A track standout, a local businessman and one of Danville’s legacy basketball teams were inducted into the Danville Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday night.
Rebecca (Nelson) Fraise will be honored as the 2018 athlete inductee following a standout high school career. She was a three-time All-State first-team softball selection, three times all-district and three times a member of the All-Hawk Eye softball team. She was also first-team all-district, all-conference and a two-time All-Hawk Eye selection in basketball as well.
A five-time track and field state finalist, Nelson was a finalist in the 100-meter hurdles at the Drake Relays in 2010. Holding multiple school records, she signed to attend Truman State University where she was a three-time NCAA Division II National Qualifier in track and field and Heptathlon Champion at the 2014 Kansas Relays. She also was the 2014 NCAA Division II GLVC Conference Javelin Champion.
Local businessman Dave Beck was honored as the 2018 Contributor for his work as former pPresident of the Danville Booster Club. Beck’s list of accomplishments is extensive and includes artwork on the gym walls, a new outdoor football press box, relocation of the football bleachers and acquiring bleachers that were handicap-accessible. He also oversaw the leveling and tiling of both the baseball and softball fields as well as new dugouts and fences for both summer sports fields.
Beck might be best known, however, for his efforts to raise money for the Booster Club through his establishment of The Corn Club and Field of the Future.
The 2011-2012 boys basketball team will be honored with induction. The Bears were the Class 1A state runner-up with a record of 27-1 — the only loss coming in the state championship game. Throughout the season the team was ranked first in the state in scoring average with a 74.1 points per game average that spanned all classes of teams. They were also ranked first in the state in defense allowing an average of only 34.8 points per game (all classes) and ranked first in the state in assists with a total of 584 (all classes).
Members of the team include CJ Williams, Brandon Sanchez, Alek Blain, Shae Seils, Mason Speer, Connor Hoelzen, Matt Wilson, Nathan DeSpain, Connor Hogberg, Jordan Klesner, Michael Soukup, Dalton Stevens, Collin Bartsch, Steven Soukup, Josh Stevens, assistant coach Dustin Kirkland and head coach Ken Laffoon.