Wall School 51-5
Hall of Fame
Superintendent
Dr. Sally Crowser
Office Phone
(605) 279-2156
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Hall of Fame
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1974 Class B Girls State Track Champions The 12 members of the 1974 state track team include: Twila Kjerstad, Robin (Jensen) Feller, Linda (Denke) Ahlers, Carol (Pederson) Naescher, Joyce (Johnston) Benne, Pam (Wyant) Holloway, Tammy (Johnston) Bills, Nancy (Pederson) Holub, Jackie (Peters) Heathershaw, Carla (Wilson) Jobgen, Melanie (Brown) Shull, and Susie (Votroubek) Cuppy.
Head Coach Merlin Doyle
Assistant Coach Mike Doyle
The Wall team of 29 athletes entered 9 track meets that year including the regional and state meets. They impressively won each meet which included Badlands Conference, Regionals, and the Class B State Track meet in a convincing fashion. The mile relay, 880 yd. relay, and the 880 yd. medley relay teams were never defeated that season. Thrower, Twila Kjerstad was never out thrown in the shot put as well. During the season all the school relay records were broken, along with 7 individual events.
The 12 athletes that stand before you this evening qualified for state. In 1974 to qualify for state an athlete or relay team had one chance. They could only qualify at Regions. This was done by either placing 1st or 2nd in the events with the 100 yd. dash placing either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. Region VIII Class B was held in Philip with the high powdered Wall girls scoring 91 points to runner-up Faith’s 36.
The State Class B was held in Watertown on a windy day with Wall scoring an impressive 51 points to the runner-up team’s 22 points. This was the first state team title in the history of Wall High School. With many fans at the meet and a 25 car caravan waiting in Quinn, SD, they were escorted home. The champions of Class B!
1975 Class A Girls Track State Champions The Wall girls track team won the Class A state title in Huron with the following 13 athletes:
Joyce (Johnston) Benne, Carol (Pederson) Naescher, Pam (Wyant) Holloway, Tammy (Johnston) Bills, Nancy (Pederson) Holub, Jackie (Peters) Heathershaw, Liz (Sautter) Hamburg, Carla (Wilson) Jobgen, Wendy Moore, Melanie (Brown) Shull, Tracy (Poste) Sautter, Susie (Votroubek) Cuppy, and Patty (Wyant) Coleman.
Head Coach Merlin Doyle
Assistant Coach Mike Doyle
The Wall girls track season started with 29 athletes. They entered eight track meets that season including the regional and state meets. The ladies won the Badlands Conference meet, the Rapid City Invitational, and the Regional meet. This was the first year that the schools across the state were classified into AA, A, and B by enrollment. When they won the Rapid City Invitational all 3 classes were competing which made the victory that much more impressive.
In May, an exceptional season ended when these 13 ladies competed and won the state Class A meet in Huron, SD. Again, one could only qualify at Regions placing 1st or 2nd in all events except the 100yd dash which was 1st, 2nd, or 3rd places. With all their events, performances, and talent, they won the state title for the second year in a row. Also a special award at the conclusion of the state meet was presented to Carol Pederson; the Outstanding Class A Track Award. This award was voted on by all the coaches in attendance at the meet. Carol was a talented sprinter and relay anchor runner.
Coach Doyle and Assistant Coach Doyle were proud of the girls performances during the season and at the state meet along with the school and community. To win back to back state trophies is quite an accomplishment.
1989 Class B 9-Man State Runner-up Football Team Throughout their years as students and athletes in the Wall School District the 1989 team was not only involved in football but also basketball, wrestling, track and rodeo. Other involvements included school plays, choir, band, FFA, FHA, Pep Club, Debate, National Honor Society, and many more activities. Academics was very much an important part of their learning years. The team also was chosen students of the month for October for an undefeated season and team effort with statistics to prove it. The month of May honored the Wall football offensive and defensive units. 1990 Class B 9-Man Football Champions Head Coach Kent Anderson Kent Anderson Kent Anderson started his teaching/coaching career at Wall High School in 1987. He spent his first two years as an assistant football and assistant gymnastics coach. He took his first Head Football Coaching job in 1989. He was fortunate to coach an outstanding group of young men as his team was a perfect 11-0 until losing in the state 9B Championship game. In 1990, he took many of the same young men to a perfect season of 12-0 and the 9B State Title. This was the first male State Championship in school history. After a few years, Anderson was fortunate to have another outstanding group. They again went 12-0 as they won the 1994 Sate 9B Title. The next year the Eagles jumped to 9A and almost made the title game again only to lose in the semi-final game finishing the season with a 10-1 record. In his first tenure as the Head Football Coach the Eagles had an astonishing record of 64-10. Anderson left Wall for 17 years before returning for the 2012 season. The 2013 season found another year of dominance. The Eagles cruised to a 10-0 record before falling in the semi-final round to the eventual State Champion. Coach Anderson finished his football coaching career in Wall after the 2017 season. In 12 seasons as Head Football Coach, his teams recorded 94 victories. Six years the Eagles had 8-0 regular season records. The eagles played in the State Football Play-offs 11 out of 12 seasons during his tenure, many times going deep in to the play-offs. Matthew Brucklacher Matthew Brucklacher graduated from Wall High School in 1994. During his career, he was active in several aspects of the school. He was active in choir as he was a 4-time All-State Selection and a 2-time Honors Choir selection. He attended the Presidential Classroom in Washington DC as a representative of the Wall High School and served on the Student Council, and was a National Honor Society member for 3 years.
