Hutchinson Leader - Inaugural Wall of Fame selections announced - Comments

As far as i know no one from

ThAtSsOrAvEn — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:58:29 -0500

As far as i know no one from Hutch has found the cure for cancer or found a way to beat global warming. We did have a dominating basketball player. I don't think anyone here is saying that defeating Glencoe in a game of basketball is a bigger deal than someone finding a cure for cancer.

Oh forcryingoutloud this is

Mon, 19 May 2008 19:12:35 -0500

Oh forcryingoutloud this is so typical. Go back and read these comments, Sports this, sports that, blah, blah, blah. The only one who even got it close to right is JaneDoe_22. A person who is good at sports is just that "good". A person who achieves academically can make a difference in the world. At the end of the day it doesn't make a difference in someone's life because a basketball player wins a game or a fan attends this # of games. It doesn't make the world a better place because this person made a certain # of points in a game. What matters is, did they cure cancer? Did they find a solution to global warming? Did they feed the hungry? What have they really accomplished? Nothing of any more value than providing entertainment.

Whalen has been a "Super

ThAtSsOrAvEn — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:38:42 -0500

Whalen has been a "Super Grad"... probably the first and last.

No matter the squabbles over

HawkEye — Sun, 18 May 2008 22:02:34 -0500

No matter the squabbles over the honorees, Hutch did it right.

Chaska High School had its inaugural Hall of Fame this year - and had 28 people, including more than a dozen athletes and coaches. Too many for one year.

This Wall of Fame list is an excellent start, and should leave much room for great honorees in the future.

And Whalen should be in the outstanding graduate category. She made her mark at HHS for sure, but her accomplishments at the U of M, the WNBA, international play and overseas leagues puts her at the next level.

Just so that you all know,

JaneDoe_22 — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:53:02 -0500

Just so that you all know, Hutchinson High School does not name either a Valedictorian or a Salutarian from their graduating senior classes. I understand that is because the school district does not want to make the rest of the class "feel bad" because they did not or could not achieve that status. I call that "dumbing down" of the students because there is no incentive to improve themselves because there is no "award" at the end of the tunnel for academics. However, you note that there are always athletic awards given for "All Conference" or "Outstanding Male/Female Athlete" - I think our priorities are somewhat misguided!!! As far as this "Wall of Fame" is concerned, I think there are better ways to use our time than to think of people who should be given this award. There are probably many, many people who should be given these awards and because nobody took the time or made the effort to nominate them, then they are simply forgotten. So I guess I would rather see a Valedictorian and a Salutarian named on an annual basis than this Wall of Fame for people that end up being more of a popularity contest.

The other athletes must not

ThAtSsOrAvEn — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:05:10 -0500

The other athletes must not have been doing as well in whatever they are presently doing. Whalen is an athlete... why she is not in that classification is strangely odd. I am thinking that no other graduate that was nominated is making headlines in their chosen field. But, at least they were good at sports as children while attending HHS.

I didn't mean to imply that

sc — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:48:43 -0500

I didn't mean to imply that Ms. Whalen was not a great athlete. I think she was a great high school athlete. What I was trying to point out was that there have been other great high school athletes from Hutch. We do agree that Ms. Whalen deserves to on the WOF. It just doesn't matter to me what catagory it would be in. Is she not an outstanding graduate? Hasn't she made great contibutions to field since graduating?

I beg to differ, but Whalen

ThAtSsOrAvEn — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:28:40 -0500

I beg to differ, but Whalen did achieve greatness in high school. She was an All Conference Player multiple times in basketball. Started four years and was named to almost any all star team a player could be named too. Set school records in scoring and in assists. She was the best player in the entire conference her junior and senior year. Her jersey was retired and her records will probably never be touched. Was a letter winner in track and tennis as well... even All Conference I believe.
If you measure an athlete's greatness by winning a team title, then no, she fell short. When a football team wins a state title it should be remembered that there are 22 starters plus special teams players so 1 player by themselves couldn't accomplish too much.
Whalen is probably the only female basketball player that could have started on most varsity boys teams. Thats not being sexest, that is a flat-out compliment and the total truth!
And I am aware that Ted. Gary, and Cathy need to make significant contributions and offer support to activities and programs like McGraw did I guess.

