Marshall M Club Athletic HOF inducts three new members

MARSHALL – The Marshall Tiger M Club Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed three new members Saturday evening at the Ramada Inn.

With multiple state titles, conference records and individual accolades to their names, Jim Muchlinski, Shannon (Bolden) Nelson and John Sterner each were recognized for their achievements by their friends, family and former coaches.

Marshall High School Athletic Director Bruce Remme began with a few words about the inductees and the club.

“I can’t think of anybody better qualified than the three we have tonight,” said Remme. “We established the following goal for the M Club Hall of Fame: to honor individuals through distinguished achievement excelled in one or more Marshall Public Schools athletic programs, demonstrating dedication, excellence and honor in representing Marshall Public Schools and the community as a whole. The 2016 class epitomize exactly that mission.”

Muchlinski moved to Marshall in 1958 and led the Central Catholic High School basketball team to state tournament appearances in the early 1960s. Muchlinski later transitioned his coaching expertise from the hardwood to the diamond, coaching the Marshall baseball team for 24 seasons. As the coach of the Tigers, Muchlinski led MHS to a Class AA runner-up in 1976 as well as winning 380 games as head coach.

During his speech, Muchlinski gave credit to those who helped him along the way.

“There were some people that really helped me out when I came to Marshall. It was very enjoyable for me,” Muchlinski said. “I used to think that I never had a job because of it.”

Muchlinski, who’s battling Parkinson’s disease, alluded to the speech Lou Gehrig gave when he came down with a disease.

“I can think of Lou Gehrig in 1941 down in Yankee Stadium talking about how lucky he was to play for the Yankees,” Muchlinski said. “Obviously I was lucky to get the opportunity to be in Marshall.”

Nelson led the Tigers girls’ basketball team to three consecutive state tournament appearances in the early 2000s, winning state titles in 2001 and 2002. The Tigers posted a record of 84-3 during her three years on the court. Nelson went on to play for the University of Minnesota before becoming a coach at Northland Community and Technical College, where she led the team to the 2014 NJCAA Division III National Championship.

In her speech, Nelson said she started basketball because of her sisters and was glad she did.

“Basketball opened so many doors for me both as an athlete being able to travel and experience different things around the country and now as a coach being able to really grow and develop relationships with the women that will be in my life for the rest of my life,” Nelson said. “To be able to impact the lives of young women when they just left their homes and they’re just trying to navigate adulthood and figuring out how to do things the right way has meant so much to me. I think all of that started here in Marshall being a Marshall Tiger.”

Sterner was a three-sport athlete at MHS, earning a record of 76-17 as a wrestler. Sterner also won the 1984 MSHSL Class AA state title in wrestling at 185 pounds before attending Southwest Minnesota State University and winning the 1989 National Championship in wrestling for the Mustangs. Sterner currently coaches football at Lakeview High School.

Sterner wrapped up the night by talking about being a family, especially in the Marshall area.

“Tiyspaye is the word that comes to mind; it’s Lakota for family,” Sterner said. “I think of Marshall as a family, and I think of my experience there as a family event. My coaches and teachers made me who I was because they encouraged me and gave me the strength to be somebody. I can’t thank them enough.”