Matthew participated in several athletics during his high school campaign. Participating in Football, he was a 2x Punt, Pass & Kick State Champion, 4-year high school starter, 4-year letterman, three time All Conference Selection, All-State Selection, Argus Leader 45 Elite Honorable Mention, three year captain and a two-time most valuable player. He participated in Track and Field where he qualified for the State Championships in the Triple Jump and the 4x100 relay.
Participating in athletics at a young age, he began to show as interest in wrestling. The more he competed the more he excelled. As a youth, he was a 3x AAU wrestling champion and had 2nd and 5th place finishes. He continued that success into the high school ranks. He qualified for the State Championships three years, returning with two runner up finishes and a State Championship in 1993.
Traveling to Mexico he realized success on the international level placing second in Greco Roman and First in freestyle at the Wilfredo Massau invitational in Mexico City. At the end of his High School career, Matthew was fortunate to receive a full scholarship to the University of Northern Colorado to wrestle. During his time as a UNC Bear, he was the Colorado Collegiate Runner up twice, a two time all conference selection, a two time National Qualifier, a two Time Academic All-American and was an All American placing 7th at the 1996 NCAA National Championships.
Matthew now spends his time running his business, enjoying his family, playing golf and not cutting weight.
Merlin Doyle Merlin Doyle taught middle school for the Wall School District from 1959-1963. He then taught high school from 1963-1968. From 1968 until his retirement in 1990 he served as the High School Principal and Activities Director. His entire 31year teaching/principal/coaching career was in the Wall School District. He was chosen High School Principal of the Year in 1986-87. He was involved in the SDHSCA for 25 years and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1990. He is still involved as a lifetime member to this organization. He also was very involved in the SD National Guard for 27 years and retired as a Command Sergeant Major. Jana Fauske Jana Fauske Nelson received her K-12 education at the Wall Public School. While in Junior High, Ms. Nelson began participating in both Cross Country and Track, with the long distance events in Track becoming her favorite. In 1985, Ms. Nelson won the 3200 meter run in Track and set the State record for that event in the Class “B” State Championships. In 1986, Ms. Nelson again was the 3200 meter Track State Champion and also broke her own State Class “B” record. Along with being the 3200 meter State Champion, Ms. Nelson was also the 1600 meter Track State Champion in 1986. In Cross Country throughout her high school years, Ms. Nelson placed in the Cross Country State Championships. Dave Fischer David “Big Dave” Fischer began his high school career at Quinn High School. As a junior, he moved to Wall High School where he graduated. He was a standout in Football, Basketball, and Track. He was a four-year letter winner in Track and participated in the State Track Meet while at Wall High School. He still holds the Wall High School Discus record with a throw of 152’ 11”. He also had valuable contributions to other field and running events. In Basketball “Big Dave” was also a standout. He was a four-year letter-winner on the court. He received the All West River Basketball award and also voted to the All State Basketball team. In football he was also a dominate force. He was also active in student council for 3 years, a class officer for two years, on the Annual staff, and attended Boys State. Pam "Wyant" Holloway Pam Wyant graduated from Wall High School in 1975. She was active in many school activities, but track was her sport. 7th -12th grades she ran sprints and relays on the varsity team winning many races. She was on the 1973 team that placed 3rd at state, the 1974 Class B team and 1975 Class A team that won state both years. She was a strong starter for the 400, 800, 1600, or Sprint Medley relays. Ranked #1 in the 100yd Dash for 2 years, Pam placed 2nd her junior year and won the event her senior year. Marty Huether Marty Huether was a 1983 graduate of Wall High School. During his high school career he participated primarily in Football, Wrestling, Track and Rodeo.
