Hays High Athletics Hall of Fame

10/21/2025

Have someone you think belongs in the Hall of Fame? We need nominations! All of our inductees are nominated by the public. All you have to do is fill out the form below! The more information you can fill out about the nominee, the better!

This form may be submitted an unlimited amount of times. You may submit as many nominations as you wish. Nominations can include athletes, coaches, administrators, and other contributors to Hays High Athletics. You will have to resubmit the form each time. Mail in copies may by sent to: Hays High At...

10/10/2025

Today is the day! Check out Heartland Community Foundation Givefest for opportunities to donate to not only our fund, but so many great causes in our community!

Hays High Athletics Hall of Fame is participating in Give Fest! 💰🌾

Established to recognize excellence and inspire future generations, the Hall of Fame showcases the legacy of dedication, sportsmanship, and accomplishment within Hays High School's athletic history. Through recognition and scholarships, we aim to inspire current and future athletes, foster school spirit, and highlight the lasting contributions of those who have shaped Hays High School sports.

Donations made during Give Fest--October 10--will be matched up to 100% by the Heartland Community Foundation. 🥨 Donor dollars will go to build the organization's endowed fund, and match dollars can be used for immediate needs. Online donations open on October 1, with day-of events in Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties on October 10.

Visit www.heartlandgivefest.org to donate and learn more! 💰

09/21/2025

Help us raise money for our annual scholarships given to Hays High Student Athletes!

Hays High Athletics Hall of Fame is participating in Give Fest! 💰🌾

Established to recognize excellence and inspire future generations, the Hall of Fame showcases the legacy of dedication, sportsmanship, and accomplishment within Hays High School's athletic history. Through recognition and scholarships, we aim to inspire current and future athletes, foster school spirit, and highlight the lasting contributions of those who have shaped Hays High School sports.

Donations made during Give Fest--October 10--will be matched up to 100% by the Heartland Community Foundation. 🥨 Donor dollars will go to build the organization's endowed fund, and match dollars can be used for immediate needs. Online donations open on October 1, with day-of events in Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties on October 10.

Visit www.heartlandgivefest.org to donate and learn more! 💰

09/11/2025

We need your help! Heartland Give Fest is coming up and below is more information on how you can support the Hays High Athletics Hall of Fame and the scholarships we give out!

08/15/2025

As we wrap up another year of the Athletics Hall of Fame, we want to thank everyone who came out and supported our inductees. We had over 200 people attend this year's banquet, and we can't thank you enough for your support and making this night possible!

With that said, we need your help! All of our inductions come from nominations from the community. If you think someone should be in the Hall of Fame, please fill out this form as best as you can and submit it!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Fbo2Bx_35i-H_nd3Ku6VDfyg8Q0mu16k1doOQIo9CFg/edit

Lastly, here is the link to this year's banquet in case you missed it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQuorCCLQUU

08/07/2025

Our last inductee in the 2025 class is Tasha Arneson. Tasha was a 3-sport athlete, where she varsity lettered all 4 years in cross country and track. Most known for her work on the track, Tasha held many school records at the time. Tasha credits her dad, Coach Mitchell, Coach Maska, and Coach Cross for having such a large influence on her success in high school sports! A few of Tasha's accomplishments include:

Freshman year
• 4th at state in the high hurdles
• 5th at state in the low hurdles
• 6th at state as a member of the 4x400 Relay

Sophomore year
• 2nd at state in the 100m high hurdles with a school record of 14.1 seconds
• 4th in the 300m low hurdles

Junior year
• 1 of 2 girls that qualified for the KU relays and competed in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and the long jump
• The girls team places second or higher at all the regular season meets
• Regional Team Champs
• 6th Place Team finish at State

Senior Year
• All-State (Finished in the top 6) in 100m hurdles, long jump, 300m hurdles, 4x400 relay.
• Part of the basketball team that finished 19-3, which was the best season in school history at the time.

Tasha was also the Female Student Athlete of the year her Senior year. The summer after she graduated from Hays High, she was diagnosed with Hodkins Lymphoma. After beating cancer the Hays City Shootout's Female Most Inspirational Athlete Award was named after her and is still given out today.

Congratulations Tasha!

08/04/2025

Our next inductee in the 2025 class is Dana Albright. Dana etched his place into Hays High Athletics History through his play on the basketball court. He is one of the best players in Hays High history, and you can still find is name throughout the record books. He was also a member of the 1970-1971 basketball team that is getting inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. A few of his accomplishments include:

1969-1970
• Varsity Basketball Letter
• Lindsborg Tournament Champions
• WCKL Co-Champs
• WCKL 2nd Team
• Named Honorable Mention All-State

1970-1971
• Varsity Basketball Letter
• Concordia Tournament Champions
• WCKL Champions
• WCKL 1st Team
• 2nd Team All-State

Dana currently sits 15th in all-time in career scoring (685 points), 10th in single-season scoring (400 points), 7th in season scoring average (20 ppg), 3rd in career rebounding (555 rebounds), 2nd in single-season rebounding (262), and 2nd in single-season rebounding average (13.1).

Dana also lettered in baseball.

Congratulations again to Dana Albright!

