2006
ELK RIVER HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF FAME 2006
Jayne Barrett, Terry McLean, Cliff Wakefield, Kara (Hermanson) Salmela, Wally Trochil, Bob Cornelius, Rick Steblay, Joel Otto, Lyle Hanks, Mike Toth
Jayne Barrett 1974 Jayne was the Elks first girls basketball star, playing three years at point guard and averaging 20 points as a senior, and was the first to play college basketball. She lettered three years in track in hurdles and the 880. A nurse at Fairview Clinic, she now lives in Elk River.
Terry McLean, Coach Terry coached Elk football for 28 years, posting a 190-107-2 record and five state tournament appearances, from 1971-97, and one Prep Bowl appearance, from 1971-97. He was twice conference coach of the year and in 1998 won the Nike Award.
Cliff Wakefield 1936 Still a regular golfer at age 88, Cliff Wakefield was one of ERHS's premier athletes of the 1930's. In both football (fullback) and basketball (guard), Wakefield was a two-time all-district player and team captain, and he helped the 1934 gridders win the district title.
Kara (Hermanson) Salmela 1990 Kara became one of the nation's top biathletes. In a sport that combines skiing and shooting, she was national champion twice and team USA member in two Olympic Games — 1998 and 2002. Serving in active military during both Olympics appearances, she was named Army Athlete of the Year in 2001 and USOC biathlete of the year in 1999. At ERHS, she earned seven all-conference honors as a swimmer, runner and skier.
Wally Trochlil, Coach Wally coached Elk boys basketball teams to five conference championships and three state tournament, including third-place finishes in 1993 and 1997 and 455-303 overall, earning a spot in the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, four section coach of the year awards and one state coach of the year honor (1993).
Bob Cornelius 1966 Bob was all conference and team captain in three sports. He was a left-winger in hockey, with 31 goals as a senior (five in one game), quarterback in football and shortstop in baseball. A U of M graduate, he managed a mortgage company for many years and retired six years ago. He lives in Brooklyn Center.
Rick Steblay 1979 Rick Steblay notched 82 goals in hockey and won a state hurdles championship in track for the Elks, then helped the Mankato State capture the NCAA D-II hockey tiltle. He was all-conference in twice in hockey for the ELKS, state intermediate hurdles gold medalist and high hurdles runner-up and held four Elk records. He had four letters in hockey and three each in track and cross country. Now living in Eden Prairie, Stebley, 45, is a mechanical engineer.
Joel Otto 1980 Joel had a 14-year career in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup with Calgary in 1989. Otto was co-captain of the Elk hockey, golf and cross country teams. Otto was a three-time All-American at Bemidji State and won the college division Hobey Baker Award in 1984. He played for USA teams that won World Cup and Canada Cup tournaments, and went to the Olympics in 1998 in Japan. Otto, 45, lives in Calgary.
Lyle Hanks 1948 A four-sport standout at ERHS, Hanks was an all-conference fullback and guard for the unbeaten 1947 football team, made all-district as a guard in basketball, was a state pole-vault qualifier, and played infield in baseball. He was twice a college all-conference lineman and has been inducted into Hamline's Hall of Fame. At 76, is retired and living in Minnetonka.
Mike Toth 1988 Mike was all-conference in hockey, football and golf for ERHS and was captain for hockey and football. A defensemen, he helped UW STEVENS POINT rumble to three D-III national titles. Toth lettered four years in hockey, starred as a halfback in football and placed third in the state golf tournament. He played golf in college as well.