Some of the most outstanding athletes to ever play for the Hastings High tigers were honored by being inducted into the Hastings High Hall of Fame recently in the third annual induction banquet.
Many individuals were inducted for various sports and various feats of athleticism, along with the state championship golf teams of 1958 and 1965, and gymnasts from one of the best gymnastics run that the school ever had.
The Hall of Fame is a great chance to recognize people who have made important contributions to HHS athletics in many different ways. Some of those people had not seen each other in a long time before the banquet and were able to renew old relationships.
“It’s just an opportunity to honor the history of Tiger athletics and reunite or rekindle some of our more accomplished alumni back to our school,” Lance Creech, head basketball coach and Assistant Athletic Director said.
Athletes were able to not only meet new people, but they were also able to learn more about the school and what has been happening in recent years. This was the first year the induction banquet was held at the high school, so athletes were able to see what had changed.
One specific thing that was shown to athletes was the north gym, which was only installed about 25 years ago, and so many of the athletes had not seen it before.
Even with the change in scenery from past banquets, the ceremony went smoothly at the high school and was enjoyed by everyone involved.
“I think it’s been a huge success, just with the people that we’ve had an opportunity to induct,” Creech said. “I think the names and the recognition of those that have gone in are not only substantial athletically, but they’ve gone on to great successes in life.”
The inductees were able to share stories of those successes, both athletically and in life, with each other and everyone who was at the banquet. Hearing stories is one of the main attractions of the Hall of Fame banquet, because many different things can happen to people.
“I think just listening to the stories of the inductees and the family members [was great],” Creech said. “The relationships that they built, the work ethic that was established, the motivation and discipline it took for them to achieve such an honor.”
While all of the inductees went on to various lives in various places, they will always share the bond of being an athlete at Hastings High School, and they will always have their own stories to share with others of what happened during their time at HHS.
