The Washington High School Athletic Department and the Washington High School Athletic Association presented the second class of the Washington High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The event took place during halftime of Washington’s home varsity football game on Friday, September 2.
The 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees:
Coach: John Dieckhaus
Contributor: Dennis Brune
Players: Scott Suggs, Robin Sandbothe, Ken Bebermeyer, Johannah Bangert, Denodus O’Bryant and Kenneth Barklage
Team: 1961 boys basketball team.
John Dieckhaus
Coach Dieckhaus spent 33 years as an employee of the Washington School District. He started his career as an elementary PE teacher and coach before moving to the high school. His tenure included 11 years as varsity girls basketball coach and 25 years as varsity baseball coach, as well as coaching softball, seventh-grade girls basketball and ninth-grade boys basketball. He served his last five years as the athletic director at WHS before retiring in 2005.
John coached baseball for WHS from 1976-2000, amassing a career record of 237-193. His teams were Four Rivers conference Champions five years in a row from 1978 to 1982. His team won district titles in 1979 and 1992. The baseball team reached the state semifinals in 1979.
Dieckhaus coached the WHS girls basketball team from 1979-2000, amassing a career record of 213-87. His teams won the Four Rivers Conference championship six times and claimed seven district titles.
Dieckhaus’ wife, Ginny, and his family were there to accept the award.
Dennis Brune
Dennis Brune, a lifelong resident of the Washington School District, received his first introduction to Blue Jay Pride when he tried out for the Freshman Football Team in the fall of 1970. Three years later as a senior, his football career peaked as a tri-captain of the state championship football team, and a member of the all-state football team as an offensive end. He was also was a member of the track and field team his junior and senior years, and completed his senior year by holding the school record in the discus.
Settling into his professional career, Dennis, and his wife, LaRayne, were blessed with three student athletes; Brian, Adam, and Sarah, who were all three-sport student athletes at WHS. Dennis became an active member of the Washington High School Athletic Association, eventually serving as the Booster Club President.
Dennis attended many school board meetings, where he would advocate for the importance of middle and high school sports. He is strongly committed to how positively school sports can shape the drive and character of young people. Having nine grand-children, all who are young Blue Jays, means his days of supporting Blue Jay Athletics and inspiring Blue Jay Pride are far from over.
Robin Sandbothe
One of seven children in the well-known Sandbothe family, Robin Sandbothe was the first Sandbothe sibling to graduate from Washington High School, doing so in 1980.
Robin was a high school All-American in track and field. She was an outstanding thrower in the shot put and discus. She also was an all-state basketball player at WHS.
She began her college career at William Woods University in Fulton. She also played and threw at East Central College, the University of Central Missouri, Abilene Christian University and the University of Missouri.
An automobile accident in 1988 left her paralyzed. There is now a different set of challenges for her. Her strength and character serve her well. One piece of advice she gives is, “Never Give Up.”
In 2019, Robin and the Sandbothe family were inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
Robin’s brother, Mark, was there to accept the award.
Ken Bebermeyer
Ken Bebermeyer was a three-sport standout at Washington High School, participating in football, basketball, and track and field.
Ken competed on the track team for three years. He broke the school and district record in the discus and the 880 relay. He also claimed conference titles in the high jump, long jump and discus.
After football was restarted at WHS in 1965, Ken was in the first class to play. He was a captain on the team for two years. He was a first-team all-district selection and an honorable mention all-state pick playing defensive end.
Ken was a recipient of the first St. Louis Scholar Athlete Award and he also carried the Olympic Torch on its way to the Olympic Games in 1968.
Ken went on to play football at what is now known as Truman State University, where he was a first-team all-conference defensive end for three years. He later returned to teach at WHS and was an assistant coach on the 1973 state championship football team.
Scott Suggs
A 2008 graduate of Washington High School, Scott Suggs was named Mr. Show-Me Basketball award as the state's top player during his senior season, averaging 22.5 points and 9 rebounds per game. He also earned the state's "Mr. Basketball" award from the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association.
Suggs is Washington’s career scoring leader with 1,774 points. He was a two-time first-team all-state selection, a three-time all-district selection, and a four-time all-conference pick. He was inducted into the Gateway Athletic Conference Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Suggs went on to have a successful collegiate basketball career at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is among the career leaders in school history in three-point shooting percentage, three-point makes, and free-throw percentage.
