Austin High School has announced its 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. The class includes Ben Bondank, class of 1927, James S. Anderson, class of 1947, Joe Kroc, class of 1977, Scott Lewis, class of 1987, Mandy Arndtson-Higginbotham, class of 1997, and Beth Bue-Maher, class of 1998. They will be inducted into the hall of fame Jan. 31.

Ben Bondank, class of 1927

Ben was a standout football and basketball player in the 1920s. The four-year starter at quarterback was a strong runner, accurate passer and excellent punter. According to the Austin Daily Herald, fans expected to see the “brainy leader” “squirm and twist” his way to football glory. He returned kick-offs for touchdowns and kicked points after touchdowns. He was an ace drop-kicker good for 3 points at virtually any spot inside the 40. Ben’s 1927 team, coached by Hall of Famer Earl Y. Sangster, went undefeated outscoring their opponents 138-19.

Ben’s 1926 basketball team won the region and finished fourth at state. Ben was chosen captain of the all-district and all-region teams. Although his 1927 team lost in the region finals, the scrappy point guard was again selected to the all-region team.

After high school, Ben accepted a football scholarship to the University of Indiana. He is deceased.

James S. Anderson, class of 1947

The Eagle Scout swam for the Packers from 1943 to 45. He was a leading scorer for Coach Evar Silvernagle’s teams which finished second at the 1944 State meet and won the 1945 event. James quit school and entered the military, but returned to AHS in 1947 for his senior year. He broke five AHS pool records, set a state record in the 50 free and became a three-time state champion, winning the individual 50 and 100 yard free and swimming on the first place 200 free relay team.

After high school, James swam for the University of Oregon two years and then finished his education at Yakima Community College. He developed several business and continued swimming for exercise. He and his wife Greta raised five children.

Joe Kroc, class of 1977

Golf coach Klem Haugen called Joe one the the best golfers to come out of AHS. Joe also played football for three years. Joe’s golf career began as a freshman on the B squad where he won the “most outstanding golfer” award. He started his four-year run of dual-match victories ending with a 28-6-3 record as a senior. By that time Joe’s scoring average was 76.6. He was the team’s Outstanding Golfer and Nat Goudy award recipient. Joe finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the Region 1 tournaments in 1975-77. He played on three State Tournament teams; his highest finish in the individual competition was second place, when he scored 150 over two days in 1977. That same year Joe qualified to play in the National High School Golf Tournament. He finished tied for second and earned High School All-American honors.

Joe continued his golf career at the University of Northern Illinois lettering two years. He lives in Austin today with his wife Cece. Still an active golfer, Joe is a three-time winner of the Austin City Open.

Scott Lewis, class of 1987

Scott earned 10 varsity letters over the course of his AHS athletic career. He was captain of the basketball, cross country and track teams. He earned Big 9 Honorable Mention honors in basketball his junior and senior years and was named WCCO player of the week in 1987.

Scott was a four-year letter winner in cross country. From being named Honorable Mention in Big 9 All-Conference selections his freshman year, Scott went on to earn All-Conference honors each of the next three years.

Scott earned four track letters. As a sophomore, he was on the relay team that set the 4×800 AHS record. He was on the relay team that set the school record in the distance medley his junior year. That team’s time was the second fastest time ever in the state of Minnesota. As a senior, Scott finished sixth in the the State 800 meters and was on the third-place State medley relay team.

After high school, Scott played basketball two years and ran track one year at William Penn College. Since then, he has run 14 marathons including the 2000 Boston Marathon.

Mandy Arndtson-Higginbotham, class of 1997

Mandy was a three-sport athlete who earned conference and state recognition for her play in softball, volleyball and basketball. She was Honorable Mention All-Big 9 in softball, a two-time winner of the volleyball team’s Most Valuable Player award and she earned volleyball All-Conference honors in 1996.

Mandy’s play on the basketball court garnered even more accolades. Coach Gary Peterson thought Mandy was one of the best players in the history of the AHS program. She set two AHS free throw shooting records, sinking 13 of 13 in one game and making 18 consecutive free throws over several games. She scored 1,181 points over her four-year career. Mandy was a two-time All-Conference and All-State selection. She was a two-time captain and the 1997 team’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. Mandy was the KAUS radio and KAAL TV athlete of the week and the 1996-97 Austin Daily Herald Player of the Year. In addition she was invited to play in the Minnesota All-Star game and was a candidate for Minnesota Miss Basketball.

Mandy received a basketball scholarship to the University of North Dakota. Despite suffering serious injuries, Mandy had an outstanding four-year career scoring over 1,000 career points and earning all-conference recognition. Her Fighting Sioux teams won two NCAA Division II national championships.

Mandy lives in Arizona today and works for Athletes in Action.

Beth Bue-Maher, class of 1998

Beth was an all-around athlete who earned varsity letters in volleyball, softball, tennis, golf and basketball. She was a Homecoming Queen candidate, honor roll student and Sunday school teacher.

Beth had an outstanding basketball career despite injuring her knee her junior year. Coach Gary Peterson called Beth one of the hardest working athletes he had ever coached. The four-year letter winner and two-time captain was Big 9 All-Conference and All-State Honorable Mention her junior year. She repeated All-Conference honors as a senior and was named to the All-State Team as well. She scored 1,075 career points, averaging 18.5 points and 8.8 rebounds a game her senior year. Beth earned KAUS radio and KAAL TV Athlete of the Week honors and was a three-year member of the Austin Daily Herald All Area Girls’ Basketball First Team. Beth was selected to play in the Minnesota All-Star game and was a candidate for Miss Minnesota Basketball her senior year. She was also a member of an AAU team that won three state titles.

After graduating, Beth went to North Dakota State University on a basketball scholarship. She injured her knee again but recovered to enjoy a successful career. She was team captain, set several Bison scoring records and earned all-conference honors. Her Bison team played for the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2002 finishing second.

Today Beth is a wife, mother and college instructor at Valley City State University.