07/30/2025

🚨TODAY is the last day to purchase tickets to the 2025 Hays High Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet 🚨

Tickets can be purchased at: https://auctria.events/HHSHOF2025
or by visiting the Brian Ruder - American Family Insurance Agent in Hays!

If you have questions or issues purchasing tickets please reach out to us on here or email us at [email protected]

2025 Hays High Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet

07/28/2025

The ticket deadline for our 2025 banquet on August 9th is this Thursday (July 31st)! We have to get a number to our caterer, so get your tickets purchased! You don't want to miss it!

Our 2025 inductees are:
Coach Rick Keltner
Coach Frank Leo
Ed Schumacher
Dana Albright
Joe Hoffman
Tasha Arneson
Donna Lowen
1970-1971 Boys Basketball Team

Tickets can be purchased at: https://auctria.events/HHSHOF2025
or by visiting the Brian Ruder - American Family Insurance Agent in Hays!

2025 Hays High Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet

07/28/2025

Our next inductee in the 2025 class is Ed Schumacher. Ed was a standout basketball player at Hays High was a key member of the 1970-1971 basketball team that is also getting inducted this year. He was one of the best to ever put on a Hays High Basketball jersey. A few of his accomplishments include:

1969-1970
• Varsity Basketball Letter
• Lindsborg Tournament Champions
• WCKL Co-Champs
• Lead the WCKL in scoring
• WCKL 1st Team
• Broke the school Junior Scoring Record
• Named Honorable Mention All-State

1970-1971
• Varsity Basketball Letter
• Concordia Tournament Champions
• Selected to Concordia Tournament All-Tournament Team
• WCKL Champions
• WCKL 1st Team
• WCKL All-Star Team (7-man)
• 2nd Team All-State
• Broke the Senior Scoring Record
• Finished as the All-Time Leading Scorer at the time.

Ed currently sits 12th all time in career scoring, 12th & 15th all-time in scoring in a single season, 8th and 11th all-time in single season scoring average, 12th all-time in career rebounding, 3rd all-time in single season rebounds, and 3rd all-time in single season rebounding average. Ed would go on to play basketball at Pratt Junior College and then to Fort Hays State, where he is already inducted into the Tiger Hall of Fame.

Congratulations Ed Schumacher! If you want to help celebrate Ed and all of our inductees, you can purchase your tickets for the dinner and banquet held on August 9th at the Rose Garden, in Hays!

Tickets can be purchased at: https://auctria.events/HHSHOF2025
or by visiting the Brian Ruder - American Family Insurance Agent in Hays!

07/21/2025

Our next inductee in the 2025 class is Frank Leo. When you think of Hays High Baseball, Frank Leo is the first person you think of. Coach Leo led the Hays High Baseball program, and he invested his heart in sole to making it something special. With the help of long-time assistant Keith Harper, they built the Hays High Baseball stadium from the ground up. For 39 years, Coach Leo had the Indians competing for championships, while teaching math at the high school. His legacy will forever be talked about at Hays High school. A few of his accomplishments include:

• Baseball coach for 39 years
• 1991 Head Coach of the USA JR Pan America Team that won the Gold medal
• 1993 5A Coach of the Year
• 1998 KS Coach of the year
• 1998 National Region V Coach of the year
• 18 WAC titles
• 12 Appearances in the 5A state baseball tournament
• 2 Runner-Up Finishes at the 5A state baseball tournament
• Inducted into the FHSU Athletic HOF, Kansas Baseball HOF, National Baseball Congress HOF, Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches HOF

Coach Leo has also served as the Head Coach of the Hays Larks for the last 43 years and in 2024 won the NBC World Series. There will never be another to do what Coach Leo did for Hays High Baseball. If you have any pictures or memories with Coach Leo, leave them in the comments below!

Congratulations Frank Leo! If you want to help celebrate Frank and all of our inductees, you can purchase your tickets for the dinner and banquet held on August 9th at the Rose Garden, in Hays!

Tickets can be purchased at: https://auctria.events/HHSHOF2025
or by visiting the Brian Ruder - American Family Insurance Agent in Hays!

07/16/2025

Our next inductee in the 2025 class is Donna Lowen! Donna will forever go down as one of the greatest female golfers in Hays High History. Donna was part of the group of females that pushed for girls golf to have its own season separate from the boys. She would set the standard for Lady Indian Golf for years to come. A few of her accomplishments include:

• 4-year medal winner at state
• Won 25 out of 32 high school golf-tournaments
• 2 regular season in golf where she went undefeated
• Finished 1st, 2nd, 1st, and 1st at her 4 high school regionals
• Finished 5th, 3rd, 3rd, and 2nd at the State High School Championships
• Outstanding female athlete in 1986

Donna also won the KS State Junior Title in 1983 and 1984 as well as the KS State Amateur title in 1985 and 1990. She qualified for the Optimist Junior World Golf Tournament in 1984 and 1985. She would go to KU on a full-ride golf scholarship and be a part of the only KU women's golf team to win a Big 8 title in 1990. If you know golf, you know how impressive of a resume this is!

Congratulations Donna Lowen! If you want to help celebrate Donna and all of our inductees, you can purchase your tickets for the dinner and banquet held on August 9th at the Rose Garden, in Hays!

Tickets can be purchased at: https://auctria.events/HHSHOF2025
or by visiting the Brian Ruder - American Family Insurance Agent in Hays!