Third Lakin Athletics Hall of Fame Class Announced

Third Lakin Athletics Hall of Fame Class Announced:

Two individuals, one legendary coach, one state team, and one contributor are among the third class of inductees into the Lakin Athletics Hall of Fame.

For the third year in a row, the Lakin Athletics Hall of Fame Committee evaluated more than 50 former student-athletes, coaches, teams, and contributors before narrowing the final ballot to approximately 15 nominees in the four major categories: student-athlete, coach, team, or contributor.

Inductees include: Joan Parks, Jeff Martin, Tony Helfrich, 1993 Boys Track Team, and Tom Wright.

“Once again, I think the committee did an excellent job over several months of evaluating and eventually voting. This third class is representative of the exceptional student-athletes, coaches, teams, and contributors we’ve seen at Lakin for many years,” Nate Schmitt, Lakin High School Principal, said in announcing the class. “We couldn’t be happier with this group, and we think we still have many, many deserving people who will be considered for induction in the coming years.”

“Lakin has a rich history of students, staff, and teams performing at high levels while representing our school and our community,'' Schmitt said. “The Lakin Athletics Hall of Fame is another way in which exceptional members of the Lakin Bronc family are recognized for their accomplishments. Congratulations to all of the inductees.” 

The third induction ceremony will take place on April 27, 2024 at The Stampede in the MS gymnasium. 

In addition to Schmitt, the Committee was composed of Kim Lohman, Bret Hendrix, Jacy Holloway, Kenny Waechter, Roy Busheck, Harlan Burrows, and Randy Wolfe. 

For more information, contact Nate Schmitt at nate.schmitt@usd215.org.

Joan Parks 1981-1985

A 3-sport athlete in cross country, basketball, and track

Cross Country Highlights

HPL All-League – 1981 3rd, 1982 2nd, 1983 1st setting a new course record, 1984 2nd

Member of Lakin's first HPL championship team in 1982

3A All-State – 1981 3rd, 1982 3rd, 1983 State Champion, 1984 5th

Lakin's first female State Cross Country Champion in 1983

Member of 4 straight 3A State Cross Country Championship teams.

At the time, was the 4th school to win 4 straight championships.

Basketball Highlights

Member of State qualifier in 1985

Track Highlights

HPL Champion

1600 meter run – 1983, 1984

3200 meter run – 1983, 1984, 1985

HPL Team Champions 1985, HPL team runner-up 1984

Regional Finishes

1600 meter run – 1982 3rd (new school record), 1983 3rd

3200 meter run – 1984 3rd, 1985 2nd

State Finishes

1600 meter run - 6th 1982 (new school record), 

3200 meter run - 2nd 1984, 4th 1985

Still holds the school record in 3200 meter run in a time of 11:31.3

Collegiate Career

Attended Barton County Community College from 1985-1987

1985 - Finished 43rd at NJCAA National Cross Country Meet.

1986 – Finished 18th at NJCAA National Cross Country Meet.

            Team was National Champions.

            Named NJCAA All-American

Attended Adams State University from 1987-1989

1987 – Finished 39th at NAIA National Cross Country Meet. Team finished 2nd.

1988 – Finished 8th at NAIA National Cross Country Meet. Team finished 2nd.

            Named NAIA All-American

Was Lakin Cross Country assistant coach under Rich Randolph in 1989

Jeff Martin 1989-1993

A 3 sport athlete in cross country, basketball, and track

Cross Country Highlights

4 year letter winner

Member of 3 straight HPL Championship teams 1989,1990, 1991

Was unable to finish 1992 season due to injury

1989, 1990 Regional Champions

1991 Regional runner-up

1989 State Champions

1990 State 3rd place team

1991 State 3rd place team

Basketball Highlights

3 year letter winner

1990-91 HPL runner-up and HPL Tournament runner-up

1991-92

1993 HPL Tournament runner-up

1993 Sub State Champions

1993 State Tournament

405 career points scored

Track Highlights

4 year letter winner

HPL Champion

4x100 meter relay 1990, 1992, 1993 meet record

4x400 meter relay 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 meet record

