LINCOLN — Ron Coleman may have started a new tradition for the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame.
The former World-Herald athlete of the year from Omaha North brought his three young children on stage Sunday in the Lincoln East auditorium when he accepted his induction.
Retired major-leaguers Chad Meyers from Omaha Gross and Darin Ruf from Omaha Westside followed suit.
“I brought my support staff up here,” Meyers quipped.
The three were among the 19 inductees at the 32nd annual induction.
Other athletes honored were Shaquil Barrett and Wilburn Hollis (Boys Town), Deverell Biggs (Omaha Central), Alan Closter (Creighton St. Ludger), Karen Criss (Omaha Marian), Chris Dishman (Cozad), Ashley Hagerman Ford (Elkhorn), Jordan Hooper (Alliance) and Brooke Schwartz (Gering).
“I don’t know if you ever watched me play,” said Biggs, a former Husker basketball player, “but I think I learned all my moves from my mom, running from that belt of hers.”
Other inductees were coaches Paul Beranek (Ravenna), Brad Feeken (Gretna), Bob Greco (Westside), Jake Moore (Marian/Lincoln Pius X) and Sue Wewel (Fremont/Fremont Bergan); official Gary Pence (Hickman); and contributor Jack Tarr (Malcolm).
Hollis, Beranek and Feeken were honored posthumously. Closter was unable to travel to the event, but had adult children speak on his behalf.
Former NFL lineman Chris Dishman from Cozad gave the most poignant acceptance speech. It started with the impact of his Cozad wrestling coach, Jim Bonesteel.
“I had a choice in ninth grade. I could have veered one way or the other,” Dishman said. “I could have taken a path where some kids in smaller towns ended up going and taking the party route, or I could throw my head down and get involved in sports.
“Between eighth grade and ninth grade, Mr. Bonesteel pulled me aside and said, ‘Hey, you have a lot of talent. I’d hate to see you not use it.’ I’ve told him 100 times how much he’s meant to me.”
Dishman choked up over the memory of his late father, Grant “Junior” Dishman, who died two years ago.
“He was my heart and he suddenly died of cancer,” Dishman said. “He made me into who I am today,”
Ashley Hagemann Ford, the former Husker softball pitcher from Elkhorn, was the next to speak.
“I lived in Cozad for seven years and Chris, you and your father are very important to that town,” Ford said.
Those in the nearly-full auditorium, which included 71 volleyball players from Columbus Scotus accepting the hall’s dynasty award, gave a round of applause for boxing champion Terence Crawford at Coleman’s behest.
“I’m honestly one win away from embarking into UFC. I do MMA,” Coleman said. “I’m a pro fighter, so my goal is honestly piggyback off of what Terence Crawford is doing.
“Nebraska, you always will be home. Omaha will always be where I reside. And I’m just thankful to be an example for my children.”
stu.pospisil@owh.com, twitter.com/stuOWH
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Stu Pospisil
Reporter – High school sports
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