KM Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 18

Kasson-Mantorville’s 2022 Hall of Fame class will be inducted at the Kasson-Mantorville Hall of Fame Banquet on February 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets for the night are $25 for a pasta dinner that will be catered by Hidden Pines of Mantorville. Tickets must be purchased by February 1 and will not be sold at the door.

The KM Hall of Fame serves as a means of honoring and recognizing the athletes, teams, coaches, and supporters who have made significant contributions to the KoMet tradition of excellence, said Jessica Schoenfelder, K-M activities office assistant. The Athletic Hall of Fame honors the contributions and accomplishments of individuals and teams who are worthy of recognition as examples for others to emulate, she said.

“The Hall of Fame inductees are special this year not only because of their tremendous success at K-M during high school, but also due to their continued success at the college and professional levels,” added Broc Threinen, activities director for K-M Public Schools.

Those being inducted include:

Cori Kennedy, a 2015 KMHS graduate. While attending K-M, Kennedy was a three-sport athlete, participating in volleyball, basketball, and softball. During her high school career, she earned 14 sports letters, was awarded All State accolades in all three sports she participated in, and played in seven state tournaments, including the two softball state titles won in 2014 and 2015.

After graduation, Kennedy went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in mass media from Minnesota State University-Mankato, where she also played softball. She was a four-year starter there who helped her team win two NSIC Conference Titles and the program’s first NCAA National Title in 2017. She went on to become a broadcaster and analyst for the National Pro Fastpitch league.

Kennedy currently resides in Iowa City.

Steve McKean, a 1961 KMHS graduate. Growing up, McKean developed a love of basketball and spent many nights practicing on courts behind the Hubbell House in Mantorville. His basketball career during high school, however, was insignificant. He received no college offers to play basketball upon high school graduation, so he went on to join the Air Force.

McKean’s job in the Air Force was to run a gym, so he spent his days practicing his basketball skills. He improved so much he was offered a scholarship to play college basketball at San Jose State University, where he went on to become a three-year starter and earned the nickname “Bomber” for his uncanny ability to hit shots from long range.

After graduating from San Jose State, McKean went on to become a pioneering professional basketball player in New Zealand until injuries derailed his career. He then turned to coaching.

McKean was the coach of New Zealand’s national men’s team from 1972-81, guiding the team to their first-ever win over Australia in 1978. He was also the first coach to post 100 wins in NEw Zealand’s National Basketball League. He won the New Zealand NBL Coach of the Year Award in 1992 and received the Basketball New Zealand Coach of the Year Award in 1978 and 2002.

McKean was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012 for services to basketball. He passed away from cancer at age 77 in 2021. He has relatives in the area.

Dan Olive, a 1987 KMHS graduate, was a three-sport athlete. He was a three-year starting quarterback for the football team, a three-year starter on the basketball team and a two-year starter on the baseball team, and was best known for his basketball prowess.

A very versatile 6’5” player, Olive played guard as a sophomore and as a junior and senior he transitioned to more of a post. He would not only guard the other team’s best player at any position, but he also was a tremendous rebounder and passer.

Offensively, he could run the floor like a guard and finish as if he was a post player. Olive scored 987 career points in an era with no 3-point line. Despite scoring so many points, he was also a tremendous passer from the post, always finding the open man and getting the ball to them.

Olive led his team to a conference title in 1987, while leading in points and rebounds.

Derek Wiebke, is a 2013 KMHS graduate, and son of Dale and Vicki Weibke. He and his two younger sisters, Taylor and Tiana, all competed in K-M athletics. During his senior year as a KoMet, Derek Wiebke set school records and was the first K-M student to qualify for the State CC Meet in 2012. He also set school records on the track in 800 meters, 1,600 meters, 3,200 meters and the 4x400 meter relay. In the spring of 2013, he qualified for the state meet in three events and placed second in the 800 meter with a time of 1 minute 53.97 seconds.

After graduating in 2013, Wiebke went on to compete in Division 1 track and field and cross country at the University of Minnesota. During his tenure there, he became a team captain for both teams, earned All America accolades, and won a Big Ten championship in the 1 mile run in 20127 with a winning time of 4 minutes 1.85 seconds.

While he hung up his running spikes in 2018, he continued his education and earned graduate degrees from the University of Washington and Yale University before beginning a career in publishing based out of New York City. He lives in Connecticut with his partner Josh.

The final inductees are the K-M members of the 2001-03 Rochester Raiders Adapted Floor Hockey Teams, which during that era included six students: Phil DuBois, Scott Smith, Erik Rud, Paul Watson, Blair Lovig and Dylan Kuiper.

The Raiders were highly successful during these years, winning the consolation bracket of the state tournament in the 2001-02 season and then returning the next year and defeating the defending champions to win the 2002-03 Adapted Floor Hockey Championship.

Three KM students — Kuiper, DuBois and Rud — were a part of that state championship team. DuBois was even named honorable mention for the all-state team and Rudd was named to the all-state tournament team.

For more information about the Hall of Fame Banquet, or to buy tickets, contact Schoenfelder by calling 507-634-1105 or by emailing her at j.schoenfelder@komets.k12.mn.us.

You can also get tickets by going to hvlconference.org/public/genie/10/school/2/page/2269/.