Welcome to the Lincoln Eagles history page, where we invite you to explore the legacy and memorable moments that have shaped our athletic program over the years.
1993
In 1993, Bob Unger founded The Seward Eagles as an opportunity for local homeschool kids to be involved in basketball.
1994-2003
From 1994-2003, Allen and Judy Kotas ran the program both as athletic directors (AD) and coaches for Varsity Boys and Girls. Some practices took place in freezing conditions and gyms without heat. Despite the lack of comfort, everyone was thankful to have the opportunity to play basketball.
Home games were played at Parkview Christian School. Most teams we played were local with an average of 26 games a year. Practice was once a week and players commuted from Superior, Wahoo, Milligan, Lincoln and of course Seward.
2004
In 2004, Charlene Baldwin took over as AD and Rachel Vernon, a former player, came on to help coach. Kelly Worley also coached as he had siblings who were homeschooled.2008
Around 2008, Roger and Gail Hanseling became ADs and worked for a year. Their vision included implementing a board in order to share responsibilities and decision making. Their son, Jared, also coached. Charlie Worley was the Varsity boys coach and Darci Johnson was the Varsity girls coach.
2009
In 2009, Mike and Brenda McNair took on the AD position and started the Junior High boys’ program, which they also coached.
2011-2018
From 2011-2018, Jeff and Jean Bennett were ADs. Around that time, Aaron Wubbles coached Varsity Boys while his wife, Heidi, coached Varsity Girls. Dave Arbogast and Randy Zimmerman coached Junior High Boys then transitioned to Varsity Boys. At this time there had never been a Junior High Girls’ team until Britny and Jamie Imig (former players) came on to coach a combined Junior High /Varsity Girls’ team which they did for a time with Garth Bornschlegl. Practices were held at the Airpark Rec Center. Home games were played at the Sprague community center. In the Bennett era, The Seward Eagles was retitled to The Lincoln Eagles.
2018
In 2018, Tadd and Annie Wegner became the ADs. Practices took place at Lincoln Sports Complex alongside Lincoln Public Schools. In the past 4 years, we hosted one of the largest homeschool tournaments in the Midwest, the Mid-America Homeschool Hoops Classic. The Wegner’s season brought competitive opportunities through team travel including districts, regionals and national events. A greater emphasis was made on developing Junior High players and Jr Varsity teams. As a result, our Varsity Girls became nationally ranked and our Varsity Boys are the GOAT.😉 The program grew to 9 teams and 70+ athletes by 2024.
Garth Bornschlegl came back and coached the Varsity Boys with Quinton Wearne assisting from 2019 – 2021. Kody and Ashley Salsman coached Varsity Girls from 2018 – 2022. Jacob Sedlacek assistant-coached Varsity Girls from 2019 – 2023. In this timeframe, former players Josh Trexel and Lydia Sedlack also coached. Other coaches include Kevin Bolin, Dana Stefanidis, Neum Schmickrath, Doug Stephens, Mathew Drevo, Casey Winkels, as well as many others who served and supported our program.
2021-2023
In 2021 Adam Lenzen took over the High School Boys program with Tom Galloway and Jeff Keiser as assistants. And in 2022 Robyn Zaft took over the High School girls program with Andy Nichols, and Cheryl Winter as assistants. In 2023, Camp Sonshine built a gym serving as an added facility for our teams to utilize.
2024
In 2024, Courtney Nelson became the Athletic Director and Jeff Keiser became the High School Girls Head Coach.
The 2024-2025 season etched a remarkable chapter in Lincoln Eagles history across all levels, marked by unprecedented achievements and tenacious team spirit.
Varsity Boys (22-9): The Varsity boys capped an incredible season with a 14-3 finish, securing the Kansas River District Championship, the NCHBC Gold Ball Championship, and the NCHBC Division 2 National Championship. Their only loss at Nationals came against the Division 1 champions. Known for their exceptional teamwork and resilience, this senior-laden squad became the most accomplished in Eagles history, featuring three 1,000-point scorers: Grady Boden (career points leader), Rylan Keiser, and Nick Lenzen (career assists leader).
JV Boys (7-5): With a young roster, the JV team demonstrated significant growth and understanding of the game, benefiting from challenging practices against the Varsity squad.
Varsity Girls (22-10): Achieving a team-record 60.2 points per game, the Varsity girls showcased a potent offense, with 55% of their points generated from turnovers and in transition. They averaged 15.6 assists and 37.6 rebounds, shooting 51% from the field. Highlights included a District Championship, 3rd place at Regionals, 15th place at D1 Nationals, and a Des Moines Tournament title, along with a thrilling comeback victory against Manhattan. With only one graduating senior, the future looks bright.
Junior High A Boys (8-1 Catholic League First Semester): The JHB-A team displayed strong teamwork and skill, dominating the first half of their league. They finished their season strong with key regional victories.
Junior High B Boys (18-14): A young but determined team, the JHB-B Eagles showcased skilled ball-handling, a strong defense, and valuable contributions from a deep bench, fostering a strong sense of team unity.
Junior High Girls (17-10): Embodying the theme of “Toughness,” this young squad overcame size disadvantages to achieve a winning record (9-3 vs. homeschool, 8-5 vs. private schools), averaging over 31 points per game and consistently exhausting their opponents.
We want to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Eagles program over the years. Whether player, coach, AD, parent or family member, we are blessed by your part in our history.