It would have been very

sc — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:08:54 -0500

It would have been very difficult for Ms. Whalen to make the wall of fame this as an athlete. In high school she never made it a state tournament in any sport. I think it would have been difficult for the commitee to place her in as an athlete when they had
Mr. Albrecht and Mr. Systma there. Both gentlemen lead their respective teams to state tounaments. Albrecht in basketball and Systma in football. If I am not mistaken, Mr. Systma's team won the title that year.

My thinking about the athlete award would be someone that made great athletic contributions to Hutchinson while in school. Ms. Whalen was a great high school basketball player, but her teams never made it to state. The competiton in that catagory surely must have been tough.

I am glad to read that you are planning on taking the time to nominate worthy people next time around. That's great. I am sure if they truely derserve to be on the WOF they will make. Make sure read the criteria first. As it has been posted again on the web,

"A fan must have made significant contributions and offered support to the activities programs at Hutchinson Public Schools."

It is not just someone who shows up to watch the games.

You are correct... she has

ThAtSsOrAvEn — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:47:34 -0500

You are correct... she has developed into a solid player. Her first two seasons were a time of growing and maturing... the past two seasons she is "excelling".

If Whalen gets nominated for

ThAtSsOrAvEn — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:34:38 -0500

If Whalen gets nominated for another category one day that would be silly. If McGraw gets nominated for another category one day that will also be a hoot.
Next year I'm going to nominate Ted, the tire guy, Gary, the grocery guy, and might send in a ballot for Cathy the cake baker gal too. Should be exciting watching the tabulations. Should make for a very exciting Homecoming football game ceremony in 2009. I think i will rush out tomorrow to set up my blanket in the front row!

She led her team to the WNBA

gopher5 — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:28:57 -0500

She led her team to the WNBA finals her first two seasons as the point guard and started an All-Star game so yes I would say she has excelled.

True... many inventors did

ThAtSsOrAvEn — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:20:53 -0500

True... many inventors did struggle in school.
Is playing basketball in college a "career". She has since gone on to play pro ball and has become a productive and solid player. By pro standards, probably has not "excelled" but by all accounts a very talented "athlete"!
I think there may have been many students who got report cards loaded with D's and F's that have gone on to become great successes in life. Should they later receive "Outstanding Graduates"... maybe the "title" is what seems strange to me. I'm guessing that engraving "Best Graduate Who Ever Graduated With D's And F's" would not fit on the trophy.

I am not implying that at

gopher5 — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:18:20 -0500

I am not implying that at all. She was just nominated for a different award because she went on to excel in her chosen field which helps to show Hutchinson students that they can excel in whatever career they choose upon graduating from Hutchinson High School. One day Whalen will also probably be nominated in the athlete category.

Are you implying that Whalen

ThAtSsOrAvEn — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:07:14 -0500

Are you implying that Whalen did not excell while attending Hutch? She was only the flat-out best basketball player this town had ever seen, I followed her career from court-side since she was in 8th grade. Believe me, she could take control of a game and had moves that would break the ankles of anyone trying to keep up to her. As far as her academics... she probably did just fine.

Inaugural Wall of Fame selections announced

Eric Kraushar — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:55:37 -0500

The following persons have been selected to be inducted into the Hutchinson High School Wall Of Fame for 2008. This will be the inaugural induction ceremony of the WOF in Hutchinson. This year’s inductees are:

Michael John Arndt Fine Arts
Lindsay Whalen Outstanding Graduate
Grady Rostberg Coach/Advisor
Jack McClelland Coach/Advisor
Barb Tschida Coach/Advisor
Ron McGraw Fan
Stan Sytsma Athlete
Emanuel Albrecht Athlete