Schuyler's Cernys receive family of the year award

COLUMBUS - Wrestling has always been a family affair for the Cernys.

With 20 years of high school wrestling, 24 years of wrestling officiating and numerous other years of youth wrestling participation and coaching under their belts, Bob and Elsie Cerny's six children - Keith, Joel, Kaye, Dan, Roger and Eric - made an impact in the sport.

After watching their children wrestling at Schuyler, the Cernys have grandchildren involved in the sport of wrestling.

For their contributions, Bob and Elsie Cerny's family received the Family of the Year award during the 2006 Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame Banquet Saturday at the Elks Country Club.

“It's a great honor,” Elsie said. “We're excited about this. We've spent a lot years watching wrestling with our boys wrestling and with some of the grandchildren. We really enjoy it. We've seen probably between 95-99 percent of all our kids' matches.”

Sheryl Barry, executive secretary and treasurer of the NSWCA, said the award is deserving for the family.

“They have been involved for a long time,” said Barry, a Schuyler resident. “They have five boys and a girl who was an aide. Their boys have been involved in the coaching field ever since they were out of high school.”

The Cerny children were coached by Roger Berry over the course of 15 years. Keith, the oldest son, Keith, started the tradition in 1970. He qualified for the state meet twice and was twice named Schuyler wrestler of the year.

Joel wrestled from 1971-75, lettered two years and also wrestled in the Junior Olympics freestyle division between his junior and senior years. Unfortunately, after the conference meet while he finished third, he injured his right knee and didn't wrestle in districts.

Dan, the most successful of the bunch, qualified for state three times and placed second as a senior. He was wrestler of the year at Schuyler and later went on to wrestle for Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Roger wrestled from 1977-1981, while Eric, the youngest, competed in 1988-1990 and he lettered twice.

Three of the brothers continued in the sport as officials. Keith officiated for 12 years, Joel for eight and Dan has four years of experience.

Keith and Dan also coached at Schuyler program as well. Keith later worked for Wisner-Pilger and moved to Wyoming and Colorado where he works for newspaper. Dan coached club wrestling at Schuyler for 10 years and is currently the junior high wrestling coach.

Not to be outdone by her brothers, Kaye Cerny Heavican, was a wrestling aide for the Warriors for four years.

“Basically the whole family was involved” Elsie said. “(Kaye) was what we called ‘The Golden Girls' at that time,”

The grandchildren have been involved as well. Dan's son, Lane, finished his career at Schuyler with three letters. Keith's son, Tyler, just began the 2006 youth season for 11-year-olds at 75 pounds in Alamosa, Colo., while his other son Zachary competed in club wrestling in Wyoming and Colorado.

Kaye's son, Cole, was a state qualifier and multi-year letterman for the Warriors. Also, the daughters of Joel, Dan and Kaye were wrestling aides for their schools.