We are pleased to announce
that the following nominees have been elected by the general membership for
induction into the Rice Lake Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.
Harvey Ankley
Harvey graduated from Rice Lake High School in
1960. He was a multiple letter-winner in three sports for the
Warriors; 4 in baseball, 3 in football and 2 in wrestling. Harvey started
his baseball career with the Brill Millers in the 7th grade, and then under
the guidance of coach and area baseball scout, W.C. “Stick” Olson, he played
on the American Legion Baseball Team. Harvey developed into one of the
finest catchers in Rice Lake High School baseball, being a part of one of
the best pitcher-catcher duos for the Warriors, with Terry Olson. A
tough competitor who batted left and threw right, Ankley stood 5’ 10” and
weighed 185 pounds. While as a player for the American Legion team, he
was chosen four consecutive years to represent Northern Wisconsin in the
Hearst All-Star Silver Sluggers program, and as a senior in 1960 was honored
as a catcher in the 18 year old All-Star game at Milwaukee County Stadium
which was held before the Braves and Chicago Cubs game. Harvey went on to
catch for the UW-River Falls baseball team in 1962, 63 and 64. In 1964,
Harvey’s junior year, the Falcons won the Conference Championship and were
8th in the Final NCAA Division III rankings. He was recognized as Honorable
Mention on the All American baseball team. That summer he caught for the
Minneapolis Millers Amateur Baseball Team for college players and former
major leaguers. In 1965 a car accident prevented Harvey from continuing to
play sports during his senior year at UW-River Falls.
In football, Harvey was co-captain for the 1959
undefeated (8-0) Warrior football team that allowed only 19 points and was
ranked #8 in the final one-class state rankings. He played on both
sides of the line as offensive guard, defensive tackle and line-backer, and
was All-Ho’N and All-Northwest. At UW-River Falls he was a 2 year starter,
in 1963 and 64. In wrestling at RLHS he lettered in the 185# class when the
wrestling program began in 1957-58.
Harvey graduated from UW-River Falls with a
degree in Agriculture in 1966. After working in Germany for 3M, he
moved to California where he and his wife Janet and family presently reside.
Rob Berger
Rob graduated from Rice Lake High School in
2007 as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball. He
quarterbacked the Warrior football team for two years and still holds the
record for the longest pass from scrimmage; 95 yards against Hudson.
Rob was a two-year starter on the basketball team that won two Big Rivers
Conference Championships which went deep in the
play-offs. He started
for three years on the Warrior baseball team at shortstop and first base.
As a senior, Rob was chosen captain for football, basketball and baseball.
Rob took his athletic talent to St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI, playing
both football and baseball. He was given an opportunity to punt as a
freshman. and was selected to All-Midwest Conference 1st Team Punter
in 2008 with a 37.8. He continued to rewrite the Midwest Conference
and St. Norbert College history book. In 2009 Rob was All-Midwest 2nd
Team quarterback and ranks first all-time St. Norbert history for total
offense in one game; 443 yards vs. Wartburg. Rob was chosen Team Most
Valuable Player in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, he was selected Midwest
Conference “Player of the Year” and 1st Team All-Midwest Quarterback.
He was also Midwest Conference record holder for yards and carries by a
quarterback in one season at 6.3 in 2010. Other accomplishments at St.
Norbert include 2010 Captain, ranks first all-time in SNC history with 2,892
total yards in one season and completion percentage of 62%. Rob also
ranks 3rd all-time in SNC history for career touchdown passes with 50 from
2007–2010. Coach Don Maslinski writes, “Rob was one of the most
complete athletes in the history of St. Norbert College football. He
possessed outstanding leadership traits. All his teammates believed in him
and his abilities.” Rob currently coaches QB/FB for the Rice Lake Warrior
Football team. As an assistant, he helped take them deep into the
play-offs and a State Championship in 2017. Since 2011, Rob has been
playing baseball as shortstop for the Haugen Knights. He currently lives in
Rice Lake and is employed by Edward Jones Investments.
Ben Knepper
Ben graduated from Rice Lake High School in
1999, lettering two years in football, wrestling and one year in basketball.
He was Honorable Mention All-Big Rivers his senior year in football. In
track, Ben was Team Field MVP and sectional qualifier in the shot. Ben
attended UW-Stout in Menomonie, WI. As a 6’ 4”, 305 pound tackle, Ben led
interference for the Stout backfield. In his
junior year, Ben played 700
plus plays and only allowed one quarterback sack in addition to having 65%
of the running plays come behind him. He was D3 Football Don Hanson
All-American, and unanimous First Team All-WIAC selection. As a
senior, Ben was elected captain. He gave up zero quarterback sacks and
recorded 25 pancake blocks. Again 65% of the running plays followed
“Big Ben”. He was honored to many D3 All-American teams as well as
unanimous First Team All-WIAC Offensive Tackle. Ben was selected as a
member of the WIAC Centennial All-Time Football Team in 2012 and was
inducted into the UW-Stout Hall of Fame in 2014. Ben was also a member of
Team USA in the Aztec Bowl (D3 All Star Game) versus the Mexican National
Team in 2004. UW-Stout offensive line coach, now Northern Illinois head
coach Rod Carey states, “In my opinion, Ben is the best offensive lineman to
ever play at Stout and one of the top 5 to ever play in the WIAC Conference.
I believe Ben could have played on any of the lines I have coached.
Ben taught me that you could be a big, mean offensive lineman on the field
and still have a heart the size of Mt. Rushmore. He is one of the
classiest men I know and am really proud to call him a friend.” Ben
graduated from UW-Stout with a degree in Business Administration in 2004. He
lives in Chetek, is active in the community and is an assistant football
coach at Chetek Weyerhaeuser High School.