400 meters 1992

300 meter hurdles 1993

Member of 4 straight HPL Championships 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

Regional Champion

400 meters 1991,1992

Regional Team Champions 1991, 1992, 1993

Regional 3rd place 1990

State Champion

400 meters 1991(school record), 1992

300 meter hurdles 1993

4x100 meter relay 1990

3A State Champions 1993

3A State runner-up 1992

3A State 3rd place 1991

3A State 4th place 1990

Still holds school records in the 400 meter run and the 300 meter hurdles

Earned a track scholarship at Kansas State University

Letter winner in 1996 and 1997

Finished second at the 1996 BigXII Track Championships in the 400 meter hurdles in a time of 52.03. Still stands as the 9th best time in school history

Coach Tony Helfrich

Graduated from Syracuse High School

Attended Seward County Community College and Washburn University

Played baseball at both Seward County and Washburn.

Hired to teach middle school English in 1991 and was named High School Girls Basketball coach and Volleyball assistant coach. Was named assistant baseball coach in 1996.

Coached Lady Broncs basketball from 1991 to 2006 with a 258 -97 overall record and is the all-time winningest girls coach.

Led Lady Broncs to HPL regular season titles in 1995, 1996, 1998.

Co-champions in 1997, 2000, 2004

HPL Tournament Champions in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000

9 Scott City Invitational championships

Led Lady Broncs to six 3A State Tournament appearances.

State Tournament runner-up in 1993, 1996, 1997

4th at State in 2000

Named 1992 Garden City Telegram Coach of the Year.

Assistant Volleyball Coach from 1991 to 2005

Was part of a 422-130 record.

Helped lead Lakin to four 3A State tournaments. Finished 3A runner-up in 2003.

Assistant Baseball Coach from 1996 to 2007

Was part of a 170-90 record.

Helped lead Lakin to 4 State tournaments. Finished as 3A runner-up in 2001 and a third place finish in 2007.

Team - 1993 Boys Track

Head Coach Kelly Cowan

Won 5 of 6 regular season meets, finishing 2nd at Goodland.

7 individual meet records were set during the season, including a school record set by Clint Crone in the 100 meter dash.

Won the HPL Track Team Championship with 110 points, outdistancing Holcomb who finished with 79.

5 individual champions, including three winning relay teams

Ran away with the regional team title at Greensburg, outscoring Hillsboro 104-57.

Had individual champions in 7 events and three winning relay teams.

Qualified for State in 11 events at Regionals.

Won 3A State Team Championship by 3 points over Norton

6 individual State medal winners: Jeff Martin State Champion in the 300 meter hurdles. Jeff Martin 2nd in 200 meter dash. Clint Crone 3rd place in the long jump and triple jump. Willy Perez 4th in the 3200 meter run. Casey Sullivan 6th in 800 meter run.

4x100 meter relay of Jeff Martin, Clint Crone, Nathan Reed, and Casey Sullivan finished 2nd

4x400 meter relay of Jeff Martin, Casey Sullivan, Mike Minnis, and Nathan Reed finished 2nd

Contributor - Tom Wright

1966 LHS Graduate

3 sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball, and track

Was a member of the Hall of Fame 1962 Football Team

After graduation, attended the Denver Automotive Institute in 1966 and then

attended North Central Kansas Trade School in Beloit in 1967.

Tom then served in the United States Navy SeaBees from 1968-1970.

Tom and his wife Connie have 4 children who attended Lakin schools. 

and have 7 grandchildren, 4 of which have attended Lakin schools.

Served as a Kearny County Commissioner from 1993 to 2017.

Served on the USD 215 school board from 1991-2003, serving as Board President 2001-2003.

Along with Pepsi, donated for the installation of the new message boards in the new Lakin Middle School Gymnasium.

As in every successful business, it takes more that one to make it successful. Tom, along with wife Connie and daughter Andra and through the Pioneer brand have provided popcorn bags for all Lakin school events since 2000. They have also donated popcorn since 2016.