Hall of PRIDE

Al Jones was a four-sport standout at Bishop Heelan in the mid-70s and was one of the great teammates to ever wear the Old Gold and Blue. Affectionately known as “Big Al”, for both his size and big personality, he was a 1st team All-State Defensive Lineman for the 1975 State Champion football team and would play in the 1976 Shrine Bowl. On the basketball court Al was a two-time All-State selection, team captain, and led the Crusaders to a 3rd place finish at the 1976 state tournament where he was named to the All-Tournament Team. In the spring Al threw the shot and discus, and in the summer he made hispresence felt on the pitching mound by going going 10-1 and was named All City and All NW Iowa. Al would go on to play both football and basketball in college with stops at USD, Wayne State, and Briar Cliff.

Dan LaFleur arrived at Heelan for his junior year of high school and immediately made an impact on Crusader athletics. Dan would earn 7 varsity letters in his two years at Heelan as well as being selected to the National Honor Society. On the gridiron Dan was a team captain on the 1970 team that went 8-1, and he was voted the team’s Hard Hitter Award winner. He was selected as a 3rd team All-Stater, was 1st Team All-NW Iowa, and was selected to the KTIV All-Siouxland Team. During the winter Dan was an honorable mention All-State selection in basketball, 1st team All-City, and the team’s Hustle Award winner. Dan would finish 3rd in the shot put at the 1971 state track and field meet and was a 2-time time letterwinner on the baseball diamond. Dan would go on to play football at the University of Iowa where he was a team captain and was honorable mention All-Big Ten in 1974 while leading the Hawkeyes in tackles. Dan joins his son Jon (93) as the first father-son duo to be enshrined in the Hall of PRIDE.

Bobby Soule was perhaps the greatest distance runner in the history of Crusader athletics. Between cross country and track and field; Bobby was a 4-time state champion, winning the cross country title in 1982, and track and field titles in the 1600 in both 1982 and 1983 while also adding the 800 title in 1983. He anchored a runner up 4x800 Drake Relays team in 1983, was a 5-time SIC champion, and 2-time track MVP as well as the 1983 team captain. The 1983 Sioux City Journal Male Athlete of the Year, Bobby would go on to run cross country and track at Iowa State. While running for the Cyclones, Bobby would claim the 1988 Big 8 Title in the 1500 and the 1988 Big 8 indoor title in the 1000. He was a part of 5 Big 8 Conference championship teams for the the Cyclones between the indoor and outdoor seasons and was a member of a Drake Relays Champion 4x1600 meter relay team. More than just a great athlete, Bobby was Vice President of the Student Council while at Heelan. In 2003 he was inducted into the Sioux City Relays Hall of Fame.

The former Jamie Dardis is one of the true legends of Heelan softball. Playing for her father, Jamie put up numbers that still rank her as one of the best to ever take the diamond in Sioux City. The rare 5 time All-State selection, Jamie was on the Elite All-State squad 3 times as she finished her career with a school record 253 hits and a .409 career batting average. Jamie would hit at a .421 clip as a sophomore, .467 as a junior, and .421 again as a senior. Jamie was selected 1st team All-Sioux Delta Conference 4 times and was 1st team All-NW Iowa 4 times. She would lead the Crusaders to their first ever state tournament berth in 1996 and would lead them back to Ft. Dodge again in 1998. Jamie would go on to play softball at the University of Kentucky, where she is 4th all-time in career fielding percentage and 4th all time in career putouts. When her career ended, she was the all-time leader in fielding percentage at Kentucky at a clip of .985. In 2008 Jamie was inducted into the IGHSAU Softball Hall of Fame.

