Peru State is pleased to announce that five individuals will be inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18 and 19. This is the 26th group to be inducted into College's Hall of Fame.

PSC President Dr. Dan Hanson, Foundation Executive Director Todd Simpson, and Athletic Director Steve Schneider, have announced that Bonnie Rutz Carlisle, Shari Paczosa Kucera, Chuck Mizerski, Tamir Anderson Riley, and Brad Smith are being inducted. 

A reception, followed by a banquet, will begin at 5:30 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 18, in the Student Center. Reservations for this event must be made in advance. For more information, contact the Foundation Office at 402-872-2395 or email Brooke Ashford at [email protected].

The honorees will also be recognized at halftime of the football game versus Culver-Stockton College on Saturday, Oct. 19. The game begins at 1 p.m. and will be held at the Jug Brown Stadium – Thomas Memorial Field on the Falls City High School Campus. This is due to the renovation of the historic Oak Bowl. 

Bonnie Rutz Carlisle – Meritorious Service

Considered the modern-day founder of women's athletics, Bonnie Rutz re-started intercollegiate athletics for women at Peru State College and coached the volleyball team. In addition, she secured coaches and started the women's basketball and softball programs. While coaching the Bobkittens volleyball team, she started and promoted intercollegiate volleyball in Nebraska.

In addition, Bonnie organized and started a group of referees with money from concessions to work area high school volleyball games. She organized the annual volleyball tournament held at PSC and expanded it. The tournament reached 40 teams by the 25th year and it was the longest-running high school tournament in Nebraska at the time.

Shari Paczosa Kucera - Cross Country/Indoor and Outdoor Track - 1985

While at Peru State College, Kucera set several individual and relay team records. Some of the records include: Indoor 500-meter run in 1:23.61, indoor 800-meter run in 2:19.63, and outdoor 3200-meter relay. During all four years, Shari qualified for the NAIA Nationals in Indoor Track in the 800-meter run. In 1984, her team placed seventh at the NAIA National Indoor Meet in the two-mile relay with a time of 9:52.39.

Chuck Mizerski – Football/Meritorious Service - 1968

As a student-athlete, Chuck Mizerski was a four year, two-way starter at tackle for Peru State College. As a coach, Chuck replaced Frank Solich, in 1979, at Lincoln Southeast. He oversaw a football powerhouse at Lincoln Southeast from 1979 to 2006. In that time, the Knights won 230 games, six state championships, and three state runner-up trophies. Before coaching at Lincoln Southeast, Mizerski coached in Plattsmouth and Granite City, Ill., compiling a combined 274-81-1 record.. Six of his players went on to play in the National Football League.

He earned nominations twice for the National Coach of the Year honors. Chuck coached in two Nebraska Shrine Bowls and earned Coach of the Year recognition from three Nebraska media Outlets. In 2011, Mizerski was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Tamir Anderson Riley – Basketball - 1994

Tamir Anderson, a 6'1" forward/center from Omaha, was the seventh player in Peru State college history to reach the 1000-point plateau. Tamir was named '93-'94 First Team All-District basketball player, and First Team All-American by the NAIA's Division II selection committee. This made her the first woman in the College's history chosen to the All-American first or second teams.

Brad Smith – Football - 1989

Brad Smith was an offensive lineman at Peru State College. Smith became the first lineman to receive back-to-back All-American recognition as a Bobcat. During his time at Peru State, Brad started 29 of 30 games for the Bobcats.

Smith earned NAIA Division II All-American Second Team honors in 1987 and NAIA Division II First Team honors in 1988. In addition, he earned Tri-State Athletic All-Conference Team honors.