Sturgeon Bay Clippers fans will be able to cheer on the stars of today and the heroes of yesteryear when it hosts Hall of Fame Night during its Friday night matchup against Oconto.
The Clippers are eager to rebound from their recent away loss, where they traveled to Peshtigo and fell short with a final score of 15-50. The Blue Devils are also looking for their first win of the season, losing their fourth straight contest 45-12 to Mishicot last week.
The Clippers will also honor their first Hall of Fame class during the game, featuring Barbara Klapatch (Fondow), Casey Rabach, and Jim Benesh.
Barb graduated from Sturgeon Bay in 1974. Barb distinguished herself as a multi-sport athlete, known for her leadership, determination, and dedication. Barb was a four-year letter winner in track, a two-time letter winner in volleyball, and earned a letter in basketball as a sophomore. Barb qualified for the state track meet in two events. Earning second place in the 80-yard hurdles and 1st place as the anchor of the 880 relay team that set a state record. Sturgeon Bay won the State Class B title that year. In Barb's junior year, she qualified for state in three events: the 80-yard hurdles and long jump, and she was the anchor on the 880 relay team. Sturgeon Bay took second place this year in the Class B Division. Barb’s senior year she qualified in three events again. She won the 80-yard hurdles with a state record time of 10.93 this time. Barb was also the state champion in the long jump with a jump of 17’ 4 ¼. Finally, Barb took 5th place in the 220-yard final. Sturgeon Bay took 3rd place as a team this year in the Class B division. Barb still holds three Sturgeon Bay High School track records: the 80-yard hurdles, long jump, and 220-yard sprint. Barb was also a member of the 1972 undefeated volleyball team and was awarded the most valuable defensive player on the basketball team. Barb’s achievements set the standard for future Clippers and left a lasting legacy in the school’s athletic history.
Casey graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1996. He made a significant impact as a competitor and teammate, earning recognition throughout his career for exceptional skill, sportsmanship, and commitment to excellence. Casey was a three-sport athlete, earning letters in Football, Basketball, and Track. He was a member of the 1993 Sturgeon Bay Football State runner-up team.
After high school, Casey took his talents to the University of Madison where he played football for the Badgers from 1996-2000. At Wisconsin, Casey was a third-team All-American in 2000, a 2-time all-Big Ten first-teamer in 1999 and 2000, and was second-team in 1998. After college, Casey had a lengthy career in the NFL, lasting from 2001 to 2011. Casey was drafted in the third round of the 2001 draft by the Baltimore Ravens with the 92nd pick. Casey played for Baltimore from 2001-04, then for the Washington Redskins from 2005-2010. Finally, Casey went back to the Baltimore Ravens in 2011 before retiring. Casey started 118 games in his NFL career. Casey is also the Founder of the 5th Quarter Foundation, which gives back to the Door County area youth and athletics. Casey is currently a football coach at UW-Madison. Casey’s influence extends beyond the athletic arena as he inspires generations to push their limits. Jim Benesh brought honor to Clipper Nation both as a coach, teacher, and athletic supporter. Known for his passion for the game and commitment to Sturgeon Bay athletics, Jim’s contributions helped strengthen the athletic programs and foster a sense of school pride.
Jim coached many sports at Sturgeon Bay High School. These included Cross Country (1990-91), Football (1990-97), Girls Basketball (1992-95), Boys Basketball (1995-2022), and Softball (1992-2020). Jim had numerous successes while coaching. These include being a coach on the 1993 state runner-up football team, winning the conference in his first season as Girls Head Basketball coach in 1992-93, and winning six conference championships and four regional titles as the Boys Head Basketball Coach. Jim has over 400 coaching victories as the head basketball coach (Boys/Girls) at Sturgeon Bay High School. Jim was also inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaching Association Hall of Fame in 2022. Jim always felt very blessed to have worked with so many great people in his teaching and coaching career in Sturgeon Bay. Jim loved being an educator and coach. He could often be heard saying, "Make it happen!" or "Place yourself in a position to be successful." But Jim’s most famous saying was "It's a Great Day to be a Clipper!" And this saying inspired the name of a scholarship given to SBHS Seniors. Jim always thanked his wife, Amy, and daughter, Hailey, for supporting his career and dedication to Clipper Nation.
