Elk River Multi-Sport Legend Paul Martin Named to Minnesota State High School League H.O.F.

Since 1991, the Minnesota State High School League’s Hall of Fame has served as the gold standard of recognition programs. The hallowed hall features elite individuals who have been honored and recognized for excellence among Fine Arts Educators, Contributors, Officials, Administrators, Coaches and Athletes. 

Quite simply, they are the best of the best. 

There are currently 245 individuals who have been enshrined, and in April of 2026, a dozen more will cross the threshold and have their legacies through high school activities cemented forever.

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the League proudly announced the newest inductees of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 in a video presentation. 

They are: 

Fine Arts

• Rebecca Meyer-Larson, Moorhead
• Dr. W. Rayford Johnson, St. Paul

Contributor

• Lou Nanne, Edina

Official

• Robert Crowe, St. Paul

Administrators

• Rich Matter, Maple Grove
• Dave Wicker, Minneapolis

Coaches

• Kathy Gillen-Melville, Eagan
• Robin Ingram, Minneapolis
• Mark Kroulik, Stephen

Athletes

• Randy Breuer, Lake City
• Paul Martin, Elk River
• Mary Jo Miller Hmielewski, Tracy-Milroy

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, April 19, 2026, at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown St. Paul. 

Meet the League’s Hall of Fame Class of 2026:

Rebecca Meyer-Larson

• City: Moorhead
• Category: Fine Arts
• Spotlight: Meyer-Larson has been an English, Speech and Theater educator and head coach of the Moorhead High School Speech team since 1991. She has led the Spuds to eight Speech state championships. Her legacy of leadership includes more than 30 years of service to the Communications and Theater Association. In 2023, she was recognized by the NFHS with a National Citation Award for Theater. 

Dr. W. Rayford Johnson

• City: St. Paul
• Category: Fine Arts
• Spotlight: Johnson is a revered music educator and conductor who served in the St. Paul Public Schools for more than five decades. He is credited with introducing scores of students to the wonderful world of music during his career. He was a longtime president of the St. Paul Alliance of Black School Educators and is a gifted composer. His award-winning career included the knack for building high school programs and paving the way for young musicians to achieve success and a lifelong love of music.

Lou Nanne

• City: Edina
• Category: Contributor
• Spotlight: In the State of Hockey, Nanne is arguably the most treasured of icons. He served as a television analyst for the League’s Boys Hockey State Tournament for six decades. A longtime advocate of high school activities, Nanne, who is retired from the television booth, remains a media favorite through guest appearances where his vast knowledge and wit have been a part of what makes him legendary. Nanne, who arrived in Minnesota in 1959, is a retired Minnesota North Star defenseman and team executive. He also starred for the University of Minnesota and played for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. 

Robert Crowe

• City: St. Paul
• Category: Officials
• Spotlight: Crowe’s legacy of excellence and service to the Member Schools and the League spans more than 40 years. He has served as an official in football, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball. He is a League regional softball clinician and mentor to newer officials. He currently serves on the League’s selection committee for the Officials Distinguished Service Award. On his officiating resume are three international Special Olympics events. 

Rich Matter

• City: Maple Grove
• Category: Administrator
• Spotlight: Matter served as the League’s Director of Finance for nearly 33 years. Behind his leadership, the League delivered programming, services and support to the more than 500 Member Schools. For more than 25 years, he served as the tournament director for Adapted Athletics, Alpine Skiing, Nordic Ski Racing and Lacrosse. He also served on the MSHSL Foundation, a group that directed resources back to Member Schools. 

Dave Wicker

• City: Minneapolis
• Category: Administrator
• Spotlight: Wicker was an instrumental force in the Minneapolis Public School District where he served for more than 35 years as an educator, coach and administrator. Through his guidance, the district provided an abundance of opportunities for students in Minnesota’s largest city. He also served the League on the MSHSL Foundation, mentored new administrators and was a longtime state tournament manager in numerous events. 

Kathy Gillen-Melville

• City: Eagan
• Category: Coach
• Spotlight: Gillen-Melville was a transformative presence as the longtime head coach of the Eagan High School Girls Volleyball team. Her positive impact was also felt across the Greater Minnesota volleyball community. She led the Wildcats to seven state championships and 16 section crowns during her 30 years in leading the program. Gillen-Melville is one of only two coaches to win at least five state championships in the large enrollment class. Under her leadership, the volleyball program was twice recognized as one of the top programs in the nation.

Robin Ingram

• City: Minneapolis
• Category: Coach
• Spotlight: A longtime elementary school teacher in the Minneapolis Public Schools, Ingram led the Minneapolis North Boys Basketball team to three consecutive state championships from 1995-97. What is unique is that each of the championships were captured while playing in three different state tournament formats. Under his leadership, the Polars were 82-4 in that dominant span. Ingram also introduced students to the game of golf as the Polars’ golf coach. He remains an avid golfer. 

Mark Kroulik

• City: Stephen
• Category: Coach
• Spotlight: Kroulik, well known for holding practices before school so students could assist with farming duties later in the day, led Stephen-Argyle to seven Class Nine-Player championships during an 18-year career as head coach. His commitment to being a transformative coach and positive role model helped pave the way for success. During his head coaching career, the Storm assembled a state-record 76-game winning streak. He finished his career with a 168-12 record.

Randy Breuer

• City: Lake City
• Category: Athlete
• Spotlight: Breuer is the first 7-footer to play in the Boys Basketball State Tournament. In a three-year varsity career, he developed into a low post force, both on offense and defense. During his junior and senior seasons, the Tigers were 51-1 en route to consecutive Class A championships. He still holds state tournament records for most field goals made in three games and most points. He had a standout career with the Gophers before an 11-year career in the NBA. 

Paul Martin

• City: Elk River
• Category: Athlete
• Spotlight: Martin is arguably the best all-around athlete to ever play at Elk River High School. In football, he was a state-record setting wide receiver. He set then-career records of 189 receptions for 3,009 yards while being a three-time all-metro and two-time all-state selection. In baseball, he was an all-conference player and a threat at the plate and in the field. He was Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey Award winner his senior year and the prestigious Mount Olivet Lutheran Church Award winner given to Minnesota’s top scholar athlete. He went on to play hockey for the University of Minnesota and had a 15-year career in the National Hockey League.

Mary Jo Miller Hmielewski

• City: Tracy-Milroy
• Category: Athlete
• Spotlight: Miller Hmielewski was a three-sport standout for Tracy-Milroy and one of the early legendary icons who blazed trails in girls athletics in Minnesota. During her prep career, she made 12 state tournament appearances in volleyball, basketball and track and field. She was the Miss Basketball winner in 1988 and finished her career with 2,655 points, 850 steals and 652 assists. She played collegiately at Kansas State before serving as a volleyball and basketball coach in southwestern Minnesota.

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