Gary Cornelsen Set to Become KSHSAA Royalty at State Meet

Legendary former Liberal coach Gary Cornelsen will be inducted into the KSHSAA Hall of Fame on Thursday afternoon at the 5A-6A state track meet.  KSHSAA announced he would be inducted into the hall of fame in December of 2019.  He was set to be inducted at the 2020 state track meet, however, it was canceled due to Covid 19.

Cornelsen was the architect of not one, not two, but three of the msot lonstanding and successful high school athletic programs in Kansas.  At Liberal, with an over all football record of 118-17 (.874) Cornelsen took the Redskins to seven consecutive appearances in the 5A championship game, winning four state titles.  In boys track and field, Liberal won an amazing 14 state titles in a row (1991-2004) along with 16 consecutive WAC titles and 79 consecutive meet wins.  And not to be outdone were the achievements turned in by the girls track and field team capturing 10 out of 11 class 5A state titles, winning 13 WAC titles and 85 consecutive track meets.  In honor of  Coach C, Liberal High School named the Redskin football field, track, practice field, and weight room “The Gary Cornelsen Sports Complex.”