In Football, Marty was an integral part of the Eagle team that finished the season undefeated in 1980 as a sophomore. As a Junior and Senior he would garner All-Conference honors as a defensive back and quarterback. In Marty’s lone season in Track he would go on to win several meets in the pole vault and run the anchor leg of the 4X400 meter relay. In the rodeo arena, Marty qualified for the State High School Rodeo in bull riding 2x and in team roping 1x. Marty excelled most on the wrestling mat where he finished with a career record of 107-7-1. As a freshman his lone loss was in the state finals to eventual 2x state winner and 2x NAIA national champion Dave Harvey from Miller. As a sophomore he was undefeated until an elbow injury forced him to accept a default loss to 2x state champion Al Lawrence from Mobridge in the region championship. Marty’s junior year found him losing 3 times at state but still garnering a 6th place finish. As a senior, Marty recommitted himself and finished as state champion and undefeated at 119 lbs. Howard Johnson Howard Johnson graduated from Wall High School in 1940. He was an honor student that excelled in athletics, especially football, basketball and track. In fact, in his senior year in high school, he was picked out of more than 100,000 players from 4,800 schools to be on the All-American Six-Man Football Honor Roll and featured in American Boy magazine.
After high school Howard joined the US Army, serving in WWII, and was honorably discharged in October 1945. After his discharge he returned to Wall, SD where he lived the rest of his life. He married Eunice Sebade and had three children, Robert (Bob), Gail, and Marilyn.
As an adult Howard was an athletic commissioner of the American Legion Baseball program, serving as state commander for 10 years, and was one of the original men to start the Wall Baseball program. He was also one of 20 men instrumental in building the first pool in Wall, and one of 4 men who built the original Wall Bowling Lanes, setting up leagues for Wall High School students. Howard served on the Wall School Board of Education for many years.
Howard was a proud supporter of all Wall Eagle community, contributing time, money and items as needed. On cold football games he would supply the players tights to keep them warm. He rarely missed a football or basketball game, even refusing to leave a basketball game even though he was having a heart attack.
In 1990 Howard was awarded “Friends of Football” by the South Dakota Coaches Association.
Conrad Kjerstad Conrad graduated from Wall in 2006.
During his high school career, he participated in football, basketball, track, golf, and baseball; he also wrestled AAU as a youngster. Conrad was blessed to be part of such an outstanding community where he had great coaches, teammates, fans, and support. He loved all sports and participated in as many as possible. In the classroom, Conrad was class president and made the honor roll every year. After high school, Conrad attended South Dakota State University on both an academic scholarship and a football scholarship. Conrad played safety under the leadership of head coach John Stigelmeier.
Career: Statistics/Awards. 18 varsity letters
Football: 5 year 2-way starter, 3-time All-State, 5-time All-Conference, Academic All State 3.85GPA, Elite-45, 442 tackles, 49 pass breakups, 35 interceptions, 9,193 all-purpose yards, 141 TDs (rushing, passing, returns). College: Team Captain, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team, MVFC All-Academic First Team, and FCS Athletic Directors Association Academic All-Star Team, Second Team
All MVFC. Basketball: +1200 career points. 4-time All-Conference, 3-time All-tourney West River Tournament, Hanson/Anderson All-Star Track: 3 rd place State long jump as a freshman, team MVP fietd events 4 times Golf: Qualified for state 4 years. Baseball: Post 320 Varsity 2004.
Conrad would like to thank his parents, Clayton and Charlene, for supporting him by allowing him to participate in all the sports he wanted white growing up, Coaches Doug Kleinschmidt and Marvin Botz for letting him play little league baseball as a 10 year old, Coach Mark Ammann for giving him an opportunity at varsity football and basketball as an 8th grader, and Coach John Stigelmeier for offering him the opportunity to play Division I football.
Conrad resides in Wall and is married to Kalie (Anders) Kjerstad and have 3 boys: Carsten, Rush, and Avin. They farm and ranch.
Twila Kjerstad Twila Kjerstad graduated from Wall High School in 1974. She was active in Athletics, Lettermen’s Club, Pep Club, Music, and FFA. She earned varsity letters in track, the only sport for girls at that time. Shot Put was her specialty holding the school record for 17 years. Her senior year she won every shot put event at track meets. She was on the first team that won the State title in 1974 along with winning the Shot Put event. She was a co-captain and won the Outstanding Girls Track Award for her efforts.
