BOURBON - The Triton High School Athletic Department is proud to announce the next class to be inducted into the Triton Athletic Hall of Fame. The class of 2020 will be the tenth class inducted.
Since the schools inception during the 1963-1964 school year, many athletes have worn the blue and gold. While all athletes have played a role in Triton’s success, the Hall of Fame will recognize those Trojans who set themselves apart on the playing fields and the courts of Triton High School and beyond. These athletes won acclaim for running the fastest, jumping the highest, winning championships, and otherwise distinguishing themselves in high school, college, and at professional levels. To honor these high school sports legends, the Triton Athletic Department will annually induct new members into the ranks of the Triton Athletic Hall of Fame.
The hall of fame will induct candidates in the following categories: Athlete, Coach, and Contributor. To be eligible to be inducted as an athlete, the candidate must be a graduate of Triton High School and must have participated in interscholastic athletics while at Triton. The Selection Committee will be looking for those athletes who set themselves apart by receiving, among other things, conference and state-wide recognition. In order to be eligible to be inducted as a coach, one must have coached at Triton High School for at least four years and must be inactive at the time of the induction. A contributor is someone who has given of themselves for the betterment of the Triton Athletic Department.
The class of 2020 will include two athletes, one coach, and one contributor. Triton Athletic Director Mason McIntyre said, “The selection committee did an outstanding job selecting the Class of 2020. The selection process was difficult, but the committee was able to narrow it down to the group that they felt most deserved to be inducted into our tenth class of the Triton Athletic Hall of Fame.”
The first athlete to be inducted is 2002 graduate Nate Gephart. Nate participated in cross country, basketball, and track. Nate was a four-time Regional Qualifier, four-time Semi-State Qualifier, and a two-time State Qualifier in Cross Country, winning the 2001 Logansport Sectional. Nate finished 12th place at the Cross Country State finals his Junior year running a time of 15:54. His Senior season, Nate finished 9th place at the Cross Country State finals with a time of 15:58. Nate was also a two-time Regional and State Qualifier in both the 1600m Run and the 3200m Run, winning the 2001 Sectional Championship in the 3200m Run. Nate finished 20th in the 1600m State Finals his Junior year with a time of 4:27 and 14th in the 3200m Run with a time of 9:34. Nate’s Senior season he finished 27th in the 1600m State Finals with a time of 4:50 and 21st in the 3200m Run with a time of 9:58. Nate currently holds the Triton High School 3200m Run record with a time of 9:34. Nate also won 4 MVP’s and was Athlete of the Year in 2002.
The second athlete to be inducted is 1986 graduate David Stackhouse. David participated in Freshmen Basketball, Football his Sophomore year, Cross Country his Junior year, and Track all four years. David was a two-time Sectional champion in the 400m dash. He qualified for the IHSAA State Track and Field Finals in the 400m dash during the 1986-1987 season where he finished 11th place. David also advanced to the Regional in the 100m Dash in 1987, as well as running the lead leg of the 1600m Relay team that advanced to the 1986 Regional. David held the Triton High School 400m Dash record with a time of 50.50 until broken by current
Triton Athletic Hall of Fame member Matt Anders. David also won MVP honors two times in Track and Field.
Steve McBride will be the tenth Triton coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Steve was a 1967 graduate of Goshen High School and went on to earn a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Bethel College. While at Triton Steve coached Elementary basketball for 19 years, 13-15 baseball for 8 years, Junior High football for 4 years, football assistant for 5 years, 14U softball for 5 years, Varsity Baseball for 10 years, and Varsity Softball for 12 years. His most successful seasons came while serving as the Varsity Softball Coach. Coach McBride took over a young softball program and guided it to 5 Sectional championships (’08, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16) and one Regional championship in 2014. Steve was named the District 1 Coach of the Year for softball. Along with his many years coaching, Steve and his wife, Marry, also ran the Bourbon Little League for 43 years. Steve’s service and dedication to the Triton Athletic Department is to be commended.
Hensley Fabricating has been a major contributor of the Triton Athletic Department over the years and has the honor of being inducted as the Contributor for the class of 2020. Founded by Paul Hensley and his wife Joyce in 1962, Hensley Fabricating has always been a strong supporter of the Triton School Corporation. In recent years, Hensley Fabricating has helped with a batting cage, new gates at Ken Keller Field, the Triton Trojan arch at the Ernie Watkins Pavilion, the Triton Tennis arch at the tennis courts, the stairway at the new baseball press box, and a new sound system at the baseball field. Hensley Fabricating has also generously sponsored Triton through advertising on local radio and TV. The Triton Athletic Department cannot thank Hensley Fabricating enough for all of their support over the years!
The Hall of Fame weekend will kick off with recognition of these inductees at the Triton vs. Knox boy’s basketball game on February 28th. The inductees will be recognized at half-time of the Varsity contest. The tip-off for the JV game that evening is scheduled for 6:30.
The festivities will be continued during the Induction Banquet on February 29th. The evening will begin at 6:00 PM at the Back Forty Banquet Center in Bourbon. Triton’s Athletic Director Mason McIntyre will serve as the Banquet’s emcee for the evening. Tickets for the Banquet can be purchased in the Triton High School Athletic Office beginning February 10th. Tickets will be $25 per person and will include a meal. Tickets will also be sold at the home Boys Basketball games. The last day for ticket sales will be February 21st.
“At this time, we have received a confirmation from all inductees,” McIntyre said. “We look forward to honoring them during the Hall of Fame weekend and look forward to recognizing Triton Athletic Legends for years to come!”
The Triton Athletic Department would like to give a special thanks to the Selection Committee made up of Jayne Ganshorn, Hal Kuntz, Roger Schori, and Joe White. Without the help of these people this great event would not be possible.