10 former Eagles inducted to CSC Hall of Fame

On Sept. 2, it was released that there would be 10 new inductions to the Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame.  The induction ceremony is set to follow the Oct. 31 football game against New Mexico Highlands. The inductees include five football players, one basketball star, a wrestler, and three individuals being recognized for their services at CSC.

Don Watt is being recognized for years of service as an athletic trainer for the Eagles. Watt was a student trainer at CSC while working on his bachelor’s degree and is now the head athletic trainer. After an injury that ended his athletic career he needed to stay involved and “fell in love with training.”

“Chadron is home, it’s a great community filled with great people,” Watt said. That’s what has kept him here for so long. The late Ann Smith was not only a Chadron State professor and a coach for 25 years but was also a graduate of CSC. Smith was deeply involved in many aspects of the Physical Education department continuing after she resigned from coaching. Steve Nelson was on both the track and football team in the 70s and was a volunteer pole vaulting coach for 17 years.

The five football stars all played in the late 1990s and include Casey Beran, of Sargent; Jess Clarke, of Alliance; Mike Fackrell, of Kemmerer, Wyoming; Jay Long, of Red Owl, South Dakota; and Brad Schulz, of Billings, Montana.

Beran was the Nebraska State College Athlete of the Year in 2000, and was also the first Eagle to get All-American and All-American Academic Honors. He is the CSC sack leader and has also been named to the RMAC Hall of Fame. Clarke has received many honors and his yardage totals are second on CSC’s all-time list. Despite two serious injuries, Fackrell was named first or second All-Conference three times. Jay Long is currently coaching his fourth season at Chadron State College and was a starter for three years and also wrestled. Schulz also earned many awards starting at offensive tackle for four years including getting to play in a D-II All-Star game.

“When I first got the letter informing me that I was going to be in the Hall of Fame I was overwhelmed with emotion,” Long said. “Everyone wants to leave a mark and this was a special moment for me and I am glad to share this with my former teammates and I have to thank my team, my coaches, and my family.” He also said one of his greatest achievements was when former Coach Bill O’Boyle said he was the most intense player he has worked with.

Wrestler Jake Holscher qualified for the national tournament three times and has since rode his bike from California to Maryland to support tissue and organ donations.

The last inductee is Jim Rhodes, who averaged 24.2 points per game in 1966 and continues to hold the school’s record for most points in a season.