On Saturday, September 2, Kearney School District will make history as we host the Inaugural Kearney High School Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony. Through nominations made by the public and a final selection committee, the first-ever Hall of Fame Inductees will be celebrated for their outstanding achievements. Inductees will be announced at the KHS football game on Friday, September 1, and the banquet will be held on Saturday, September 2 beginning at 5:30 PM at Kearney High School. Tickets are still available for $25 per person. Contact the KHS Athletic Office at 816-628-3647 for tickets or more information.
2017 Hall of Fame Inductees
1961 Kearney High School Men’s Basketball Team: This team finished with a 23-3 recorded and ended the season on a 13 game winning streak to become KHS’s first State Team Champion. Team Members: Merrill Sindt (Head Coach), Ted Armstrong, Robert Eissler, Larry Strange, Gerald Barr, Jack Barr, Phillip Denney, Randall Grubbs, Richard Ritter, Ralph Tapp, Bruce Dagley, Billy Ray Spicer, David Miller, Manager-Jm Pratt
Denise (Toney) Bridgeman (1975) led her team to a 26-1 record and a Basketball State Quarterfinal appearance. Denise is the first female athlete to earn All-State honors (basketball) as well as 3X All-Conference and 3X All-District (basketball). As a track athlete she participated in the first ever Female State Track and Field Championships. She still owns the High Jump record (5’3”) at KHS. She played college basketball at Central Missouri State University.
Jenifer (Faunce) Fletcher (1985) became a two event State Champion in the 1985 Track and Field Championships. Jenny won the 800 meters (state record) and the 1600 meters. She was named to multiple All-Metro Teams (XC and Track) and still holds the 1600 meters school record with a time of 5:09.6 seconds. During her XC career she became the first Kearney female athlete to break the 20-minute barrier. She began her collegiate career at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield where she set an indoor conference record in the 1000 meters (2:59). In 1986 she transferred to Kansas State where she earned All-Big 8 Honors in XC (1988).
Jenni (Miller) Croy (1993) led the Kearney Bulldogs Women’s Basketball team to two District Championships and a State Quarterfinal appearance during her senior season. Jenni was an All-State athlete (Basketball) and Three Sport Letter winner. She was named 3X All-Conference, 2X All-District Basketball during her High School Career. She broke multiple Kearney Basketball records and still owns the record for Career points- 1648 and Steals-275. Her basketball career continued at Pittsburg State University where she broke multiple school and conference records and set the second highest three-point total in NCAA history with 364.
1998 Kearney High School Baseball Team: In 1998, the Kearney Baseball Team won the Missouri State Baseball Championship 37 years after Kearney’s first State Championship in school history. They finished with a record of 25-5 and completed the season on a 19 game winning streak. Team Members: Doug Starzl (Head Coach), Jeff Parks (Asst. Coach), Bill Forman (Asst. Coach), Chris Mackey (Asst. Coach), Scott Osborn (Asst. Coach), Leo Conrick, David Curtis, Clint DeShon, Ryan Dickson, J.D. Frick, Chris Funk, Jeff Gatrel, Mike Griffin, Bobby Hastings, Travis Hedrick, Janson Lanier, Kaleb May, Brett Logerwell, Shane Remley, Chris Roark, Karson Kuhlman
Tommy Saunders (2003) helped lead Kearney High School to three State Championships. Tommy led the Bulldogs football team to their first ever back-to-back State Football titles in 2002 and 2003. He was also on the 2004 State Basketball Championship Team. Saunders was a multiple All-State athlete and holds 9 school records and four state records during his high school career. In basketball he earned All-State honors and holds the Kearney Basketball record for most free throws made in a career with 308. Tommy continued his football career at the University of Missouri. There he became a starter and a major contributor to the team’s success. Saunders ranks 8th All-Time in receptions at Missouri. After college Tommy represented the United States on the National Rugby Sevens team.
Brock Christopher (2004) was a 3X All-State Linebacker for the Kearney Bulldogs. While at KHS he helped lead the Bulldogs to back-to-back State Football Championships in 2002 and 2003. Brock was a 2X Bobby Bell Award winner and as a senior named Class 4 Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a contributor on the 2004 State Championship Basketball team. Brock still owns two school records for 18 solo tackles in a game and three interceptions in a game (tied with Tommy Saunders). After high school Brock attended the University of Missouri and became a starter for three seasons. He was an All-Conference Honorable Mention Linebacker in 2007 and 1st Team Academic All-Big 12 in 2006.
Beau Brinkley (2008) was a multiple sport All-State athlete and three sport Varsity Letter winner for Kearney High School. As a senior he was named 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-State in Football and Basketball. After high school, Beau was a preferred walk-on at the University of Missouri and earned the 2008 Walk-On Most Valuable Player. In 2009 Beau was named the 2009 MU Special Teams Play of the Year and in 2012 he was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted Free Agent (Long Snapper). Beau is the first Kearney High graduate to play in the NFL.