Brandon Wegher was one of the best running backs in Iowa history who would finish his career with 114 TDs and 6,823 yards, which is both a school record and a Class 3A state record. Brandon would lead the Crusaders back to the Dome in 2007 where they finished as state runners up, and in 2008 as a team captain Brandon would lead the Crusaders to an undefeated state title by rushing for a school record 3,238 yards and 54 touchdowns. In the title game Brandon would score a state championship record 5 TD’s, including a 100-yard interception return for a score. Brandon was selected as the captain of the 2008 Class 3A All-State team, was named the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year, and was an EA Sports 2nd Team All-American. Brandon would go on to play at the University of Iowa where he set a record for most TDs by a freshman and rushed for 113 yards and the game clinching score in the Hawkeyes Orange Bowl win over Georgia Tech. Brandon would later transfer to Morningside where he set numerous records for the Mustangs and was an NAIA All-American. Brandon would earn a roster spot with the 2015 Carolina Panthers, a team that would play in Super Bowl 50. Brandon was also a 3-time medal winner at the State Track Meet while at Heelan and finished as the runner up in the 100 at the Drake Relays in 2008. Brandon was inducted into the IHSAA Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

Zach McCabe is one of the all-time best 2-sport athletes to come through Bishop Heelan. Zach was a 4-year letter winner in basketball and a 3-time All-State selection, who led the Crusaders to the state tournament all 4 years. The Crusaders would be state champions in both his junior and senior seasons in 2009 and 2010, and he was an All-Tournament selection both years. In 2010 Zach would be named the Class 3A Player of the Year while finishing his career with 1,317 points, 641 rebounds, and 345 assists. Zach still holds the school record for assists in a season with 144 in 2009. The ability to pass was also evident by his exploits on the football field. The first 3-year starter at quarterback in school history, Zach would finish his career with 5,266 yards passing, an impressive 35-4 record as a starter and would help lead the Crusaders to a runner up finish in 2007, and a state title in 2008. Zach was a 2-time All-State selection in football and still holds the school record for completions (29) and passing yards (465) in a single game. Zach would go on to play basketball at the University of Iowa, leading the Hawkeyes back to the NCAA tournament in 2014. Zach was named to the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis All-Tournament Team and would finish with over 850 points and 500 rebounds as a Hawkeye.

The 1975 Crusader football team is one of the best to ever don the Old Gold and Blue. With new head coach Dave Triplett at the helm, the Crusaders came into the season with high expectations and big goals. After falling short in the opener to Dowling 22-15, the Crusaders would respond by dropping rival East 10-0 in week 2 which began a 10-game winning streak that would result in the school’s third state title. The Crusaders would claim the Sioux Interstate Conference title before defeating East once again in the first round of the playoffs. The state semi-final game matched the Crusaders up once again with Dowling, and in one of the great games to ever be played at Memorial Field the Crusaders avenged their only loss with a 16-6 win over the Maroons. The state title game (the first ever for Heelan as the playoffs began in 1972) was played at historic Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The Crusaders would take down Waterloo West that day by a score of 16-6 and bring the title back home to Sioux City. Eight Crusaders from the ’75 team were named to the All-SIC squad, six were recognized with some type of All-State recognition, and Coach Triplett was named the Siouxland Coach of the Year.

Ray Lemek ’52 

Ray was an All-State football player, starter on the basketball team, held the school and city records in the shot put and was an outstanding pitcher on the baseball team.  Ray played football at Notre Dame where he was a team captain in 1955.  He was drafted by Washington in the 1956 NFL draft and played 9 seasons with Washington and Pittsburgh and in 1961 was named to the Pro Bowl.  Ray was elected to the IHSAA Football Hall of Fame in 1986.  Ray passed away in 2005.

Leo Miller '62

Leo was an All-State lineman on the football team in 1961 that claimed the state championship with an undefeated season.  Leo played football at the University of Iowa and he was inducted into the IHSAA Football Hall of Fame in 1990.  Leo was also an outstanding track and field athlete and was selected to the Sioux City Relays Hall of Fame in 1996.  Leo passed away in 2012.

Eugene Mollet '72

 One half of the famed backfield known as the Touchdown Twins, Mollet helped lead the 1971 Crusader football team to a state championship.  Eugene was a first team All-State selection and earned a football scholarship to the University of Iowa.  Eugene also won state titles in the 100 and 200 yard dash and still holds the school record in both events 50 years later.  He was elected to the Sioux City Relays Hall of Fame in 2007. 

