Two Area Men to be Inducted Into Hall of Fame Friday

Des Moines Iowa — Coach and Player Hall of Fame inductees plus three members of the Officials Hall of Fame will be recognized at Wells Fargo arena will take place on Friday prior to the Class 3A Championship. The Bernie Saggau Award of Merit honorees and the 2018 IHSAA Character Counts Coach of the Year, will be honored at the halftime of the 6:30 4A semifinal on Friday. Jon Bomgaars of Boyden Hull will be inducted into the players hall of fame. Wade J. Gort of Rock Valley will be inducted into the Officials hall of fame.

2018 BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

JON BOMGAARS, Boyden-Hull: The way a player goes about his game often will inspire others to be like them. In the years since his prep career ended and his subsequent passing in 2008, the image of the magic that one kid with one ball can do lingers in Northwest Iowa. Playing for Hall of Fame Coach Paul Walton, he was a leader on and off the court. A four-year starter at point guard, he played on Comet teams that were a combined 85-12, leading them to the State Tournament and final four finishes three straight years: 1993-2nd; 1994-3rd; and 1995-3rd. In those seasons he averaged in double figures and led the team in scoring twice, and assists each year. Most notably, he was named the 1995 Class 1A Player of the Year. He shot 54.5% from floor for his career as he scored 1,122 points. He collected 417 rebounds, chipped in 464 assists, which at the time was second-best in all classes and first in Class 1A. He pilfered 386 steals, which was the third-highest in 1995 and second best in Class 1A. He was named to the 1994 All-Tournament team, made the All-State teams twice. He earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Sioux Falls where he started at point guard as a freshman. He later transferred to Southeast Technical Institute to complete his degree in business. After marrying and fathering a son, Braden, he was diagnosed with Frontal Temporal Dementia which he battled until his death in 2008. His parents are Lee and Dee Bomgaars and he has a sister Joni.

 

Officials Hall of Fame

WADE J. GORT, Rock Valley: A four sport athlete at Central Lyon High School, he was a quarterback and linebacker on the 1976 and 1977 championship teams. He also competed in wrestling, track and field and baseball for the Lions. He excelled in football at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD, and graduated with honors in Business Administration. He started officiating football in 1983 with Hall of Fame official Marlowe Van Ginkel’s crew and added wrestling in 1984. In a 35-year period that ended last fall he worked a total of 61 playoff games including eight semifinals and five championship games. In wrestling over a 14-year period he worked in four State Tournaments. He and his wife Jan of 36 years raised three children and enjoy six grandchildren. He is the President and CEO of Premier Bank in Rock Valley.

 

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