"The first thing that started it all (great memories at Colo-Nesco) was when Myndie Berka made the last second shot against South Hamilton our freshman year," said Missy Miller.
The shot Miller was referring to, and the play long-time fans of Royals basketball will never forget, happened at Nevada High School in the sub-state round of the 1989 girls state basketball tournaments against South Hamilton. Trailing by one point, Berka received the inbounds pass and drove to the basket for the game-winning hoop with one second remaining, sending the Colo-Nesco girls to their first-ever state tournament.
While Berka may be best remembered for that play, it was really her amazing abilities in softball that have shaped her career. Berka threw six no-hitters and 10 one-hitters during the 1988 softball season, with a 0.76 ERA. She ranked eighth in the state with 270 strikeouts. Her efforts on the softball diamond, and also on the volleyball and basketball courts, earned her the 1988 Female Athlete of the Year award from the Nevada Journal, the second straight year she won the award. She led her basketball team in scoring every year except her freshman year, set school records for wins and strikeouts in softball and also broke many of the school's records in volleyball.
Myndie played softball in college for Iowa State University as a pitcher, where she was a three-time All-Big 8 Academic first-team performer. She is currently the owner of BreakThrough Fastpitch in Tennessee.
Inducted in 2011
"Just being here reminds me of how fortunate I was to be a Royal, said Missy Miller. "All the great memories I had were made possible because of the girls I played basketball with."
Missy was named "1992 Miss Iowa Basketball," the award given to the state's top female basketball player. She finished her high school career with 3,793 career points; 26th all-time in Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union history, and scored 70 points in a game against West Marshall her junior year.
She was a four-year starter that helped her team to a four-year record of i03-9. The Royals advanced to the state tournaments all four years, finishing as state runner-up once and consolation champion once.
"One of my favorite memories was practice. We played hard and Mr. DeJong made it so much fun...and playing with my teammates — they were my best friends," said Miller.
Missy played college basketball at Creighton, where she was named all-conference honorable mention in 1996. Miller ended her career at Creighton the No. 2 all-time leader in career 3- pointers with 187.
Inducted in 2011
Nessa, a 1999 graduate, was a standout high jumper at Colo-Nesco before going on to high jump at the University of Iowa.
Luke's humbleness shone through in a letter his parents had prepared for the evening: "Luke has always been a modest person, so we are very pleased to have this opportunity to let others know about some of his accomplishments," remarked Luke's mother, Janic.
Nessa was a medal-winner at the Drake Relays, and also was a finalist in the boys' state track meets in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Luke's personal best jump of 6 feet, 8.14" is still a school record, and he still ranks as one of the top ten all-time high jumpers at the University of Iowa.
"It just never ceases to amaze me — the talent that comes out of Colo-Nesco," remarked Kristi Eley, one of the presenters for the evening's occasion. "Whether it's sports or art or academics, it's amazing the talent that comes out of this school, and I'm proud to be a Colo-Nesco parent."
Pride and humbleness, two traits that usually contrast, worked together in perfect harmony during the second annual Hall of Pride night in Colo.
Inducted in 2011
Of the four inductees in the 2011 Hall of Pride Class, none are more plugged into the sports scene at Colo-Nesco than Riese. Riese currently has three daughters involved in the Colo- Nesco sports program, including his daughter Caitlyn, the starting center as a freshman on the girls' varsity team.
Another humble Royal, Doug cites his "teammates" as his favorite memories along with, "Going in and having three or four guys team up on tackles (on defense), and busting the line open and watching the running back go by you for a touchdown (on offense)."
While Riese was a valuable member of Colo- Nesco's only state championship team in basketball, Doug's forte was on the grid iron. He accepted a full scholarship to the University of Northern Iowa to play nose guard after a brilliant high school career.
Doug was selected to the Shrine Bowl and helped lead Colo-Nesco to its first-ever state playoff appearance in 1989. Some of his career highlights include recording a career-high 18 tackles in one game, and another game that included 13 tackles and five sacks. He was a first-team all-state selection in 1989. His collegiate experience at UNI was cut short his sophomore season after he suffered a career-ending back injury.
Inducted in 2011