MARSHALL – The Marshall M Club has announced the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame 2019 inductees. Marshall High School has a long and proud tradition of excellence in all athletic programs and the M Club founded the Hall of Fame to recognize individuals for their outstanding accomplishments.

Four nomination categories have been established: athlete, coach, school administrator and community member. Individuals, who 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 of Marshall qualify for consideration. The 2019 class of Jackie (Clark) Cummings, Kelly (Clark) Jones, John Nefstead and Dawn (Cady) Sullivan epitomize the honor.

Jackie (Clark) Cummings graduated from MHS in 1982. She was the Kaiser Award winner, recognizing her as the most outstanding female in the class. Athletically, Jackie participated in track, volleyball and basketball, earning a total of 10 varsity letters. On the track, she helped the Tigers win three consecutive Southwest Conference championships, two Region 2AA championships and was selected as a team captain in 1982. As a member of the Tiger basketball team, Jackie played on the varsity team for three years, while the Tigers won three consecutive Southwest Conference Championships. The Tigers advanced to the Region Championship in 1981, and Jackie was a member of the All-Conference team in her senior season. On the volleyball court, Jackie was a two-time captain, a two-time All-Conference selection and an All-State selection in 1981. Jackie helped the Tigers appear in three straight state tournaments in ’79, ’80 and ’81. During that three-year span, the Tiger volleyball team went a combined 68-11 and never lost a Southwest Conference match. Jackie went on to play Division I volleyball for the Missouri Tigers, where she lettered three times. Jackie helped the Tigers of Missouri finish in the top four teams of the Big 8 conference three consecutive years and win over 70 matches. Jackie currently lives in Colleyville, Texas, and is a teacher and volleyball coach at Holy Trinity Catholic School.

Kelly (Clark) Jones is a 1991 graduate of Marshall High School. She participated in volleyball, basketball and track, and her success helped her be chosen as the 1991 female athlete of the year and Kaiser Award winner. While a member of the Tiger basketball team, she was recognized as an All-Conference team member both her junior and senior year. She led the team in points scored and rebounds as a senior. Kelly was also an outstanding volleyball player for the Tigers. She was an All-Conference team member three years in a row (’88, ’89, ’90). The Tigers were undefeated in the Southwest Conference all three years Kelly played and earned an overall record of 80 wins and 14 losses. She helped guide the Tigers to the 1990 state tournament where they won the Consolation Championship. She was an All-State selection and was selected to play in the MN Volleyball Coaches All-Star game following her senior year. The 1990 Tiger Volleyball team was ranked No. 19 in the nation according to the Mizuno national high school volleyball rankings. After graduation, Kelly Clark then went on to play Division I volleyball at Missouri State. During her four-year career at Missouri State, the Bears won two Missouri Valley Conference Championships. Kelly helped the Bears advance to the NCAA tournament and was an Academic All-Conference selection. Kelly continues to be involved in volleyball, serving as a coach and board member in the Marshall Junior Olympic Volleyball program.

John Nefstead is a 1963 graduate of Marshall High School. John was a captain, an All-Conference selection and key contributor on the 1963 State Championship basketball team, the first team in school history to win a state championship. His performance throughout the state tournament earned him a spot on the All-tournament team. In addition to participating on the basketball court, John was also a standout in both football and baseball. The Tiger football team had success while John was involved, including a team record of 14-0-2 during his junior and senior years of 1961 and 1962. As a senior, John was selected to the prestigious WCCO All-State Football team. Upon graduation, John took his talents to Augustana University in Sioux Falls where he became a four-time letter winner on the Vikings football team. John went on to have a long career in education, serving as a teacher, coach and superintendent at various schools throughout Minnesota. In 1982 he received his Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of South Dakota. He served as Superintendent as various schools in Minnesota for 10 years. From 1992 until 2009 he was a senior vice president at Springsted Inc. and Northland Securities in the Twin Cities as a Municipal Public Advisor to Schools and Higher Education Facilities. In retirement John and wife Patty live in rural Willmar.

Dawn (Cady) Sullivan is a 1996 graduate and was chosen as the 1996 Kaiser Award winner, recognizing the best female athlete in the class. Dawn was an extremely active MHS student, participating in the band, the National Honor Society, the Junior Rotarians and other groups. Dawn was a member of the Tiger basketball team, earning All-Conference recognition and helping her team win the Southwest Conference in 1995. She was also recognized as a member of the 1996 Girls’ Basketball Academic All-State Team. Volleyball was where Dawn shined the brightest. She was an All-Conference team member four times and part of two Southwest Conference Championship teams. She represented Marshall in the All-Star volleyball game following her senior season, and was an All-State selection, as well as an academic All-State team member. Dawn’s success at MHS earned her a scholarship to play volleyball at Kansas State. She continued to experience success as a Wildcat. She was a four-year standout, helping her team qualify for the NCAA tournament four times. Dawn became an All-Big 12 selection and an All-American in 1999. She was selected as the 2000 state of Kansas NCAA Woman of the Year. She holds seven school records, three Big 12 records and had her No. 3 jersey hung at Kansas State Fieldhouse in 2006. Dawn Sullivan was inducted to the Kansas State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. Sullivan went into coaching volleyball upon completing her playing career, and after serving as an assistant coach at several schools, she is currently the head women’s volleyball coach at Division I UNLV in Las Vegas.

The M Club Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony will take place at the Red Baron Arena and Expo Center in Marshall on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with the dinner and ceremony to follow. Tickets are available through the high school office or from M Club board members.

– Content courtesy

of Marshall Athletics