The Waterloo High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee last week announced its Class of 2015 and invited the entire community to honor the group at halftime of the boys basketball game against Gibault on Tuesday, Feb. 10 in the WHS gym.

The game starts at 7:30 p.m. This year’s class includes the late Lee Eilbracht (Class of 1941), Dave Dillenberger (Class of 1981), the late Jay Henson (Class of 1985), Heather Wetzel (Class of 2004), longtime athletic director and WHS softball coach Rick Keefe, the 1989 softball team and 2004 boys golf team.

Eilbracht was a four-year varsity baseball player while at WHS and also played basketball and tennis. He received a baseball scholarship to the University of Illinois following a stint with the U.S. Armed Services.

While at U of I, Eilbracht led the conference in hitting in 1946 with a .484 average, and was an All-American in 1947. He was the team’s MVP in 1946 and 1947.

Following a career as player and manager in the Chicago Cubs’ minor league system, Eilbrach was named head coach of the Illini in 1952. He coached there until 1978, amassing 518 wins to become the school’s all-time winningest baseball coach.

Eilbracht served as an Olympic coach in 1964 for the United States baseball team in Japan and served as the first executive director for the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Dillenberger was a three-year varsity baseball letter winner for the Bulldogs, and was named all-conference in 1980 and 1981. He was also a two-year varsity letter winner in soccer and led the team in scoring, and a two-year varsity letter winner in basketball.

A member of the 1981 Cahokia Conference and regional championship baseball teams, he was recruited by the Detroit Tigers and offered a professional contract upon graduation.

Dillenberger received a full baseball scholarship to McKendree University and was a three-year starter with a 24-4 record.

He was named all-district and was a team leader in ERA and home runs in 1984.

After his junior year in college, Dillenberger signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and played in the Cards’ minor league system for two years, followed by one year with the Atlanta Braves.

He went on to serve as pitching coach for the Bulldogs from 2008 to 2012.

Henson was a three-year varsity letter winner in football and was named all-conference in 1983 at both the tight end and linebacker positions.

After being chosen to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-East side district team as honorable mention in 1983 and second team in 1984, Henson made the Post-Dispatch’s All-Area Team in 1985.

He received a full football scholarship to Murray State. Henson also starred in basketball and tennis while at WHS. He was the basketball team MVP in 1985, made allconference in 1984 and 1985, and was voted the top player in the conference in 1985. In tennis, Henson was a member of the top doubles team all three years he played at the varsity level.

Henson won the Vernie Moffitt Award in 1984 and was also chosen was the Jaycees’ Most Valuable Male Athlete.

Wetzel was a state qualifying member of the WHS girls track team in three of her four years, placing in several key meets and setting many school records.

As a freshman (2001), Wetzel set the school record in the long jump. She placed 17th at state in the 400 meter dash and 17th at state in the long jump.

She set another school record in the 200 meter dash as a sophomore, and participated in the 200 meter dash and long jump at state.

As a junior, she placed eighth in state in the long jump and 17th at state in the 400 meter dash, setting the school record. She was also part of the 4×400 meter relay team that set a school record.

Her senior year, the 4×400 relay team broke the school record.

She also earned gold, silver and bronze medals in a Senior Spotlight All-Star Track and Field event at the University of Northern Iowa the morning after her graduation.

Wetzel received a track scholarship to Western Illinois University, where she excelled in academics and athletics.

Keefe served as head coach of the WHS softball team from 1986 to 1992, guiding the Bulldogs to five regional titles (1986-87, 1989, 1991-92) and four consecutive conference championships. His 1989 squad advanced to the state tournament and finished with a 29-6 record.

Keefe also coached varsity soccer, leading the team to its first winning season in school history.

In basketball, Keefe coached three years at the JV level and went undefeated one season. He served as varsity coach for six years and won one conference championship.

Keefe served as WHS athletic director for 15 years and was instrumental in adding wrestling, fishing and girls soccer at the school.

The 1989 WHS girls softball team consisted of team members Chris Lesinger, Julie Davis, ValerieBergheger, Pam Albers, Jenny Bailey, Karla Allscheid Metzger, Kim Hays, Angie Hauptfleisch, Rose Ann Ahne, Jennifer Ehardt, Sondra Braun, Stacey Miller, Jennifer Overby and Vickie Stears.

The 2004 WHS boys golf team finished its season at 32-0 and placed 10th in the state in IHSA Class 2A. The team won regional and sectional championships, and all seven members were named All-MVC.

Team members were Brett Benyo, Mitchell Gregson, Henry Horrell, Collin Neeman, Chris Rohlfing, Matt Scott and Jon Pickett and the coach was Brian Smith.