Mary Schrad '74

 Mary was a forward on the very first girls basketball team in Heelan history in the fall of 1971.  Mary played three years on the varsity before an injury ended her senior season.  Mary went on to Briar Cliff, where she played both basketball and softball and was elected to the BCU Hall of Fame in 1991.  Mary played in the Women’s Professional Basketball League for several years overseas.  Mary, along with other members of the WBL, were inducted into the National Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.  

John Harty '77

John Harty was known as one of the best to ever play on the defensive line in Sioux City.  He helped lead the Crusaders to the 1975 state title as a junior, and was first team All-State as a senior.  He also was a key contributor on two state basketball teams and was on the track and field team.  John earned a scholarship to the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the All Big Ten team and was drafted by the 49ers in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft.  John played 5 years in the NFL and was on two Super Bowl championship teams. 

Mike Courey  '77

Mike was All-State in three sports and was the starting QB as a junior who led the Blue and Gold to the 1975 state championship.  He became a first team All-State QB in 1976 and played football at Notre Dame.  He was inducted into the IHSAA Football Hall of Fame in 2010.  Mike was also an All-State basketball and baseball player.  Mike hit a school record .519 as a senior on a state runner up team in 1977 and was drafted that year by the Cincinnati Reds.  Mike passed away in 2007.

Don Wengert '88

Don Wengert was an outstanding four-sport athlete at Bishop Heelan and had a long career in Major League Baseball.  Don was an All-State pitcher for some outstanding teams at Heelan, and earned a baseball scholarship to Iowa State.  Don was drafted in the 4th round of 1992 MLB Draft by the Oakland A’s and pitched for seven seasons for six different teams. Don was also a two-year starter at quarterback at Heelan, as well as an outstanding basketball player. He is in both the ISU and Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Halls of Fame. 

Jon LaFleur '93

 Jon was a 4-sport star while at Heelan and was the 1993 Sioux City Journal Metro Male Athlete of the Year.  Jon was a first team All State selection who helped lead the Crusaders to a state runner up finish in 1991.  Jon was also a two-time state shot put champion and was inducted to the Sioux City Relays Hall of Fame in 2014.  Jon was a three-year starter in baseball and major contributor on the basketball team which included a state tournament run in 1992.  Jon played football at the University of Iowa and was selected as a team captain in 1997. On Feb. 24, 2022, Jon was named the 11th head football coach in the history of Bishop Heelan. 

Nate Funk '02

Nate Funk is without question one of the greatest basketball players to ever come out of Sioux City.  Nate led the Crusaders to back-to-back state runner up finishes in 2001 and 2002 on his way to earning a basketball scholarship to Creighton.  At Creighton Nate was an all-Missouri Valley selection and was named Most Outstanding Player in the MVC Tournament in 2007.  He led the Jays to the NCAA Tournament in 2003, 2005 and 2007.  Nate played professionally overseas and was inducted to the Creighton Hall of Fame in 2013 and was inducted into the IHSAA Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.   Nate was also the starting shortstop on the 2001 state championship baseball team. 

Carli (Tritz) Berger '10

The former Carli Tritz had a legendary 3-sport career at Bishop Heelan.  Carli was All-State in three sports and broke many Heelan records. Carli was named Miss Basketball for the state of Iowa in 2010.  She was also a 2-time 1st team All-State volleyball player and an All-State soccer player.  Carli became the first female to be inducted into both the IGHSAU basketball and volleyball halls of fame.  Carli played basketball at Creighton, and despite knee issues she scored over 1,000 points and played in two NCAA tournaments.  She is currently an assistant coach with the Jays.

