The Lakeshore All Sports Hall of Fame held their 42nd Enshrinement Banquet last night at the Manitowoc Holiday Inn. Six people were honored for their accomplishments and contributions to athletics. Randy Heinzen is a leader with the Manitowoc Youth Baseball Association and point man for the newly built Manitowoc Youth Baseball/Softball four diamond complex at Citizen Park.
Jeff Ploederl was a very good three sport athlete at Lincoln High School, who later excelled at Galludet University for the Deaf and ard of Hearing. He was voted MVP in baseball and tennis. His mother Cheryl Kunish accepted on her son’s behalf.
Steve Sanders was a WIAA game official for over 45 years, and worked a total of 20 state basketball and football tournaments including four state football championship games.
Keith Klestinski was a football and track and field standout at Roncalli High School and a second generation Hall of Famer. He followed in his father’s footsteps who was inducted in 1990.
Tom Neubert is a 1970 Lincoln High School Graduate who excelled in three sports garnering all-conference honors in football and baseball. He later coached three spots at Leesville High School in Louisiana mentoring several future pro and numerous college football athletes.
Kristin Steckmesser-Stanley was named Conference Player of the Year at Two Rivers High School in volleyball, basketball and softball. She would play college basketball at UW Oshkosh where she is still in the top five in school history in five different categories.
Her father Brad was inducted in 2013 and her grandfather Edward is a 1997 inductee. Last night’s featured speaker was Kelly Sheffield, the head coach of the University of Wisconsin women’s volleyball team. The Badgers have reached the sweet sixteen in all five years under Sheffield, winning 135 of 170 matches. The focus of his message was inspiration.
Last night’s six inductees increased the total membership of the Hall of Fame to 225.