KEARNEY HIGH SCHOOL

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

Katie Higgins

Mike Peck

Lewis Family

Luke McNitt

 

KATIE HIGGINS

Between the years of 2009 and 2013, Katie Higgins Nealon established herself as one of the best KHS volleyball

players in school history, while also excelling in track and field. Her Bearcat athletic career began in 2009, when she

earned a varsity letter in volleyball, basketball, and track to become the first freshman to do so in school history. Katie

went on to be a 4-year letter winner in both volleyball and track. Her performance on the volleyball court garnered her

numerous awards including 2012 Kearney Hub Player of the Year, Omaha World Herald all-state second team and

honorable mentions, two-time Lincoln Journal Star second team and two-time all-conference team. Her performances also

broke four school records – total kills (1043), kills in a season (459), kills in a match (32) and kills per game (4.6) – records

that still stand today. Katie led the volleyball team to conference championships and district runner-up finishes in 2009,

2010 and 2011. Katie also represented KHS at the Nebraska Coaches Association all-star game in the summer of 2013.

In addition to volleyball success, Katie qualified for three state track and field meets, finishing fourth in Class A in

the high jump as a senior. Katie contributed to the track team’s success which included three conference championships

(2011, 2012, 2013) and two district championships (2010, 2011). She was also a part of the girls’ basketball team that won

conference and districts in 2010 to make the state tournament. Off the court, Katie was honored with the Wendy’s

Heisman and NSAA Believers and Achievers award in 2013.

Katie’s drive and high school success earned her a Division I volleyball scholarship at the University of Notre

Dame. While at Notre Dame, she earned four monogram letters, became team captain, and was named the team’s most

valuable player in 2016. Katie also led the team in blocks and hitting percentage her senior year while also earning a place

on the Atlantic Coast Conference academic honor roll. Katie graduated Notre Dame in 2017 with a degree in marketing

and now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Matt, and two daughters, Quinn and Caroline. She is an Assistant Vice

President of Brand Marketing at Nuveen Asset Management.

2011 Kearney Hub Volleyball Player of the Year

2012 Omaha World Herald Super State Second Team

2011 and 2012 Lincoln Journal Star All-State Second Team

2011 and 2012 GNAC All-Conference Team

2010 Omaha World Hearld All-State Honorable Mention

Broke 4 KHS Volleyball Records

2013 4 th Place Class A State High Jump

Four-Year Letterwinner Volleyball and Track and Field

One-Year Letter Winner Basketball

2013 Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Volleyball Game

2013 NSAA Believers and Achiever Award

2013 Wendy’s Heisman School Winner

University of Notre Dame 2013-2017:

Scholarship Volleyball Athlete

Four-Time Monogram Winner: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

2016 Team MVP and Team Captain

Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll

LUKE MCNITT


HIGH SCHOOL

2012 Senior Year

- 1st Team All-State Football

- Johnny Rodgers Over the Top Award (Western Nebraska Player of the Year)

- State Champion - Shot Put

- All-Class & State Champion - Discus

- 2011 & 2012 Track Team State Champions

- 2012 Hub Territory Male Athlete of the Year

COLLEGE

- Started as a walk-on in 2014 before earning a scholarship

- 2016 Husker Power Lifter of the Year

- 2017 Team Captain

- 2017 Cletus Fischer Native Son Award

NFL

- 2018: Signed with Atlanta Falcons & Minnesota Vikings

COACHING

- Spent the last four years at the University of Arizona, went 10-3 last year and

beat Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl

CURRENT

- Married in July to wife Abigail, living in Lincoln, working at Hudl and

starting own business

 

MIKE PECK

PERSONAL:

I grew up in Lexington, NE and graduated from Lexington High School. After high

school, I graduated from Kearney State College (now known as University of Nebraska –

Kearney) with a Business Administration/Marketing degree. I have been married to my

wife, Danette, for 34 years and we are empty nesters. Our oldest son, Danny, lives in

Lincoln, NE. Our youngest son, Matt, is married and has one daughter and lives in Omaha,

NE.

I have been involved with the KHS Bearcat Booster Club since January 2009. I have

served in many roles including President, Vice-President, and Executive Board. I am

currently the chair of the Membership Committee & assist in Program Ad Sales. I have

been fortunate to work with some great volunteers over the years and have always found

great support from Kearney Public Schools administration and especially KHS High School

principals and athletic staff. I have volunteered at multiple athletic events over the years

including the NSAA State track & Field Championships (10+ years) in the shot-put

arena and NSAA State Cross Country Championships (8 years) in Kearney, NE. I have also

assisted with Kearney High School track meets and cross country meets over the past 17

years. It has been a real joy to see many student/athletes perform and excel over the years

and getting to know many of them personally along with many coaches from around the

state.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE:

I have been involved in lending/leasing for the past 35+ years (almost all ag related)

as my full- time job. I am currently employed at Heartland Bank as a Vice President/

Relationship Manager in the Grand Island branch. The bank has a wonderful culture and

promotes volunteering and community events for the bank staff which allows me to spend

time with supporting high school athletics and events.

 

LEWIS FAMILY

Bud and Darlene Lewis were long time supporters of Kearney High Athletics. They

could be found supporting their children and grandchildren at a variety of school

activities. Bud and Darlene valued the Kearney community, serving through their generous

donations, offering game security, or fitting athletes for their shoes. Their four children

graduated from Kearney High School. Debra and Darla helped to pave the way for girls’

athletics in the era of Title IX. Debra was on the drill team. Darla took part in volleyball,

track, and was the band majorette. Edward played football and basketball. Dennis excelled

in football, basketball, and track. He continued his career, playing baseball at Kearney State

College. Six Lewis grandchildren graduated from and continue to support KHS. Erica,

Leah, Kelli, Darbi, Abigail, and Rob, excelled on the soccer pitch, track and field events,

cross country, football and softball fields, basketball and volleyball courts, and in cheer,

dance, and color guard. Leah and Abigail continued their track and field careers at UNK.

Rob continued his football career with the UNO Mavericks and was inducted into the KHS

Hall of Fame in 2016. The third generation of Bearcats are now making their own marks on

Kearney Public Schools. It is an honor to wear the Blue and Gold, and to continue the

service started by Bud and Darlene, through coaching, volunteering, and fundraising.

Debra (Lewis) Happold- Class of 1969

Darla (Lewis) Stromberg- Class of 1971

Erica (Stromberg) Covey- Class of 1996

and Blake Covey- Class of 2003

Gavyn (Class of 2025) and Liliann Covey

Kelli (Stromberg) Rucker- Class of 1998

Ella (Class of 2024), Hadley, and Ayden Rucker

Edward Lewis- Class of 1974

Leah (Lewis) Stade- Class of 1998

Alexander (Class of 2027) and Henry Stade

Abigail (Lewis) Sterling- Class of 2002

Dennis Lewis- Class of 1976

Darbi (Lewis) Roeder- Class of 2000

and Brady Roeder- Class of 2009

Charley and Benni Roeder

Rob Lewis- Class of 2003

Hayleigh, Owen, and Adelyn Lewis