By: AHS Supt. of Schools Dr. Troy Unzicker
The Alliance High School Activities Hall of Fame will induct 10 new members during Homecoming week at AHS. The Ceremony will be held Saturday, Oct. 16 at 10 am at the Performing Arts Center at Alliance High School. The event is is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend.
The ceremony will induct the members of the 2020 and 2021 Classes. Due to the pandemic there was no induction in 2020. There will be displays of awards, pictures, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia from the Class members in the commons area that fans may view and the new inductees will be be available for a meet and greet after the ceremony.
The Activities Hall of Fame is organized as a way of maintaining the rich heritage and tradition of the successful activity programs at Alliance High School. The Hall of Fame will serve as a means of recognizing, preserving, and honoring the athletes, performers, coaches, sponsors, directors, contributors and alumni who made significant contributions to activity programs. The Activities Hall of Fame will help maintain the spirit, pride, and sense of community, as well as serving as a historical account of the great activity traditions of Alliance High School.
CLASS OF 2020
Dennis Girard graduated in 1972. He was the 119-pound state champion in 1971 and the 126-pound state champion in 1972. This makes him one of only four wrestling in Alliance history to be a two-time state champion. Dennis is one of only two Alliance wrestlers to have received an “All-American” honor in high school wrestling as well. Dennis was also a team member on the state championship cross country team in 1971. He went on to wrestling for the University of Nebraska.
Tracy Kelly Kearney graduated in 1992. Tracy was an outstanding 10 time letter winner in her career at Alliance High School. In volleyball she capped her career as senior MVP and Co-Captain while earning all-conference honors. In basketball, she was three time all-conference and all-region. Her senior year, she was named to the Star Herald Super 5 team. In track, she excelled in the middle distances. She was a four-time Western Conference champion and three-time district champion in the 800. She medaled in the state meet as a sophomore in the 400. She medaled all four years at the state meet, placing 5th, 3rd, 2nd and 2nd through her career.
Chad Thompson graduated in 1994. He was a three-year starter at wide receiver in football. Chad started on some of the best football teams in Alliance school history. In 1991 he recorded 769 yard receiving. In 1992, the total was 472 yards. In 1993 he capped off his career with 803 yards receiving which was tops in the state that season. He was also chosen to the Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska 2nd team as a receiver that year. He is currently the single season and career receiving leader in Alliance High School history. Chad was an outstanding three-sport athlete that went on to play for the University of Nebraska Kearney.
James “Jamie” Tomlin graduated in 1989. Jamie was an outstanding three sport athlete for Alliance. He earned varsity letters in Cross Country, Basketball and Track. Jamie was a two-time all-state selection in basketball and played on Bulldog teams that went 60-6 over a three-year span and qualified for the state tournament twice, reaching the Class A semifinals in 1988-89. He is Alliance’s all-time leading scorer with 1,439 points and part of the 1988-89 squad that averaged 94.4 points per game, an all-time scoring record in Nebraska. Jamie went on to play at WNCC and later at the University of Nebraska Kearney for Tom Kropp and Jerry Heuser.
CLASS OF 2021
Paul Stavropoulos, 1974. Paul was named All-American in wrestling in 1974. He was a two-time state champion and finished his career with a 78-8 career record. His record included a 54-match win streak.
Kayla Friesen Coffee, 2008. Kayla was a three-time conference champion in the pole vault. She was also a two-time district champion. She capped off her career in 2008 with a state championship and a school record jump of 11’ 6”.
Kevin Wilkinson, 1975. Kevin was an impressive three sport athlete for Alliance High School. He won state championships his senior season in the 100, 220 and 880 relay. He still shares the school record in the 200.
Stacy Langemeier Girard 2005. Stacy earned 12 letters in her high school career. She was a four-time state qualifier in cross country and medaled at the state meet her junior and senior years. She was a two-time all-conference basketball player and participated in the Panhandle Prep All-Star game. Stacy was a three-time state qualifier in track. She finished third in the 800 her junior year while setting the school record of 2.18.92. She was state champion her senior season in the 800.
Shelly Langemeier Eisenreich 2003. Shelly was a four-year letter winner in cross country and track. In cross country she was a two-time conference and district champion, and three-time state medalist. In track, she was a two-time conference, best of the west, and district champion. She was state champion her sophomore season in the 3200 meter run and state runner up in the 1600 meter run. Her junior season she recorded state championships in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs, receiving two all class gold medals. She holds the school record in both events.
Jim Kettelhut 1961. Jim was a two-time letter winner in football. He was a three-time letter winner in basketball and was named all big-ten. In track he still holds the 800 record and his time in 1961 was the state record. He was named outstanding male athlete in both 1960 and 1961.