KMA Sports Hall of Fame Inductee: Mike Artist

(Glenwood) -- Each weekday from now until August 26th, KMA Sports will be announcing the inaugural KMA Sports Hall of Fame class. Throughout the 2016-17 sports year, these 20 inductees will have special induction ceremonies, but August is designed for the announcements.

Today's inductee is arguably the most successful high school soccer coach in KMAland history. Mike Artist directed six Glenwood teams to the state soccer tournament over a nine year span, taking third place in two of those trips.

Artist and his wife, Jennie, first moved to Glenwood in 1990 and started in on a kids soccer program that helped establish the sport in the community, and he believes led to much of the success.

"The more they play the better they are as they get older," Artist said. "That was one of the best ways to create the best teams in high school and keep the program going. Glenwood got it into high school in 1996, and since then, we've had some good teams."

Glenwood just missed on several state opportunities in 2000, 2001 and 2002 before getting over the hump in 2003 - the school's first state soccer tournament.

"We went to Creston and played St. Albert," Artist said of the 2003 postseason. "It was 0-0 at halftime, and we had a thunderstorm come through. It was about an hour delay and ended up winning that game 3-0."

"We had some good teams prior to that," he continued. "Denison was our foe we always had to go against, and they got us a couple times. I think it was just getting over the hump and having the kids realize it can happen."

From there, Artist would lead five more teams to state over the next eight years - in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2011. The 2003 and 2004 seasons saw the Rams take third.

"Getting to state six out of nine years and having 40 to 45 kids out every year," Artist remembered. "The (first two) really stand out since we placed in the top three. Got back in 2005, and that was a group I coached from 1995 to 2001 in the little kids program. There were 12-13 of those seniors that had played together for 10 years."

"Then you move on and keep going," he said. "Kids keep coming out and keep playing in the offseason in Omaha or Council Bluffs. We got back to state in 2008. That was another team that was seeded number one in the state tournament. I could go on and on."

"It was a great time and it takes a lot of dedication on the kids and parents part. Getting them to practice and making them realize that hard work gets you on the winning side. When you have a winning program every year, you have a lot of kids that want to take part."

For all that winning, Artist will be one of 20 members inducted into the inaugural class of the KMA Sports Hall of Fame at a future date to be determined.

KMA Sports will announce a new inductee each August weekday morning during the 7:50 AM sportscast. Track the Hall of Fame announcements/inductees below:

FALL

Football: Announced August 26th at 7:50 AM

Volleyball: Angie Spangenberg, Red Oak/Harlan (Induction: 9/27)

Boys Cross Country: Ray Graves (Induction: 9/29)

Girls Cross Country: Missy Buttry Rock (Induction: 9/29)

Team: Clarinda Boys Cross Country 1956 State Champions (Induction: 9/6)

WINTER

Boys Basketball: BJ Windhorst (Induction: TBA)

Girls Basketball: Announced August 18th at 7:50 AM

Wrestling: Tyler McGinnis (Induction: December 17th)

Team: 1996-97 Creston Boy's Basketball (Induction: July 2018)

SPRING