Nine former Chadron State standouts will be inducted into the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. The class is made up of five All-American wrestlers, two football greats and two women who starred in track and field.
The Hall of Fame inductions will take place the evening of Saturday, October 5 following the Eagles’ football game vs. Adams State.
The wrestlers being honored include Brett Hunter of Rushville, a two-time national champion, and Josh Majerus of Albion, Neb., a three-time All-American after placing second, first and fourth at the national championships. They graduated in 2009 after winning 133 and 117 matches, respectively, to rank first and second all-time at Chadron State.
Hunter has been CSC’s head wrestling coach the past 12 years. Majerus is the head mat mentor at his high school alma mater, Boone Central.
Mark Pfeifer of California, Devlon Webb, an Omaha native, and Matt Weingart, originally from Alliance and now of Scottsbluff, are the other wrestlers going into the CSC Hall of Fame. Each placed once at the NCAA Division II National Tournament to earn his All-American status.
Stacy Girard, an Alliance native and now of Chadron, held six Chadron State records when she earned her bachelor’s degree in 2009. Her highlights included running the 1500 in 4:33.51 in 2008, when she became the first CSC distance runner, male or female, to place at a national meet.
Like Majerus, Mary Wells is from Albion, Neb. She specialized in throwing the shot and discus, placing 18 times at Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Meets and was a two-time All-American.
Paul Schweger and John Strand were among the leaders on CSC’s 2006 and 2007 football teams. Both teams had 12-1 season records and were undefeated in RMAC action.
Originally from Longmont, Colo., Schweger was a four-year starter at safety who made 182 solo tackles and intercepted or broke up 27 passes.
A rangy offensive lineman from Imperial, Neb., Stand was instrumental in helping Danny Woodhead become college football’s all-time leading rusher with 7,962 yards.