After more than 40 years of outstanding basketball tradition at Tri-Center High School, a Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to honor some of the players and coaches who have been responsible for that success.

 

3/16/09  FORMER COACH OF TRI-CENTER--CARL COCHRAN--was inducted into the IHSAA Hall of Fame on March 14, 2009, in Des   Moines.  Click Here to read the article in .pdf format that was published by the Neola Gazette.  (Increase zoom to 100% to read the article)  Congratulations Carl!   Superintendent of Tri-Center, Brett Nanninga, is giving Carl his plaque in Des Moines.  Picture was taken by Matt Gengler of Mo. Valley.   

 

2/21/13  TRI-CENTER BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME--In Recognition of Outstanding Athletic Achievement--New Inductees for 2013 (Kurt Spomer, Monte Larsen, Bryan Larsen, and Wendy Ausdemore) Congratulations! 

Kurt Spomer--Class of 2008--From the class of 2008 comes Kurt Spomer. Kurt was a 4 year starter, 4 time- 1st team all-conference selection, Academic All-Conference, 4-time 1st Team All-Western Iowa Selection, 2 time- first team all-state selection, named to the 2007 2A All-Tournament Team, and was the 2008 Nonpareil Male Athlete of the Year. Kurt also led Tri-Center to 2 state tournament appearances and his team finished 4th his junior season. At that state tournament, he was named the Captain of the All-Tournament Team. Kurt averaged more than 20 points per game as a junior and as a senior. Kurt is second in Tri-Center history in points in a career with 1,948. He is also 1st all-time in rebounds, 2nd in assists, 2nd in steals, 2nd in 3 pointers made, and 1st all-time in charges taken.

Kurt attended Creighton University and played baseball for 4 years. Kurt made his mark as a relief pitcher and closer. Kurt was a 2011 All-Missouri Valley All-Conference Selection after finishing the season with 13 saves, which is 2nd all-time in Creighton Baseball History. Kurt made 86 appearances on the mound in his career, helped lead Creighton to 2 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championships, pitched in 2 separate NCAA Tournament Regionals, and over 130 wins in 4 seasons. Kurt graduated last spring from Creighton with a degree in Financial Services/Entrepreneurial Management.

After graduation, Kurt was signed as a Free Agent by the Anaheim Angels and played in their Rookie League in Tempe, Arizona. He is currently training for spring baseball and will then be assigned a league.

Wendy Ausdemore--Class of 2005--Wendy was a 4 year starter under Coach Derek Sonderland, 4 year team MVP, 2 time- first team all-state selection, Southwest Iowa Player of the Year her senior season.  Wendy was also named the 2005 Miss Iowa Basketball, led her team to a runner-up state tournament finish, named the state tournament MVP after posting 31 points and 10 rebounds in championship game... averaged 19 ppg, 9 rpg, 3.5 apg her senior year... established school records for season scoring (542) and 3-point field goal percentage (.490)... her 49 percent shooting from beyond the arc ranked second in the state.

Wendy attended the University of Iowa on a basketball scholarship.  She was a 3 year starter and was an all-conference and academic all-conference player multiple years for the Hawkeyes.  While averaging double figures 3 out of 4 seasons, Wendy helped lead her team to 3 NCAA Basketball Tournaments.  She was 2nd all-time in 3’s made and 10th all-time scoring.  Wendy set the national record for free throw percentage in a season and the Big Ten’s All-Time Leading Free Throw shooter missing only 21 attempts in 4 years.  At Iowa, Wendy received her degree in business.  Now, Wendy is getting her degree in education and is student teaching this winter/spring.  

Bryan Larsen--Class of 2005--Bryan was a 3 year starter and a 3 year letter winner for the Trojans under Coach Carl Cochran.  As a senior, Bryan averaged double figures in being named as a 2nd team All-Conference selection as well as an Academic All-Conference.  Bryan helped lead the Trojans to a 17-6 season as a senior.  He is 15th All-Time in assists in a career and 43rd all-time in scoring.  Bryan was known for his tremendous defense and great play in transition.

After high school, Bryan attended Morningside College where he received his Business Degree.  Bryan resides in Council Bluffs and plays a major role in Larsen Painting.  Bryan is engaged to Dr. Katelyn Crouch, and he will be getting married in August.

Monte Larsen--Class of 2008--Monte was a 3 year starter and 3 year letter winner for the Trojans under Coach Carl Cochran.  Monte was a 1st Team All-Conference selection as a senior and a 2nd Team All-Conference selection as a junior.  Monte helped lead the Trojans to back-to-back state tournament appearances with a 4th place finish his junior season.  Monte is 7th All-Time in points in a career, 3rd All-Time in steals, and 3rd All-Time in 3 Pointers Made.  Monte was known for his great outside shooting and stellar defense.

After high school, Monte attended Morningside College where he was a track and cross country standout. He was a five-time NAIA Indoor All-American and a two-time NAIA Outdoor All-American.  Larsen anchored the Mustangs to a NAIA National Championship in the men’s 3200-meter relay and was the NAIA national runner-up in the 600-meters during the 2012 indoor season.  He was the 2011 NAIA national runner-up in the indoor 600-meters and the outdoor 800-meters. On top of that, Larsen was named the Men’s Academic All-American of the Year.

Monte received his degree in Elementary Education and is now in the graduate program at Morningside College and will be running for the Mustangs this spring.

 

1/14/08  TRI-CENTER BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME--New inductees in 2008--Congratulations: 

Katie Morse--Class of 2000--Katie was an outstanding player who often had to carry her team offensively despite constantly being double-teamed.  She was a three-year starter and four-year letterwinner, earning All Conference honors twice and All State as a senior.  Her senior year was outstanding as she averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocked shots per game.  Through her career she scored 1379 points, collected 870 rebounds, made 107 steals and blocked 318 shots.  She still holds nine of the 23 individual Tri-Center records.  At the conclusion of the season, she was chosen Most Valuable Player of the Daily Nonpareil-Southwest Iowa All Star Game.  Katie received a scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska and play basketball.  At Nebraska she was a four-year letterwinner and two-year starter.  Today she is teaching social studies and coaching girls' basketball at Griswold High School.

Paul Larsen--Class of 2002--Paul was a three-year starter and four-year letterwinner on teams which were 37-11 over his final two seasons.  An outstanding all-around player, Paul took pride in his defensive ability and drawing the assignment of guarding the best opponent.  At the end of his high school career he ranked second in career steals with 125, third most 3-point baskets and 10th best scorer in the Tri-Center history with 789 points.  He was twice an All Conference selection.  After finishing high school, Paul took his basketball talents to Morningside College where he was a three-year letterman and two-year starter.  His senior season at Morningside saw the team advance to the semi-finals of the national tournament.  Today, Paul and his wife, Jill live in Omaha.

Shawn Dalton--Class of 2002--Shawn was a four-year letterman who started in 70 of his 85 high school games, winning 37 games over the final two seasons.  During his career, Shawn was a three-time Most Valuable Player for the Trojans, earning All Conference twice and being named an All Southwest Iowa selection.  He concluded an outstanding Tri-Center High School career by reading third most career points (1,116), seventh most rebounds, seventh in 3-point baskets and eighth in career assists.  After high school, Shawn played for Southwestern Community College where he lettered two years and started his sophomore season.  He recently graduated from William Penn College and today lives in Council Bluffs.