By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden coaching legend Ben Meseke was inducted into the inaugural Hayden Hall of Fame class in 2021 as an individual.
And Meseke was back at Hayden Saturday night for the induction of his entire 1982-82 boys basketball team, which made the occasion extra special.
Hayden's 1982-1983 boys basketball team, which posted a perfect 25-0 record en route to the Class 4A state title, was inducted into the Hayden Hall of Fame Saturday night. [Submitted photo]
Former Hayden state champion and Washburn Univerity national champion Tom Meier (right) jokes with former Wildcat teammates during Saturday night's Hayden Hall of Fame induction ceremony. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"It's amazing,'' Meseke said. "I don't use this lightly, but we, and when I say we I mean the whole (Hayden comnunity), we were so blessed to have these kids who were not only tremendously talented, but just great kids to work with,'' said Meseke, who coached a total of 12 state championship teams at Hayden.
The '82-'83 Wildcats were the first-ever city team to post a perfect 25-0 record en route to the Class 4A state championship and are widely regarded as of the state's all-time great teams.
"You'll see on the highlight film, the last play of the state tournament, Tommy (Meier) got the rebound and I think four of the five guys touched the ball and it went the length of the floor and I don't know if the ball touched the floor or not and we scored at the buzzer.'' Meseke said. "They were just so close like that.
"I didn't have to worry about attitudes or cussing or none of that stuff that sometimes you do have to be concerned about. They were just great guys.''
Members of the team included Charlie Appelhanz, Gary Fangman, Chris Gomez, Mike McGreevy, T. Meier, Wes Meier, David Proctor, Rob Reilly, Chris Reyer, Mark Thompson, Mark Turgeon and Gavin Wittman as well as Meseke, assistaht coaches Bobby Taul and Jerry Simecka and manager Jerry Volz. Simecka was also inducted as part of the 2022 Hall of Fame class as an individual.
Meier and Reilly went on to help Washburn University win the NAIA National championship while Turgeon went on to play in the Final Four for Kansas, but Meseke said that what made the '82-'83 team so special was the way the Wildcats operated as a team.
"I had a juco coach come up to me during the (Topeka Invitational Tournament) and he said, 'Coach, I'm going to tell you right now, if you're interested, I will give a full ride -- food, dorm, books, the works -- to your starters, to all five,'' Meseke said.
"I said, 'Well, there's a couple of them that I think want to go a little higher but I will tell the others about your offer,' and he said, 'I either get all five or none.' He said, 'They're like a well-oiled machine and if you take one of them out of there it's not quite the same.' And he was right.''
In addition to the '82-'83 team, Hayden inducted Father Tim Haberkorn for Alumni Achievement, Jerry Simecka for Staff Achievement andTim Morrisey for Contributor Achievement during Saturday's Hall of Fame festivities.
Hall of Fame inductee capsules:
The 1982-83 boys basketball team, Hayden Student Athletic/Activity Achievement
The 1982-83 boys basketball team was the first in city history to go undefeated, posting a perfect 25-0 record.
Hayden won the Class 4A state championship and defeated the 5A and 6A state champions during the regular season.
Members of the team included head coach Ben Meseke, assistaht coaches Bobby Taul and Jerry Simecka, players Charlie Appelhanz, Gary Fangman, Chris Gomez, Mike McGreevy, Tom Meier, Wes Meier, David Proctor, Rob Reilly, Chris Reyer, Mark Thompson, Mark Turgeon and Gavin Wittman and manager Jerry Volz.
Jerry Simecka, Hayden Staff Achievement
Simecka served in many roles at Hayden from 1981-2003, including teacher, assistant principal, athletic director, facilities manager, head football coach, assistant boys basketball
coach, assistant girls basketball coach, and principal.
Simecka is a humble and an unassuming Catholic man, always recognizing achievement is not due to the efforts of just one person, but from the grace of God and teamwork.
Father Tim Haberkorn, Hayden Alumni Achievement
A priest for 30 years, Haberkorn, Hayden Class of 1984, has served at Christ the King Parish in Kansas City, the Cathedral of St. Peter in Kansas City, Holy Cross Parish in Overland Park, St. Joseph's Parish in Olpe, St. Mary's in Hartford, and Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish in Topeka.
Haberkorn enjoys being among the people in his parish and serving them in whatever way he can, whether it's helping to set up a table for the nuns' farewell reception, celebrating the outdoor Mass at Germanfest or anointing someone in the middle of the night. He lives out the motto of Hayden, "Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,'' on a daily basis.
Tim Morrisey, Hayden Contributor Achievement
Morrisey, class of 1971, was the middle of five children born to Vincent J. and Virginia Morrisey. His father attended Maur Hill High School in Atchison and his mother was a
convert to the Catholic faith. Both of his brothers and a sister attended Holy Name Grade School and graduated from Hayden High School.
Like his older and younger brother, Morrisey played basketball for Coach Ken Buetel and was a class officer all four years while at Hayden. Tim embraces the Hayden spirit in a remarkable fashion that remains with him. Even though he has not lived in Topeka for most of his life, Morrisey has continued to be faithful and an involved member of the Hayden community. His commitment to the Hayden traditions eventually led to his philanthropic service to Hayden after his retirement.
