Fall 2021 Nex-Tech Wireless Supporting Cast

Kansas Pregame and Nex-Tech Wireless have joined forces to recognize the individuals behind the scenes who help area school athletic teams achieve success. Administrators, team managers, assistant coaches, media members and more. As we prepare to recognize a new spring supporting cast in our upcoming Spring Preview let's take a look back at some of the past supporting cast honorees, starting with the fall of 2021.

Nancy Weishaar

In September of 2020, Nancy Weishaar retired after 48 years of faithful service to the KSHSAA. Football rulebooks were 60 cents and there were 655 high schools when Weishaar began her career on September 8, 1972.

Hired shortly after graduating from Valley Falls High, during Weishaar’s time she  worked with five executive directors, including current director Bill Faflick.

“Nancy has been a valuable member of our team and a humble servant for all of the member schools and the registered officials across our great state,” said Faflick. “Her contributions have made each of the stakeholders in our Association better, and her historical perspective of the KSHSAA will be impossible to replace.”

In 2018, Weishaar was awarded the NFHS State Award for Outstanding Service, which recognizes individuals who have provided service and contributions in support of the KSHSAA.

“Nancy Weishaar is one of the most dedicated and loyal people I have known in my career,” said former Executive Director, Gary Musselman. “Her work ethic and integrity are beyond compare.”

A year later, Weishaar is having no issue enjoying her post-career life.

“Retirement has given me the time to enjoy all the things that I never had time to do when I was working,” Weishaar said. “I now have the time to enjoy my family, grandchildren, and travel the country.”

Rodney Palen

Beloit High School has long been a Kansas prep sports power across multiple sports, both boys and girls.

While the success of those teams has generated thousands of words from publications and websites like ours, it’s easy to overlook individuals in less glorified roles, but equally essential to the overall success of those teams. Few people in Beloit exemplify this more than USD #273’s Director of Building and Grounds, Rodney Palen.

“Rodney takes care of everything for our district,” Beloit Principal Casey Seyfert said. “He works incredibly hard, makes sure everything is ready to go for each event and maintains all of our facilities. He is incredibly dedicated, loyal, and detailed. Rodney makes sure that each kid has the best opportunities possible.”

A short list of Palen’s duties include managing custodians, mowing, clearing the parking lot, repairs, tracking concession stand inventory, ordering products and keeping the physical plant operations at Beloit Junior and Senior High School running smoothly in general. He even opens the building each day at 5:30 a.m. in preparation for staff and student arrival.

Besides his duties with the school district, Palen has also been an official for the state of Kansas for nearly four decades. He has been officiating basketball for 36 years, football for 29, volleyball for 11, and baseball and softball for 17.

Palen has also officiated women’s college basketball for a number of years and helps mentor young officials and help connect them with officiating opportunities.

I could go on for days about his value to our district,” Seyfert added. “One of our most valuable people. He is just fantastic and always with a smile on his face!”

Eli Vance & Cooper McDill

Rock Hills eighth graders (now freshmen) Eli Vance and Cooper McDill are a motivated pair of student-athletes.

Middle schoolers aren’t typically known for their above-and-beyond work ethic, but the two then junior high students answered the call - a wake-up call in this case - at 3:30 a.m., to load and unload equipment for the KEMFA State Powerlifting Meet at Central Plains High School.

After departing pre-dawn that April Saturday morning from Mankato, the two young men arrived in Claflin where they toiled away helping to move the bars and plates needed for the annual competition.

Former Rock Hills football and strength coach and PE teacher, Colby Hamel, said their sacrifice last spring is not the only reason future coaches and teachers should be excited to call this duo student-athletes.

“They are two of the hardest workers I have had the privilege to coach and they are true leaders not only with their voices, but with their actions to follow,” Hamel said.

Although Hamel has moved on from his teaching and coaching position at Rock Hills, moving just across the state border to Fairbury, Neb., McGill and Vance will have the next four years to continue their positive impact in athletics, education, and volunteer work across their community.

“True student-athletes who get the work done in school, but also participate in other clubs and activities such as band, youth group, any community service, multi-sport athletes, the whole nine-yards,” Hamel said. “They have both been over 90 percent summer weights attendance the last two summers I have been at Rock Hills.”

While both McGill and Vance are standouts on their team, their grit and determination is something that will likely set them apart going forward.

“They have had huge roles in the success that this junior high group has had,” Hamel said. “They are coachable, determined, persistent, and they are willing to lay their life out there for the coach. They both have a desire to be college athletes one day and with their motivation and work ethic I believe that opportunity will come true.”

About Nex-Tech Wireless

Nex-Tech Wireless, owned by Nex-Tech Inc./Rural Telephone, Golden Belt Telephone and Tri-County Telephone, is a premiere wireless provider offering high-tech wireless solutions to residents in over 40 counties of central and western Kansas as well as local coverage to 4 counties in Colorado. Nex-Tech Wireless focuses on providing its customers cutting edge technology including data and mobile services, as well as the latest wireless equipment and competitive wireless plans that provide nationwide coverage. For more information, visit www.nex-techwireless.com