Bernie Schreiber  '51

Bernie Schreiber was one of the great athletes in the early years of Bishop Heelan.  A junior when Heelan opened its doors in 1949, Bernie was a four-sport athlete and received all-city recognition in both football and basketball.  Baseball is where Bernie really excelled and he eventually enrolled at Ole Miss to play for the Rebels, where he was the first All-American in Ole Miss history in 1956. Bernie hit .417 as he led the ’56 Rebel team to the College World Series. He is still in the Top 10 of several offensive categories in the Ole Miss record books and was inducted into the Ole Miss Hall of Fame in 1988.  Bernie later signed with the Yankees organization and would play minor league baseball for three seasons.  
Bernie will be presented by Ron Schultz

Mike Grace '63

Mike Grace was All-State in both football and basketball and was one of the first Heelan athletes to make a varsity squad as a sophomore.  Mike was a junior starter on the 1961 state championship football team that was ranked as the No. 1 parochial school in the nation.  In 1962 as a senior Mike would be named first team All-State and also selected as a High School All-American.  In basketball Mike was a 2nd team All-State member and was named to the All-Siouxland 1st team.  More than just an athlete, Mike was crowned the 1962 Homecoming King.  Mike played football at Nebraska, and in 1964 was named the national lineman of the week before a knee injury shortened his career.  Mike passed away from cancer at the age of 49.
Mike will be presented by Denny Walker.  Accepting on his behalf are his daughter Meggen Lloyd, and siblings Mark Grace and Kellyne Daily.

Ken Schlezes (69) — Ken was a four-sport star at Bishop Heelan and was a first team All-State selection in football in 1968.  That season, Ken threw for over 600 yards and rushed for over 620.  He scored 17 touchdowns and scored a total of 105 points while serving as a kicker and punter as well as QB in leading the ‘67 Crusaders to a 7-1-1 mark.  Ken was also outstanding in basketball, track and field and baseball while at Heelan.  A member of the 1967 Homecoming Court, Ken chose Notre Dame to further his football career.  Ken lettered for three years as a defensive back at Notre Dame, where he still holds the record for most interceptions in a game, with three vs Northwestern in 1971.  Ken would play in both the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl for legendary coach Ara Parseghian.  Ken would go on to be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1973 draft before leg injuries shortened his career.  
Ken will be presented by Maurice Uhl

Greg Vondrak '71

Greg was a four-sport star for the Crusaders in the early 1970s.  In 1970, Greg captained the Crusader football team to an 8-1 record and led a defense that only allowed 24 points all season.  A member of the Homecoming Court in 1970, Greg was also named 1st team All-State that year and was also selected as a High School All-American. Greg played football at Iowa State, where he played for the 1972 Cyclone team that played Georgia Tech in the Liberty Bowl.  Greg also was an outstanding basketball player who led the Crusaders to a 17-3 mark in 1971 which included City and CYO titles.  In the spring Greg was a member of the track and field team where he set the school discus record with a mark of 163-3, a record which stood for 21 years.  Greg was also a member of the 1970 state qualifying baseball team.  
Greg will be presented by Jim Sudbeck

Joe Bisenius '01

 Joe Bisenius was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Bishop Heelan at the turn of the century.  Joe shined as a pitcher on the baseball team and would go on to win 21 games for the Blue and Gold with 212 career strike outs. In 2001, Joe was named the Bob Feller Class 3A Pitcher of the Year, played in the Iowa All-Star game and was selected to the Elite All-State team while leading the 01 team to the first state baseball title in school history. Joe chose Iowa Western, where he blossomed into a 12th round pick for the Phillies in 2004.  Joe is one of two Heelan graduates to play Major League Baseball, pitching for the Phillies and Nationals between 2007-2010.  This includes a brief stint with the Phillies in 2008, a team that would go on to win the World Series.  Joe was inducted into the Iowa Western Hall of Fame in 2021.  Joe was also a member of the 2001 state runner-up basketball team.
Joe will be presented by Tim O’Neil. 

Michelle (Lund) Herron '09

 The former Michelle Lund was a four-time All-State basketball selection during her years as a Crusader, and she was instrumental in leading the Heelan girls basketball program to new heights.  As a junior, Michelle led the Crusaders to their first ever five-player state tournament appearance, and she followed that up by leading the Blue and Gold to the state title in 2008, where she was named captain of the All-Tournament team and was selected as the 3A Player of the Year.  The sharp shooting southpaw would finish her career at Heelan as the all-time leading scorer in Sioux City history with 1,837 points.  Michelle also qualified for the state track meet in the long jump and is a member of the school record holding 4x100 relay team.  Michelle was named Sioux City Journal Metro Female Athlete of the Year in 2008. She played basketball at Bradley University.

