CSC honors 10 Hall of Fame inductees

Ten new inductees to the Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame were honored Saturday. Of the new inductees, five were former football players including Head Coach Jay Long.

Con Marshall, Office of the President Information Services Officer, spoke about most of the individuals while Scott Ritzen, former wrestling head coach, spoke about Jake Holscher and Long.

“It is an honor to be back in Chadron and see all the athletes I competed with and looked up to,” Holscher said. “I was always proud to be an Eagle.”

Casey Beran was the first to be honored for his plays on the football field. A member of the team from 1995 to 1999, Beran holds the record for most sacks in a season with 35. Jesse Clark was a wide receiver on the team from 1996 to 1999. Clark recorded well over 700 receiving yards in his senior season to go along with six touchdowns. Clark along with Beran are members of CSC’s All-Century Football Team.

Mike Fackrell was a running back from 1996 to 1999. He was the first underclassman to earn over 1,000 yards in a season. According to Con Marshall, Fackrell “had a knack for getting a few more yards than anyone thought he could on every play.”

Long and Brad Schulz rounded out the former football players that were honored. Long was the center on the football team as well as a wrestler from 1996-2000. As the center, the coaches said that Long “was perhaps the most intense player around.” He was also voted the Don Beebe Most Inspirational Player Award by his teammates after his senior season. Schulz was a starting offensive tackle from 1996-1999. He earned first team All-Conference, and All-Nebraska selections as a junior.

Holscher, who wrestled at several different weights from 1995-2000, qualified for the national tournament three times. Voted by his team as the most dedicated wrestler three times. He earned 92 victories in his career at CSC.

Jim Rhodes, who was not in attendance was inducted for his performance in the 1966-67 basketball season. He averaged over 24 points a game, and shot well over 50 percent from the field. He helped the Eagles to win the Nebraska College Conference championship, as well as the NAIA District 11 championship.

Three inductees were honored for their meritorious service—Don Watt, Ann Smith, and Steve Nelson. Watt, who has been the official athletic trainer at CSC since 1994, has traveled approximately 141,000 miles with the football team alone. Smith was a track and cross country coach in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She was also honored for her involvement in providing opportunities for female athletes. Smith passed away Oct. 29, 2014. Nelson, who volunteered as a pole vaulting coach from 1999 to 2015, drove to Chadron from Alliance several times a week to help out the team. Nelson said that someone once asked him how long he was going to coach to which he replied “as long as it is fun, I’ll keep doing it.”