The Two Harbors High School Athletic Hall of Fame will be holding an induction ceremony on Thursday, July 11th. Though most of the inductees graduated long ago, it is now their time to be recognized by the town and school they represented in athletic events over the years. The last induction ceremony was held in 2016, with the plan to hold one about every four years, but the 2020 ceremony never happened due to COVID-19, and it had not been replanned until now.
Jim Krysiak graduated from Duluth Denfeld in 1948, where he played football and hockey. During the Korean War, he served in the Duluth National Guard for two years, and earned his B.A. in education. Krysiak taught physical education at THHS for 33 years, and during that time he coached the Agate hockey team for 24 years, building the foundation for Two Harbors hockey today. Krysiak also coached golf, and the teams “never had a losing season during his tenure.” He and his wife, Joyce, owned the Two Harbors Dairy Queen for 13 years, before retiring and moving to Duluth. Krysiak passed away in 2009, and is survived by his wife, Joyce, and his children Mark, Cindy, Gail, and David.
Larry Smith, class of 1977, earned 10 letters during his years at THHS – four in golf and three each in football and hockey. In golf, Smith qualified for the State championship his sophomore and senior years by leading his team to victory in district and regional championships. THHS finished 2nd in the 1977 Class AA State Championship, and individually Smith placed 11th. As a hockey player, Smith was the leading scorer in his junior and senior years, and was co-captain his senior year, receiving All-Regional Honorable Mention honors in ‘76 and ‘77 and leading the Agates his senior year with scoring 43 points in 21 games. In football, Smith was MVP his senior year and was All Seaway Conference and 2nd team All-Tri- State: Offense. He attended the College of St. Scholastica, playing for the Saints in golf and hockey, and graduating with a degree in Business Management. Smith lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife Michelle and son Noah.
Boyd Hanson, class of 1978, earned 11 varsity letters – four each in football and hockey, two in baseball, and one in track. In football, Hanson was All-Tri-State 2nd team and All-Seaway Conference as a linebacker in 1976, and as a senior was co-captain, All-Tri-State 1st team and All-Seaway Conference running back. Hanson was also WCCO All State as a linebacker and received Back of the Week honors from the Duluth News Tribune and was MVP. In hockey, Hanson was co-captain his senior year. After graduation, Hanson attended University of Minnesota-Duluth and played football for the Bulldogs. He has three children – Ben, Brian, and Angela, and lives on the North Shore with his wife, Claire.
Mick Kempffer, class of 1988, earned six varsity letters – one in golf, two in baseball, and three in hockey. Kempffer was selected for the Area All-Star Hockey Team his junior and senior years. After graduating, he played with the USHL Waterloo Blackhawks for two years before enrolling at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Kempffer received many honors throughout his hockey career. Today, Kempffer lives in Columbus, Georgia with his wife, Leanna. They have two adult sons, and Kempffer has worked as a firefighter in Columbus since 2002.
Kylie Wainer, class of 1997, earned 13 letters while at THHS in swimming and basketball, as well as many individual awards. Wainer was team captain of the swim team as a junior and senior, All-Conference in 1995, and swam on school record-establishing relay teams. She was also track captain in 1996 and placed on the All-Conference Team and the All-State Academic Team. In basketball, she was team captain for three years, and in 1995 she was on the team that won the LSC Championship. Wainer also received Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year and Agate Award as Outstanding Female Student Athlete of the Year in 1997. She was a Tri-Letter Winner and graduated with Highest Distinction. After earning a basketball scholarship to Morningside College, Wainer received a Bachelor of Science degree. She then pursued a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, and after 9/11 was commissioned into the United States Navy. Wainer is currently an Emergency Medicine physician and a Lieutenant in the Florida Air National Guard.
Molly (Ray) Frank, class of 2001, earned 11 letters in volleyball, basketball, and track. She was selected as the THHS American Legion Female Athlete of the Year in 2001, and in volleyball Frank was selected for the Lake Superior All-Conference team in 1999 and 2000. In basketball, she was team MVP her junior and senior years, playing for the Agates conference championship team in 2001. In track, Frank was all-conference in discus and shot put, becoming team MVP in 2001. After graduation, Frank attended University of Wisconsin-Superior, where she continued to play volleyball and basketball and compete in track, earning multiple honors and awards. Frank lives in Superior with her daughter, Olivia.
Lindsay (DeLaRosby) Mikkelson, class of 2001, earned 11 letters in swimming, basketball, and track. In swimming, Mikkelson qualified for the state meet in 1999 and 2000, and was named All-State in 2000, and in basketball she was part of the Lake Superior Conference championship team as a senior. After graduating, Mikkelson attended St. Mary’s University, where she continued to compete in swimming. Post-college, she began coaching swim and dive at the college level, and has coached at Springfield College, Trinity College, Ferrum College, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Augsburg. Mikkelson currently works as the Director of Operations for Men’s Swimming and Diving at Harvard University. She and her husband, Dan, have two daughters, Daphne and Collins.
Beth (DeLaRosby) Murray, class of 2001, earned 12 letters in swimming, basketball, and track. Murray was valedictorian and received the Region 7 Triple A Award (Arts, Athletics, and Academics). She qualified for the state swim meet four years in a row, and in 2000 she became the first THHS swimmer to medal at the state meet. In basketball, Murray was a member of the 2001 Lake Superior Conference Championship team. Post-high school, she attended Gustavus Adolphus, where she qualified for nationals in swimming all four years, becoming the first Gustavus women’s swimmer to medal at nationals in 2004. A five time All-American, Murray led Gustavus to their first MIAC championship. After graduation, she spent two years as a graduate assistant at Springfield College, before accepting a position as head women’s swim and dive coach at Carthage College. Murray and her husband, Ken, have two daughters, Audrey and Jera.
The induction ceremony will be held Thursday, July 11th at the Moose Lodge. A social will be held at 5:30, followed by a 6:00 dinner and program. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased by Monday, July 8th. Contact Scott Ross at sross@isd381.org or call 218-834-8201, ext. 8242.
Congratulations to the Two Harbors athletes who have distinguished themselves in their respective sports and in life, setting the example for future athletes!
