Class of 2020 — Hot Springs Bison Athletics Hall of Fame

Cheryl Huddleston

My time as an athlete started early as my siblings and I played outside a lot as we grew up. Softball was a favorite as my sister and I were a team against our 3 younger brothers. We also played a lot of basketball because our dad put up a hoop and built a concrete court in the backyard. At Hot Springs High School I took part in the only two organized sports available to girls, track and basketball. The Girls track team actually had scheduled track meets. I ran the 220, the 880 relay, high jumped, and long jumped. I qualified for the state track meet twice in the long jump. Girls Basketball involved getting together a couple of nights a week after the boys practice finished. We had a few round robin tournaments on Saturdays where we played games against whoever else brought a team – sometimes 2 or 3 games in a day. I played college basketball at a junior college in Missouri, and was a starter on the first women's basketball team at Chadron State College in Nebraska. Following college graduation, I accepted a teaching/coaching position at Hot Springs as head gymnastics, assistant basketball, track and field, and later, assistant cross country.

Coaching at Hot Springs was one of the most rewarding opportunities I have experienced. I loved coaching but convincing people that girls sports were important and here to stay proved challenging at times.

Each sport provided me with unique and varied opportunities to learn and grow because of the mentors I had available to me. Jim Tays, Dave Scott, Larry Schuck, Dianna Hough, and Josh Roberts taught me so much about working with and helping athletes strive to reach their full potential.

My rewards from spending 30+ years as a coach are many. Watching young people exceed their expectations and accomplish goals, as well as learn how to handle defeat and victory with class, figure out how to work together, and grow to be men and women of good character and integrity far outweighed winning an event or competition. Other awards included my selection as 1997-98 SD Assistant Girls Coach of the Year and a 25-year coaching award from the SD High School Activities Association in 2002. Other highlights were having several individual gymnasts place at state during my tenure as head gymnastics coach as well as helping coach numerous track & field/cross country teams to BHC titles, regional and state titles.

1917 State Football Team (State Champions)

Kevin Couch

Kevin Couch was an outstanding multi-sport athlete for the Hot Springs Bison. Couch participated in cross country, track and basketball.

As a senior in 1996 for the Bison basketball team, Couch was a starter and helped lead the team to one of its most successful seasons in Bison history including winning the District Championship and the Black Hills Conference. Upon graduation Couch went on to play at Central Community College in Columbus, NE on a basketball scholarship.

At one time, Kevin Couch was the defending state champion in three events: cross country, the 1600 meter run and the 3200 meter run.

His junior year, he was the MVP of a State Champion Boys Cross Country Tram. His senior year, he helped lead his team to a 4th place finish when he won the individual State Cross Country title. He also received the Sue Ann Big Crow Award.

20 years later, Kevin has been instrumental in a very successful fundraiser for the Bison Booster Club in the form of 2015 Coach Scotty Memorial Run. He coordinated with Marianne (Scott) Drobny to celebrate 20 years since both the boys and girls cross country teams had won state. Between social media and an interview with the Hot Springs Star, there was a lot of enthusiasm to celebrate. Kevin is the perfect candidate for the Hot Springs Bison Athletics Hall of Fame, exemplifying success and determination during his time as a Bison athlete and also an upstanding Bison alumni, actively giving his time and efforts in support of the next generation of Bison student athletes.

Lisa Starr (Collogan)

Joining the Hot Springs Bison Athletics Hall of Fame (and also her father, Gerald Collogan, who was a part of the inaugural class in 2016) Lisa Starr (Collogan) was a standout student athlete in every way both in competition and in the classroom.

Volleyball