Five to be inducted into MHS Athletic Hall of Fame

Five people will be inducted into the Mitchell High School Athletic Hall of Fame at the annual MHS awards banquet May 5.

Erin Olson, Kyle Adams, Bart Friedrick, Bob Brooks and Earl Hilton will be inducted at the banquet, which is at 6:30 p.m. at the Corn Palace.

Olson graduated from MHS in 1995 after helping the Kernel girls’ basketball team to an 85-7 record. She played in four Class AA state title games and won two state titles. She was named to the first-team all state two years, was a Miss Basketball finalist and an All-American selection.

Olson, who later played for the University of Wyoming and the University of Minnesota, was the Spirit of Su winner in 1994. She also was a four-year starter on the volleyball team and helped Mitchell to its first-ever state title.

In the spring, Olson qualified for the state track meet all four years. She won the long and triple jumps as a junior and the long jump as a senior. She was a part of the Kernels’ state runner-up track team her senior year.

Adams was a two-way starter for the Kernel football team and led MHS to the semifinals of the state playoffs and a 9-2 record in 1993. That year we was the Eastern South Dakota Conference MVP and was named to the 11AA all-state team. He was also a national high school All-American honorable mention selection.

Adams was a point guard on the 1984 state title-winning basketball team. He was named to the all-tournament team, the all-ESD team, the all-state team, was a South Dakota all-star selection and a Mr. Basketball finalist.

In track, Adams was a hurdler, pole vaulter, triple jumper and sprinter. He was a part of the 1984 state champion sprint medley relay team.

Adams went on to play basketball for South Dakota State University and was part of the 1985 team that was national runner-up.

Brooks came to Mitchell in 1958 and led the Kernel boys’ basketball team to conference titles in 1963 and 1965 and a state title in 1964. He picked up his 100th victory in 1966.

He was the MHS athletic director starting in 1966, became the assistant principal in 1967 and was the middle school principal from 1969 to 1975. He came back to serve as high school principal from 1975 until he retired in 1994. Brooks oversaw the addition of girls’ athletics as well as new athletic facilities.

Prior to coming to Mitchell, Brooks played football and Legion baseball in Lake Andes and was part of an Andes Central basketball team that went 30-1.

Friedrick played on the 1984 and 1985 state champion Kernel boys’ basketball teams and was named to the all-state team his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. His final two years with Mitchell, the basketball team went 45-1 and posted the “big school” record in the state for most consecutive wins at 40.

Friedrick was co-Mr. Basketball his senior year and finished his career as the school’s leading scorer. He is still the third all-time leading scorer.

Friedrick played NCAA Division I basketball at Drake, where he was the Missouri Valley Conference freshman of the year and was named to the All-American freshman team.

Hilton graduated from Mitchell in 1943 after playing football and basketball. During his three years on the varsity basketball team, the Kernels went 35-14 and played in two state semifinal games.

Hilton played football and basketball at Dakota Wesleyan and then taught and coached in Madison before returning to Mitchell from 1960-1987. During that time, he served as a coach, teacher and athletic director.

Hilton has been recognized with the Distinguished Service Award from the SDHSAA and as an honorary referee at the Corn Palace Relays. He is in the DWU Athletic Hall of Fame, the South Dakota High School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame and the Madison High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Tags: hall of fame, sports, kernels