(Peru, Neb.) – Peru State College is pleased to announce that four individuals and one team will be inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14 and 15. This is the 25th anniversary of the initial induction class.PSC President Dr. Dan Hanson, Foundation Executive Director Todd Simpson, and Athletic Director Steve Schneider, have announced that Fred Applegate, Nate Bradley, the late Sid Brown, and Brendan Raybourn are the individuals being inducted. The 1961-62 men's basketball team was also selected for this year's honor.

A reception, followed by a banquet, will begin at 5:30 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 14, in the PSC Student Center. Reservations for this event must be made in advance. For more information, contact the PSC Foundation Office at 402-872-2395 or email Kelly Bequette at kbequette@peru.edu.
The honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the football game versus Evangel University on Saturday, Oct. 15. The game begins at 1 p.m. in the Oak Bowl.

Hanson said, “We are thrilled to be able to honor Peru State College's outstanding student athletes and the 61-62 team in this way. Each of these individuals has made a significant and lasting impact on our athletic programs that will not be forgotten. Their talent and determination have greatly contributed to the college's long and proud tradition of athletic excellence. We look forward to honoring more Peru State athletic standouts in the future.”

The following is a brief biography of each honoree:

Fred Applegate



Fred “Fritz” Applegate was undoubtedly one of the key players in the successful football teams of 1952, 1953, and 1954. Fritz anchored the line at center and was a hard-hitting linebacker on defense. Coach Wheeler claimed Fritz was one of the most outstanding centers he had ever coached. Applegate earned All Nebraska College Conference First Team honors his junior and senior years and Second Team honors as a sophomore.

Fritz was active in Blue Devils and Intramurals. Applegate and his teammates of 1952 and 1953 were inducted into the PSC Hall of Fame in 1987 and 1992 respectively. Both teams were undefeated.







Nate Bradley



Nate Bradley is the only college quarterback in the history of Nebraska football to throw for over 10,000 yards. Nate led the Bobcats to the 1990 NAIA Division II National Championship. In addition, Bradley quarterbacked the team in the 1989 and 1991 playoffs. The 1991 Bobcat team advanced into the quarterfinals.

Bradley holds school career records for total offense (10,556) and most yards per game (245.5). He passed for 242.8 yards a game, averaged 14.3 yards per completion and scored 80 touchdowns in his 43 games. Bradley twice threw for over 400 yards during the national title season in 1990. In addition, he passed for 3,806 yards (averaging 317.2 per game) and 26 touchdowns that season. Bradley was named an NAIA First Team All-American in 1990.
 






Sid Brown



Sid Brown and his wife Nancy have sponsored numerous scholarships and made many significant contributions to Peru State College over the years with a large portion of the gifts going to athletics.

A Peru native and 1955 Peru Prep graduate, Brown earned his degree in health and physical education from PSC in 1959 before pursuing an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management. While at PSC, he was an active member of the football team, playing quarterback and lettering all four years.

Brown taught school and coached football at Arlington High School before entering the private business sector where he had a successful career in real estate sales and management. He passed away June 27, 2010.






Brendan Raybourn




Brendan Raybourn was the first Bobcat baseball player to twice earn NAIA Honorable Mention recognition, gaining those honors in 1999 and 2000. In addition, Raybourn was Peru State baseball's first two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

During the 1999 season, Raybourn set five single-season records and one career record. Prior to the 2000 season, Brendan was listed first in seven single-season categories and in four career categories.

After the 2000 season, Raybourn had broken three of his own single-season records and set three more. In addition, he was on top of eight career records at that point.
 





Men's Basketball Team 1961-1962

The 1961-62 Bobcat men's basketball team experienced great success finishing the season with a 23-5 record and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City. Coached by PSC Hall of Fame Coach, Jack McIntire, the Bobcats, in route to the national tournament, finished with an 11-1 record and conference title in the Nebraska College Conference (NCC). The NCC title propelled the Bobcats into the District 11 NAIA Playoffs against Wayne State College. The 'Cats held off the second half comeback to capture a second straight trip to the national tournament. One player was named all-conference while two others received honorable mention postseason recognition.

In Kansas City, the Bobcats defeated Mayville College of North Dakota in the first round by a score of 90-74. The Bobcats were defeated 67-65 by Carson-Newman College of Tennessee in the second game of the national tourney, ending their championship hopes.  Twelve Bobcats earned letters at the conclusion of the season: Seniors – Bob Buettgenbach, Beatrice; Bob Gibson, Falls City; Drexel Harvey, Hartford, Ill.; Larry Rathe, Sterling; Mike Roach, Palmyra. Juniors – Ken Dostal, Scribner; Larry Hayes, Auburn; Jim Mayo, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Tom Yopp, East Alton, Ill. Sophomores – Jim Hall, Omaha; Pat Hamm, Wood River, Ill.; and Cliff Murray (Mgr.), Omaha. Other team members were Bill Tynon, Daniel Coffey, Roger Crook, Darrell Herbster, Harvey Fraser, Dale Kreimer, and Douglas Cotner. Jerry Stemper served as the assistant to Head Coach McIntire.

Athletic Hall of Fame – 25th Year

When the Al Wheeler Activity Center was dedicated in 1986, the Peru State College Athletic Hall of Fame was established. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize, honor and preserve the memory of those individuals and teams whose contributions have greatly enhanced Nebraska's first college.

The Hall of Fame gallery resides in the lobby of the Wheeler Center, named after the first inductee into the Hall of Fame, Alfred G. Wheeler. A candidate can be nominated in one of four categories: coach, player, team, or meritorious service.

Nominations are welcomed and can be submitted to PSC Athletic Hall of Fame, c/o Alumni Office, Peru State College, P.O. Box 10, Peru, NE 68421. For additional information, call (402) 872-2304.