Twila graduated from Black Hills State in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She was a recipient for one of the first Women’s Athletic scholarships from BHSU. Her first year she played basketball and participated in track. In track, she broke the BH shot put record her first meet and then continued breaking meet records at other colleges. She received the BHSU certificate award in recognition of achieving the Varsity BH Award in Track. Twila continued to throw shot, lettering all 4 years and was the first in track and field to qualify all 4 years in the NAIA Regional Track & Field Championships.
Twila resides in the Quinn area and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She feels truly blessed to have them in her life.
Nathan Kleinschmit Nathan Kleinschmit is a 2003 graduate of Wall High School. He is the son of Douglas and Lola Kleinschmit. During his high school years, was active in football, basketball, baseball, and golf teams. The football team was conference champions 1999-2002. Nathan was named all-Conference in 1999, 2001-2002. He received all-state honors his junior and senior seasons. Nathan also played golf in which he qualified for the state meet the first 3 years of the program. He played high school baseball for the Tri-County team from Philip, Kadoka, and Wall. Nathan participated in basketball for 4 years where he was awarded 3 Rivers All-Conference team and Badlands All-Conference team in 2002-2003. His senior season Nathan was named team MVP in basketball, football and Offensive player in football. He was also named the Male Athlete of the year his senior year.
Nathan is a graduate of Northern State University where he majored in Sports Marketing and Coaching. He played football for 5 years on the offensive line. As a senior he was selected to play in the senior All-Star game for the Division II schools in the All-American Bowl game. Nathan was awarded the Offensive Player of the game.
Nathan resides in Rapid City, but will always consider the community of Wall home.
Bill Leonard Bill Leonard moved to Wall in 1971 with his wife and girls. He was instantly a Wall Eagle football fan. His love for football started in St Paul Minnesota, where he played football during his high school years. His nickname was Bulldog, and he loved it! He only had daughters, so no sons to watch on the football field. That didn’t stop him, he would adopt the full team. Many of those young men stayed in touch with him throughout the years. After he was semi-retired, he started hauling equipment to all the away games along with good friend and fellow football lover Bertie Schultz. They hauled equipment to away games for more than 30 years, rarely missing a game. Bill also never missed a practice, usually circling town - watching for the boys to head to the football field, sometimes pacing the sideline waiting for them. He loved them all, but the 1994 State B team was always very special to him. They awarded him a signed football and picture of the team that was proudly on display in his home. As he got older, and couldn’t attend the games, his family made sure he could watch them on the tv, on Wall Eagles live.
Bill died in 2020, at the age of 92. On his headstone reads “Soaring with the Eagles”
Jill Sutter Leonard Jill (Sutter) Leonard graduated from Wall High School in 1996.
Jill lettered 4 years in basketball, making the All-Conference team all 4 years. She was a South Dakota All-State player 2 years, West River Tournament All-Tournament Team player 4 years, and Academic All- State player. She helped lead the Wall Lady Eagles to the 1994 Class B State Basketball Tournament, and was named to the State Tournament All-Tournament Team.
Jill also lettered 2 years in Track, attending the South Dakota State Track Meet in High Jump, and was a player on the 1st ever Wall High School Volleyball Team. She lettered 6 years Wall High School Band, was a member of the Wall High School Choir for 4 years, and received the 1996 National Choral Award.
Jill was a National Honor Society member for 2 years, a 1996 South Dakota Legislative Page in the South Dakota Senate, and the 1996 Presidents Award for Educational Excellence.
Jill currently resides in Wall with her husband Jason, daughter Jordan, and son Justin. She serves as a Wall School District Board Member.
Dr. Joseph M. Lytle Dr. Joseph M. Lytle, better known as Joe, attended Wall High School from 1946-1950.
He played basketball on the 1946-1947 team under the excellent coaching of Glen Phillips. That team won the first District Tournament that Wall had ever won. Joe lettered all four years of high school in basketball and football. As a senior, Joe scored an average of 20 pts per game with a best of 31 points in one game. His season total was 437 points scored plus the points scored in District Tournament. This was in the era prior to the three point shot. There were no ‘one and one’ free throws and the clock didn’t stop except for timeouts and free throws.
