March 28, 2024

CMB to induct inaugural Hall of Fame class Saturday

Although they hail from three different towns and participated in different sports throughout the years for various schools, 13 individuals will be bonded together in a first-ever event on Saturday.

Collins-Maxwell-Baxter will induct these individuals to its inaugural Hall of Fame class at a celebratory banquet. Each current CMB school will feature a new trophy case for the inductees, which will include a plaque, list of accomplishments and the mascot of the school for which the athlete played.

“As a graduate of the first class from Collins-Maxwell and a coach of CMB for 16 years, I am so excited to see this happen,” said Rob Luther, Baxter High School principal and CMB football coach. “It is an awesome opportunity for our schools to recognize athletes who were not only tremendous on the field, but also were hugely influential to many of our younger students and people in our community. It is a great way to have them forever be remembered for all who walk in our halls.”

The inaugural class will include four athletes from CMB, three athletes and a coach from Baxter, two athletes and a coach from Maxwell, one athlete from Collins-Maxwell and one athlete from Collins. CMB’s athletes include Jodi Girard Beavers, Clint Huntrods, Kevin Erpelding and Kyle Krampe. Beavers remains the school’s all-time leading scorer in girls basketball and was a state track champion in the 200-meter dash. Huntrods, a dual athlete himself, earned a full ride football scholarship to the University of Iowa. Krampe remains the school’s all-time boys basketball scoring leader, and Erpelding starred in both football and track for the Raiders.

For Baxter, the four inductees are Lloyd Weise, Dorne Weise, Joyce Goodman and football coach Stan Allspach. Lloyd and Dorne Weise each won state titles in track, but also starred on the football field. Goodman was no slouch on the track herself, qualifying for state all four years of her eligibility as well as playing basketball.

Tom Lodgson, Dave Jacobson and football coach Rick Sullivan will represent Maxwell in the CMB Hall of Fame. Lodgson was a three-sport star in football, basketball and baseball. Jacobson used his talents on the gridiron to earn a full-ride scholarship to Iowa State University as a quarterback.

Collins’ lone representative in the inaugural class is Vicki Mullihan Keagle, who is being recognized for her basketball skills. Collins-Maxwell’s lone representative is a familiar face to the new generation of CMB athletes. Dennis Hennick, the current CMB wrestling coach, is fittingly being inducted for his time as a high school grappler.

Eligible for induction are athletes and coaches from Collins High School, Maxwell High School, Collins-Maxwell High School, Baxter High School and CMB. Although anyone can nominate individuals for induction, the final decision is made by a seven-member committee that also organizes the banquet and plaques each year.

“My hope will be that this will spark even more interest and we will get even more people who will nominate deserving athletes in the coming years,” Luther said. “There are so many past athletes who need to go in. Each year will be such a fun time remembering and honoring those individuals.”