Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey


Year Inducted: 2008 (p)
Nominated By: Anthony J. Ribaudo
Sports Competed In: Basketball, Football, Track
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete, Coach

Jerry KerseyBefore High School:
Kersey competed in the Bambino World Series in 1974.

High School
Attended Rye H.S., Rye, Colorado where he graduated in 1980.

Achievements:
High School:
● Four-year starter at quarterback for the Thunderbolts (1976-79); won 67 of 74 games.
● Averaged 5.1 yards per carry and over 100 yards per game.
● Named All-Conference First Team and the Most Valuable Player at quarterback four consecutive years.
● Made three state tournament appearances (football) and was selected to the All-State team three years.
● Starting point guard on the basketball team for four years (1977-80); won 71 of  85 games.
● Averaged 21 points, five steals and seven assists a game during his senior year.
● Named the team MVP of the basketball team four consecutive seasons (1977-80).
● Four-time member of the All-Conference basketball team, earned three All-State distinctions, helped Rye H.S., to three state tournament appearances.
● Selected to the the All-State team two years and played in the All-State basketball game at the end of his senior season.
● State qualifier on the Thunderbolts track team as a sprinter, competing in the 100, 200, 400 yard dashes for four years (1977-80).
● State placer for four years in the 100 and 200 yard dashes.
● State qualifier and placer in the long jump and member of 800 relay team.

College:
● Played point guard his freshman year of college at West Texas State in Canyon, Texas (1981). 
● Transferred to Frank Phillips Junior College in Dalhart, Texas, and played two seasons and earned All-Conference honors (1983-84).
● Returned to Colorado and played point guard for a season (1984-85) for the Indians at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado.

Honors:
● Received the "Fred Steinmark Award" as the top High School student athlete in the State of Colorado in 1980 as a senior at Rye H.S. - The Steinmark Award is the highest student/athlete award that is possible to win in the State of Colorado in all classes. It is awarded to the top student/athlete based on character, citizenship, leadership, athletic and academic accomplishments.
● Awarded the "Brian Macartney Award" by the Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) to the Outstanding Male High School athlete in Pueblo County (1980).
● Bestowed the "Pete J. Carver Memorial Award” as the top student athlete at Rye H.S. - It is the Schools' most prestigious award.

Personal:
Lived in Pueblo West, Colorado with his wife Wendy... He succumbed to cancer on September 21, 2005 at age 43.


GPSA "K" By The Numbers

LEGEND: p = awarded posthumously; ^= attended first meeting; * = deceased;+ = charter member (placed after year inducted)

 1
Athlete
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)

Athlete/Contributor
Todd Kelly (2023)

Attended First GPSA Meeting
Loren Kilstofte (2003*>)

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)

Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Todd Kelly (2023)

Attended Pueblo West H.S.
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Coach
Casey King (2023)

Football National Champion (MLFS)
Todd Kelly (2023)

Golf
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Softball
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)

Sports Information Director
Todd Kelly (2023)

Swimming
David S. Knapp (1988)

Volleyball
Casey King (2023)

Wrestling
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)

 2
Athlete/Coach/Official
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)

Attended H.S. in Colorado
Casey King (2023)
John Mall H.S., Walsenburg, CO
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Rye H.S., Rye, CO

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)
David S. Knapp (1988)

Boxing
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Coach/Administrator
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978)

Contributor
Rocky Khosla, M.D. (2020)
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)

GPSA Charter Member
Thomas E. Keach (1973+)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Track
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Thomas E. "Tom" Keach (1973+)

3
Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Wesleyville H.S., Wesleyville, PA
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)
Winona H.S., Winona, MN
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978)
Lisbon H.S., Lisbon, IA

4
Baseball
Todd Kelly (2023)
Casey King (2023)
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

5
Athlete/Coach
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
David S. Knapp (1988)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

Honorees Deceased
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*)
Loren H. Kilstofte (2003*>)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Willard Stanley Kettering (1978*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+*)

6
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Thomas E. "Tom" Keach (1973+)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

7
Basketball
Todd Kelly (2023)
Casey King (2023
Christie "Zinanti" Koschke (2020)
Victor "Vic" Ford Keen (2016)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Charles Allen Kochenberger (2001)

8
Football
Todd Kelly (2023)
Karl Frederick Kottenstette (2019)
Joseph "George" Kaplan (2014)
John LeGrand Klomp (2014)
Kirk E. Kochenberger (2010)
Jerry H. "Kerz" Kersey (2008*p)
Prince Knafelc (1988*)
Gary L. Knafelc (1973+)

 

18
Honorees in "K" Section

 

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN GPSA INDUCTEES

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) has announced a list of honorees that have passed since the 2023 induction ceremony on Nov. 15.

 

 

Daniel RosalesDaniel
Rosales

12/13/2023
Class of 2002

Everett C. ThalhamerEverett C.
Thalhamer

12/23/2023
Class of 2014

Bob GrahamBobby Max
Graham

02/26/2024
Class of 1990

Joe BonaquistaJoe
Bonaquista

07/16/2024
Class of 1977