On the professional basketball level, Suggs had stints in the NBA summer league with Milwaukee, Miami, Orlando and Washington. He currently plays professionally in Europe. Scott and his wife, Melanie, have two children, Kairo and Zyra.
Johannah Bangert
Johannah Bangert, a 2007 WHS graduate, was a three-year volleyball starter at Washington High School. Her teams twice went to State, finishing third and fourth. She was All-State her junior and senior years. She was named the St. Louis All-Metro Player of the Year her senior season.
Johannah qualified for the Missouri State Track Meet all four years of high school in either the long or the triple jump. She still holds the long jump record at WHS.
After graduating from WHS, Johannah attended the University of Illinois, where she was a starting middle blocker all four years, playing in every single match. She helped the Fighting Illini to three Sweet Sixteens in the NCAA tournament. Her personal accolades include the All-Big Ten team in 2008 and 2009, All American team in 2009, NCAA blocks leader in 2008 and 2009, Academic All-Big Ten in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and first team Academic All-American in 2010.
Bangert continued her career playing professionally in Sweden for the 2011-2012 season.
Denodus O’Bryant
Denodus O’Bryant was a two-time first-team all-conference selection for the football Blue Jays. He rushed for 3,273 over his first three seasons and scored 44 touchdowns. He had two 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
O’Bryant continued his football career at Lindenwood University from 2008-2012.
Following a redshirt season in 2008, O'Bryant spent the next four seasons building one of the most legendary careers in Lindenwood history. He shattered several program records, finishing as the program's all-time leader in total touchdowns, rushing touchdowns, kickoff return touchdowns, rushing yards, all-purpose yards, and rushing attempts.
O'Bryant was a two-time first-team All-American in 2009 and 2010.
O’Bryant was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2013. He is a member of the Lindenwood University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Kenneth Barklage
Kenneth Barklage was a standout Washington High School track and field athlete in the 1930s, most notably in the pole vault, high jump and sprint events. He held the WHS pole vault record for a number of years. He also played basketball at WHS.
Barklage also had athletic accomplishments away from the high school ranks. Some of those included:
Golf club champion at Bogey Hills Country Club in the late 1970s.
Won the Seniors Tennis Championships at the St. Charles City Tournament.
Played softball for the St. Charles Boosters and baseball for the St. Charles Browns.
He’s a member of the St. Charles County Sports Hall of Fame.
Barklage served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He retired from Union Electric after over 40 years of employment.
1961 WHS Boys Basketball Team
The 1960-61 Washington Blue Jays basketball team holds the school record for most wins in a season, finishing with a 35-1 record. They won 35 straight games during the season. The team finished in third place among large schools in the state of Missouri.
The Blue Jays were coached by Glenn Cafer. Team members were George Coons, Jerry Pepmueller, Bob McMonigle, Tom Wood, Tom Fleer, Wayne Lohmeyer, Ron Cowan, Jack Coons, Glen Schmidt, Harold Lewis, Les Gardner, David Bruns, Tom Officer and Mike Baldwin. Managers were Mike McKenzie and Harold Martin.
Each team member played an important role on the team. Practices were tough and physical, but gave the team stamina to make it through a long season.
Backed by the support of fellow students, staff, parents and the community, the Blue Jays rallied together to make it a memorable basketball season.
The inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2021:
Coaches: Jim Scanlan (Football), Doris Jones (Volleyball) and Alex Graham (Track and Field).
Contributor: Jack Hagedorn.
Players: Lorene Ramsey (Softball and Volleyball), Tom Officer (Basketball), Jim Gephardt (Football), Tim Hayes (Football), Jill Kingsbury (Cross Country and Track and Field), Mike Sandbothe (Basketball) and Lisa Sandbothe (Volleyball, Basketball and Track and Field).
Team: 1973 state champion football team.
Washington High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, Class of 2022.
Washington High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, Class of 2022.
Family of John Dieckhaus
Dennis Brune
Ken Bebermeyer
Scott Suggs and Family
Kenneth Barklage
1961 Washington High School Boys Basketball Team