Mike Lemon ‘70

Lemon was another Crusader whose path took him to the National Football League, playing for the Saints, Broncos and Buccaneers from 1975-77. He was drafted in the sixth round by New Orleans in the 1975 NFL Draft after playing at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls and four the University of Kansas. 

Lemon played nose guard for the Jayhawks, helping KU go 7-3-1 in 1973. In that season, the Jayhawks tied for second in the Big 8 Conference with Nebraska. 

As a senior, Lemon set a Kansas record for most tackles in a season by a nose tackle. He was named to the All-Big 8 Conference Defensive Team. 

With the Crusaders, Lemon was the 1969 Heelan Hard Hitter Award winner. 

Lemon pursued an acting career after his football days. 

Andy Krueger ‘95 

Krueger was a two-time state wrestling champion, winning the 1994 145-pound gold medal and the 152-pound gold in 1995. Krueger still holds the Heelan record for takedowns in a season at 201. 

He also earned All-State honors in football and baseball in 1994. In baseball, Krueger holds the third-best batting average for a career at .423. In football, he was the running back and the team captain. 

Krueger went to Buena Vista after his Heelan days. He was a 1999 Division III national champion at 165 pounds in 1999, and also earned fifth in 2000 for All-American status. The Beavers inducted Krueger into their Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Chad Heying ‘95 

Heying’s peers voted him as team captain in football, basketball, track and field and baseball. His signature sport was on the oval as a sprinter. He won the 200- and 400-meter dash in 1995 and then earned Iowa Male Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year. In the 400, Heying set a school record in 48.91 seconds. He was also the anchor runner in the 4x400 relay team in the Crusaders’ final race in the big-school division. 

In football, where he earned a spot in the Iowa Shrine Bowl, he was an outstanding junior on a Heelan team that reached the 4A state championship game in 1993, bowing to Iowa City High and Tim Dwight. 

In basketball, where he was picked to play in the Iowa Dr. Pepper All-Star Game, it was also his junior season that proved to be the most memorable as Heelan earned a Class 4A state tournament appearance.  

Brennan Cougill ‘09

Cougill’s impact on the basketball court was incredible. The Sioux City Journal named Cougill the 2009 Male Metro Athlete of the Year, and that same winter, he earned Mr. Basketball status as a senior. No Sioux City native has won the prestigious award since. 

That senior year, Cougill averaged 18.2 points per game, 13.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. When he was a junior, Cougill averaged 18.4 ppg, 11.2 rpg and 2.9 bpg. 

Among his four years, Cougill scored over 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds – becoming just the 11th Iowa high school basketball player to do so. He shot over 66 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the free-throw line. 

Cougill remains the school, city and conference record holder for points, rebounds and blocks. 

Cougill was a four-sport athlete at Heelan, competing in football, baseball and track and field. He earned fourth in as a senior in the shot put after receiving eighth the previous spring. Cougill also participated in the 2009 Drake Relays. 

Jordan (Johnson) Sitzmann ‘10 

Johnson helped lead the Heelan softball program back to the state tournament during her junior and senior seasons, earning first-team Class 3A all-state honors both seasons while becoming the first pitcher in city history to record 100 wins, pitch 1,000 innings and strike out 1,000 batters in her career. She was a three-time All-State honoree, including a two-time first teamer. 

As a junior, the right-hander posted a 33-1 record in the circle with a 0.63 ERA, allowing 20 earned runs while fanning 273 batters in 222 innings.

Her overall pitching record was 111-49, and she ended with 1,037 strikeouts in 1,070 innings. She earned All-Conference status all four years, as well as being named to the All-District teams. 

Sitzmann was a state champion volleyball player as a sophomore, and a runner-up her senior year. She played libero for the Crusaders.