Final in Shenandoah. With that win, the Cowboys became the very first Corner Conference boys’ basketball team to qualify for the State Basketball Tournament in Des Moines. Ben was a member of the 1985 All Underclassman State Tournament Team. In 1987 he was selected to the Omaha World Herald All Southwest Iowa Class B first team and was selected for the Iowa International Basketball Team. After graduation he attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was a letter winner for the Wesleyan basketball team and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1991.
Layne Greedy (Wrestling) Class of 2001.
Layne began his education in Sidney before leaving to attend school in Nebraska City, Nebraska. He participated in several sports during high school, but it was in wrestling that he stood out. Layne qualified for the Nebraska State Wrestling Meet three years in a row, finishing in 6th place as a freshman. He returned to Sidney for his senior year and true to his calling, qualified for the Iowa State Wrestling Meet in Des Moines in 2001. A long shot at best, Layne saved his best wrestling of the season for the state meet. He went on to capture the Class 1A 130 pound weight class and became a State Champion for Sidney. To date the only STATE WRESTLING CHAMPION Sidney High School has ever had. Layne attended the University of Upper Iowa in Fayette, Iowa, graduating in 2008, with a B. A. degree in wellness and fitness.
Tina (VanScyoc) Darrow (Volleyball) Class of 1986.
Tina is a member of the Sidney Class of 1986 and was a standout three year starter for Hall of Fame coach, Larry Hummel. She was selected to the first team All Corner Conference Volleyball Team as a sophomore, junior, and senior. During this period, Cowgirl Volleyball was rolling to a 54-9 match record. As a junior team captain in 1984, Tina helped lead Sidney on a 20 match win streak, losing only in the district tournament. Tina was also a key member of the Sidney Cowgirl Track teams that won back to back Conference Championships in 1984 and 1985. Tina enrolled in the College of St Mary’s on a volleyball scholarship where she studied nursing. She played for 3 seasons at St. Mary’s on teams that recorded 56 wins and only 6 losses. In 2000 she returned to school at Iowa Western and graduated with highest honors in nursing.
Duane Ridnour (Coach/Contributor) 1961-1998
Duane served the Sidney Community School System for 38 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He graduated from New Market High School in 1957 where he was a standout athlete in basketball, track, and baseball. He attended Clarinda Junior College for 2 years where he was one of the best basketball players in the nation. During the 1958-1959 season, Duane lead the nation in scoring with an average of 30.9 points per game, including a season high game of 55 points against Muscatine Junior College. He played baseball for the Clarinda A’s NBC team for many years and is a member of their Hall of Fame. Duane went on to attend Tarkio College where he played basketball for 2 seasons and obtained his B. S. Degree in 1961. Coming to Sidney that fall, Duane began his long career at Sidney. He taught Social Studies and coached several boys and girls teams. After obtaining his Masters Degree from Northwest Missouri State University in 1971 he became high school principal and athletic director. Duane served Cowboy and Cowgirl athletics well over the next 27 years, retiring in 1998. He was selected as Southwest Iowa Athletic Director for Wrestling for the year 1995 and AEA 13 Principal of the Year for 1997-1998. Duane helped start the then new sports of wrestling and volleyball at Sidney and played an integral part in the construction of the present football field and old baseball/softball field.
FOUR NEW MEMBERS INDUCTED INTO
SIDNEY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
2007
Sidney High School is pleased to announce its 2007 Hall of Fame inductees.
The new members to the Hall of Fame were inducted on September 28, 2007,
during half time of the homecoming football game with the Stanton Vikings.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2007 includes:
Lynn Brownfield (Football) Class of 1968
Lynn was a member of the football squad from 1965-1968, earning first team All Corner Conference as both offensive center and defensive linebacker in 1967 and 1968. Playing a significant role during Sidney’s undefeated 10-0 season his junior year. Lynn also earned All Southwest Iowa honors his junior and senior seasons and was named Honorable Mention All State in 1968. Brownfield went on to play football at Tarkio College. After graduation he served in the United States Air Force (1972-1979). The past 22 years he has lived and worked in Heidelberg, Germany, as an Army Community Service Officer for USAG-Heidelberg Garrison and Director of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation for USAG-Heidelberg Community.
Rod Benson (Cross Country / Track) Class of 1979.
Rod participated in both cross country and track during the three years he attended Sidney High School (1976-1979). As a junior, Rod was a state qualifier in both track and cross country. He placed 5th at the district cross country meet and 14th at the state meet. During the track season, he won the Corner Conference two mile championship, was second at the District Meet and was a state qualifier in the two mile run. Rod’s senior season included a return trip to the state cross country meet where he finished 16th. In the spring he led the track squad to a very successful season recording wins in both the mile and two mile runs at the Corner Conference Meet. He once again was second in the two mile run at districts and was 12th at the Iowa State Track Meet in the two mile run. Rod currently resides in New York, New York, where he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication for New York University.
Trisha (Fox) Holt (Volleyball / Softball) Class of 1992
Trisha attended Sidney High School from 1989-1992. A fourteen time letter winner, Trisha was an all-around athlete. During her career, Trisha earned numerous post season awards including first team All Corner Conference in volleyball, basketball, and softball her senior year. Fox also garnered Second Team All State Class 1A in softball as a senior. After graduation she attended Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, where her volleyball squad qualified for the National Junior College Tournament. She went on to get her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Buena Vista University and attended Clarkson College in Omaha where she received a degree for Physical Therapist Assistant. Trisha currently makes her home in Sidney with her husband and daughters.
Larry Hummel (Volleyball and Track Coach) 1979-1998
Larry made his mark on girls’ athletics for twenty years at Sidney. Being the school’s very first volleyball coach, Hummel and his teams were a dominant force in the Corner Conference. Hummel’s squads made the final four in the conference tournament in 15 out of 19 years. The 1984 and 1985 teams were rated number one in the final ratings compiled by the Omaha World Herald. The 1979 and 1985 teams made the district finals, falling to Thomas Jefferson and Tri-Center respectively. Hummel led his teams to six conference championships, four conference tournament championships and eight second place finishes recording over 300 wins. As girls track coach from 1979-2000, he coached numerous state qualifiers while his 1985 and 1986 teams recorded back to back championships at the Corner Conference Meet. After leaving Sidney, Larry went on to coach and teach at Tarkio High School in Missouri and currently lives in Johnston, Iowa, where he works for the Johnston Consolidated School District.