Six inductees named to the Hall of Fame
TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Merrill’s Basketball Program now has their own Hall of Fame.
On Friday, Feb. 4, during the Varsity Boys Basketball game, two players and one coach from the Girls Basketball Program and two players and one coach from the Boys Basketball Program were recognized and inducted into the Inaugural Class of the Merrill Basketball Hall of Fame (HOF).
“It was a special night,” said Troy Pieper, current Merrill Boys Basketball Head Coach and one of the organizers. “So many people came out to show their support for this inaugural HOF Class; I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better than it did. It was just an awesome night celebrating some Merrill Basketball history.”
Boys Basketball Program inductees
From the archives of Merrill Boys Basketball history, players Jim Langenkamp (Merrill Bluejay Player 1961-1965) and Paul Jesperson (Merrill Bluejay Player 2007-2011) and Coach Don Kerr (Merrill Bluejay Boys Basketball Coach 1965-1973) were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Langenkamp, described as “arguably the best player to ever play for Merrill,” passed away on Mar. 6, 2021, at the age of 74. Former teammates, Gary Zimmerman and Virgil Baumgart, accepted the posthumous award on his behalf.
Kerr, who was also inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 as a Friend of Basketball, was also given the Merrill award posthumously, having passed away on Apr. 6, 2010, at age 74. His family accepted the award on his behalf.
Jesperson, described as “the most decorated player in Merrill basketball history,” will accept his award at the upcoming Feb. 18 basketball game. He is currently a player development coach for the Atlanta Hawks.
Girls Basketball Program inductees
From the archives of Merrill Girls Basketball history, players Janet (Fruend) Wardall (Merrill Bluejay Player 1979-1983) and Lisa (Bonnell) Handlin (Merrill Bluejay Player 1980-1984) and Coach Bob Yuska (Merrill Bluejay Girls Basketball Coach 1981-2003) were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Among Wardall’s athletic achievements, she went on to play college ball for Purdue University. Wardall returned to Merrill to teach in the Merrill School District for more than 30 years before retiring in 2021. Wardall was there That night to accept her award.
Likewise, Handlin played college basketball for four years, but for the Wisconsin Badgers at UW-Madison, and also garnered many awards. She was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 2015. She has been a teacher in the Merrill School District for many years and is also currently the Merrill Boys JV Basketball Coach. Handlin accepted her award in person.
Yuska, who began coaching in Merrill as an Assistant Coach in 1977 before taking the lead as Head Coach in 1981, and who was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 as a Coach, will accept his award at the upcoming Feb. 18 basketball game.