After high school Joe worked on the ranch for three years until he was recruited to play basketball at Chadron State College. He attended college there from 1953-1957. His junior year, he teamed with Bob Kelly of Quinn and brother Larry to have the best win/loss record in the history of the school. That record still stands today! Joe was honored by the Omaha World Herald several times as the star of the week on the Basketball Roll of Honor. Joe was best known in college basketball for his rebounding and defensive skills, along with his scoring abilities.
Joe was admitted to the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry in Lincoln and attended from 1957-1961. He played on the intramural team for dental school and they won the league.
Because of his love of basketball, the town of Wall, Wall School and his grandchildren; Joe was instrumental in procuring and donating the funds for the flooring of the basketball court in the new gym when the present school was built.
Joe and his wife, Nonie, have continued to support Wall School throughout many years. They have attended countless school activities of their grandchildren; from basketball, football, volleyball, music programs, cross country meets, rodeos and more. They are also an active sponsor of the Wall Booster Club.
Brady McDonnell Brady McDonnell, Class of 2016, was one of Wall High School's most versatile, accomplished athletes. Brady contributed to varsity athletics from his junior high years thru his high school years. Brady earned five varsity letters in football and track. He also was a 4-year letter winner in basketball. Brady also played on the 1994 State Champion football team and received the Joe Robbie MVP award for his performance in the game. Brady was a four-time All-Conference football player, a two-time 9B SDFBCA All-State player, and a two-time member of the “45 Elite” Argus Leader All State team. Brady was also a Gatorade All- American High School Football Player. After his high school years, he had an outstanding career playing football for the Division 1 Colorado Buffaloes. He is the 25th All-Time in Tackles for Loss and 27th All-Time in QB sacs. He received All-American honors through the Successful Farming Magazine for his performance. Brady then moved on to the NFL and played 5 years of professional football for New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills. Leslie “Deutscher” Merrill Leslie “Deutscher” Merrill was a 1992 graduate of Wall High School. Leslie dominated competition over her career in basketball and track. She was a four-year letter winner and starter in Girls Basketball and a six-year letter winner in Track. Dain Patterson Dain Patterson graduated in 1996 from Wall High School. Growing up on “The Farm” Dain always enjoyed running, whether it was running across the gravel road to Grandpa and Grandma’s house or trying to beat his Dad back to the house. Dain did well in track meets at a young age and was often one of the fastest in the end of school year races. In High School Dain began to hit his stride and began to win some races. Dain’s specialties were the 100m and 200m throughout High School; in his Junior year he placed 3rd at the State Meet in the 100m. By the end of his Senior year Dain held several individual and relay records. Dain was also the starting Quarterback and Safety on the football team, where the team lost only 4 games in 3 seasons and winning the State Championship game in his Junior year.
After graduating High School Dain went on to the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology where he graduated with a Mechanical Engineering Degree. During his time at the School of Mines Dain was a member of the Track Team running the 55m, 60m, 100m, 200m, and 400m. While there he was a member of the 4 x 100m relay team which set the school record. When he graduated he was on the top 10 list for the 60m, 100m, and 400m and won several NAIA championships medals.
Since college Dain stayed close to sports running some races here and there, and also started Officiating High School football where he was selected to officiate the State Championship’s in Denver, CO at Mile High. Dain enjoys spending his life with his wife Lori and son Vaun, and as of 2018 lives in Chandler, AZ.
Dale Patterson Dale Patterson won his first race when he took the blue ribbon in the first grade 50-yard dash. He enjoyed track through his grade school and high school days where he captured the Wall High School freshman 100-yard dash school record and eventually the Wall High School 100-yard dash and 220-yard school record and won the gold medal at the South Dakota State Track meet in the 100-yard dash. In 1968 he also won a bronze medal in the 220-yard dash. He was part of several relay records. Dale was also a teammate on the football and basketball teams at Wall High School ending with the conference championship in football in 1967. He was also a member of the varsity club in high school. Gale Patterson Gale Patterson graduated from Wall High School in 1970. He was active in athletics, music, and drama. He earned seven varsity letters in athletics and numerous varsity letters in music. Gale helped the Wall Eagles win the District Basketball Tournament his senior year. He qualified for the State Track Meet both his Junior and Senior years. During his senior year, he set the school long jump record of 20’10”, which he held for 21 years. Rhonda “McDonnell” Williams Rhonda “McDonnell” Williams was a 1992 graduate of Wall High School. Rhonda was a major competitor over her career in basketball and track. She was a four-year letter winner in Girls Basketball and a six-year letter winner in Track. Orlin Winklowich Content will be updated Inductee Content |