GISH Athletic Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Class

GRAND ISLAND (Neb.) — The Islander tradition continues as a new class of athletic history makers is set to be honored. Grand Island Senior High (GISH) has announced the 2026 Inductees to the GISH Athletic Hall of Fame. The class of 2026 marks the eighth class of inductees into the honored hall.

“The Athletic Hall of Fame Class of this year represents excellence, dedication, and lasting impact on sport and community.” Chris Ladwig, GISH Activities Director, said. “Whether as athletes, coaches, or contributors, they helped shape the culture of their programs and paved the way for future generations. It is a true honor to welcome these individuals into the GISH Athletic Hall of Fame, recognizing their remarkable accomplishments and celebrating the pride they bring to our program and community.”

The inductees will be recognized at halftime of the Grand Island Senior High boys basketball game vs. Lincoln Southeast on Friday, January 23rd. 

A brunch honoring the Inductees will also take place on January 24, 2026 10:00 a.m. at Balz Banquet and Reception Hall in Grand Island, Nebraska. Tickets can be purchased for the brunch at the Grand Island Senior High Activities office, at the Friday night basketball game, or online at the Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet 2026 Banquet Ticket Link. Tickets are $25 apiece.

Congratulations to the Grand Island Senior High Athletic Hall Fame Class of 2026:

Beth (Oliver) Lemke - Female Athlete
Lynn Hall - Male Athlete
Coach Jeff Stern & Assistant Coaches 
2007 Girls State Champion Track & Field Team
Vic Nelson - Contributor 

(Inductee bios listed below)

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BETH (OLIVER) LEMKE - All-Around Athlete

Beth was a stand-out three-sport athlete at Grand Island Senior High in the late 1970’s.  After high school, she went on to compete in both Women’s Basketball and Volleyball at Creighton University. 

Honors for Beth Include:

Lettered in Volleyball, Basketball, and Track at Grand Island Senior High.
Second Team Super State and Class A All-State Volleyball Team in 1978.
Grand Island Independent All-City and Big Ten All-Conference Volleyball Team in 1978 and 1979.
First Team Super State and Class A First Team All-State Volleyball Team selection in 1979 in both the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star.
Grand Island All-Area First Team Basketball selection in 1980.
First Team All-State Basketball selection in both the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald in 1980.
A 1980 Coaches Association and Creighton University Scholarship recipient in 1980.
Played both volleyball and basketball at Creighton University in 1980-81 and was a letter winner in both sports.
Retired from a 35-year coaching career in Arizona as a volleyball United States Volleyball Association coach.
 

LYNN HALL - Boys Track & Field

Lynn’s dominance as seasoned was noted across the state as a record-breaker and pace-setter in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  After high school, he went on to join the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Track & Field Team from 1971-1974. 

Honors for Lynn include: 

Set the Grand Island Senior High record in the mile run in 1970. The record was retired in 1980 when the Nebraska Schools Activities Association (NSAA) changed all track races to metric distances.
Trans-Nebraska Conference and District Mile Run Champion in 1970.
Mile Run All-Class Gold Medal at the Nebraska State Track and Field Championships in 1970.
Broke the Nebraska state record and fastest time recorded in the mile run in 1970. His time of 4:16 was the fastest time ever recorded by a high school miler in the state of Nebraska.
Second place medal in the 1969 State Cross Country Championships while leading Grand Island to a State Cross Country Championship in 1969.
Four year letter winner for Track & Field at University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 1971-74.
JEFF STERN & ASSISTANT COACHES - Coach

Jeff’s career as a Track and Field Coach at Grand Island Senior High has spanned over thirty-nine years. He was the girls Head Coach for thirty-one years and, upon retirement from teaching in 2018, has continued as an assistant coach. During his tenure as head coach, the Islander Girls Track and Field team fielded nearly three-hundred state qualifiers and over one-hundred-fifty state medalists culminating in the team State Championship in 2007. Coach Stern is honored to be sharing this award with the Assistant Coaches for the state title winning team: Dale Burch, Craig Burchess, Geoff Cyboron, Dave Jorgensen, Ed Kinne, and Kip Ramsey.

Honors for Jeff & Assistant Coaches include:

299 State Qualifiers.
156 state track meet medals, finished in the top ten eight times.
7 All-Class Gold Medals.
Set School records in twelve events.
Five Girls Track and Field Conference and District Championships.
State Championship in 2007 at the Nebraska State Girls Track and Field Meet.
Runner-Up finishes in 2006 and 2008 at the Nebraska State Girls Track and Field Meet.
Grand Island Independent Coach of the Year in 2007.
Nebraska Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2007.
Central Nebraska Coach of the Year in 2007.
2007 GIRLS STATE CHAMPION TRACK & FIELD TEAM

On the road to the State Track & Field Championships, the 2007 Girls Track & Field Team finished either first or second in their five invitational meets and were both Heartland Athletic Conference champions and District champions. 

The team’s success continued in Omaha when Grand Island won the 2007 Class A State Track & Field Meet, beating runner-up Omaha Marian by eight points (67-59). The team's victory was secured with a school record performance in the meet’s final event, the 1600 meter relay run by Ann Armes, Allison Jorgensen, Suzanne Higgins and Alex Armes. The meet also saw Katie Harvey win a Gold Medal in the discus, All-Class Gold Medal performances by Alex Armes in both the 100 meter dash and the 200 meter dash and a school record performance in the 400 meter relay run by Suzanne Higgins, Allison Jorgensen, Ann Armes and Jeri Walkowiak. The 2007 team included fifteen state qualifiers, with eight Islanders scoring points in ten events on their way to the state title. 

Team members competing at the 2007 State Meet included:
Alex Armes, Ann Armes, Angela Broers, Jami Evans, Katie Harvey, Suzanne Higgins, Sarah Hinman, Laken Hormann, Allison Jorgensen, Michaela Knuth, Ariel Krolikowski, Amber Kunze, Tana O’Boyle, Jessica Ostermeier and Jeri Walkowiak. 

Coaches of the 2007 State Championship Team included: 

Head Coach Jeff Stern, Kip Ramsey, Dave Jorgensen, Ed Kinne, Craig Burchess, Geoff Cyboron and Dale Burch.

VIC NELSON - Contributor 

Vic began his coaching and teaching career at GISH in 1973 as the distance runners Coach on the Boys Track Team, and the Head Coach of the Boys Cross Country Team. In 1981, he started the Girls Cross Country Team for Grand Island Senior High.  With a career of coaching and athletics support spanning over 50 years, the history of GISH Athletics cannot be captured without mentioning Vic Nelson. 

Highlights for Vic Nelson include: 

Member of the GI Coaches Association and the Nebraska Coaches Association for 20 years. 
Active in Hoops Mania, Best Seats in the House campaign and the Grand Legacy Memorial Stadium Memorial campaign. 
Served on the Grand Island Senior High Football Hall of Fame Committee and the Grand Island Senior High All Sports Hall of Fame Committee.
Scorekeeper at the State Girls Golf tournament in GI, finish judge at cross country meets, timer at swim meets, scorekeeper at basketball games, clerk of the finish at track meets, and time keeper at wrestling meets.

GISH ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026 INDUCTION BANQUET

DATE:  January 24, 2026

TIME:  10:00 a.m.

VENUE:  Balz Banquet and Reception Hall 

TICKETS:  $25 a piece - Purchase tickets