The Crookston High School Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2025 inductees:
BRYAN BOLL is a 1992 graduate of Crookston High School, where he was President of both the Student Council and SADD. He was a charter member of the LEO Club and won a senior music award for Band and Choir. Bryan was captain and MVP of the Crookston football team, captain and MVP of the wrestling team, and captain and MVP of the basketball team. He was named the Willis Eide Outstanding Male Athlete in 1992. After high school, he enrolled at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN where he was captain of the Concordia football team and was All MIAC for two years and Academic All-American. Bryan is a founder of Boll Family Farms, Boll Farms Inc. Trucking, and Northstar Lime LLC.
BETH CARLSON is a graduate of Oklee High School. Continuing her education, she earned a Music Education degree from Moorhead State College and a Master of Arts degree in theatre from UND. She worked as a teacher at Hendrum, MN, Grand Forks and Emerado, ND, and taught music at Cathedral School in Crookston for 27 years. She has been in Community Theatre in both Grand Forks and Crookston. For many years she served as director of one-act and full-length plays, and musicals for Crookston Public Schools. She has also served as an accompanist for Mass at Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Crookston.
GARY STEGMAN earned his BS in Art and Music Education at Mayville State University in 1986. He taught middle school and high school students in Crookston from 1992-2023, and he worked as a teaching specialist at the University of Minnesota Crookston. He traveled to Minneapolis and Chicago with students in Fine Arts trips and helped students advance to the State Art Show and regional competition. Four public art works in the city of Crookston were created by Gary. His awards include Golden Teacher Awards, NW Minnesota Arts Council Artist of the Year, Kiwanis Community Supporter of Arts and Academic Award, and he is an OSPY Award winner.
GARY WAGNER is a proud graduate of Crookston High School Class of 1972. At CHS he earned twelve varsity letters in track and field, football, and basketball. He was a two-time state qualifier in track, competing in the hurdles and long jump, and held the school long jump record for over forty years. Gary was a three-time NWAC All- Conference selection and team MVP. He was basketball team captain, senior MVP, and an All Big-Five Conference honoree. In 1972 Gary received the school’s Citizenship Award and the Willis Eide Memorial Best Athlete Award. Gary continued his athletic career at the University of North Dakota and later at the University of Minnesota- Crookston where he was named to the 1973 NJCAA All-American Football team. He earned a degree in Agricultural Business. Gary and his brother Wayne co-founded A.W.G. Farms, Inc., which has grown into a 5000+ farming operation, collaborating with research institutions and ag companies to develop early GPS and yield monitoring technologies. He has been deeply involved in community service as a Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor, church board treasurer, and agricultural and educational advisory boards.
KENLEY WAHLIN graduated from Crookston High School in 2005. He was team captain and a three-year starter on the CHS football team. He was team captain and four-year starter on the CHS basketball team. During his basketball career he scored 1438 points. While participating in high school athletic teams, he served on the basketball team that placed second in state in 2005 and was a member of the football team that participated in state competition in 2003. He was also a member of the team that appeared at state in 2003 and 2004, He was named to All-State Basketball and Football teams. Kenley participated in Minnesota high school football and basketball All- Star Games. He graduated from UND with a degree in elementary education. His teaching career began as an elementary teacher at Ada-Borup in 2010. Other duties at Ada-Borup include Athletic Director as well as basketball and football coach. He is a Region 8A Representative and he coaches the K-2 basketball skills program. He received his Master’s Degree from Concordia/St. Paul in Curriculum and Instruction with a Reading Endorsement. Kenley was named the Ada-Borup School District Teacher of the year for his performance in the classroom as well as his coaching in 2018-2019.
Please join us on Saturday, August 16, at Crookston High School for a 1 p.m. social hour and 2 p.m. program honoring these very talented people. Tickets are available at the door: $10 for adults and $5 for students in grades 1-12.