HAVEN, Kan. – The Haven High School Alumni Wall of Honor will be graced with three new inductees on October, 11th at it’s annual alumni meeting. Andy Dirks (2004), Beth Coleman (1965) and Lyle Koontz (1944).
Dirks lettered all four years in baseball, football and Basketball. Also Dirks was all-state in 2002, 2003, & 2004 in baseball. He went on to play for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons and Wichita State Shockers in baseball and was drafted by the the Detroit Tigers in 2008. He was an All-American in 2008 with WSU. Dirks retired from baseball due to a back injury in 2014.
Coleman was posthumously inducted into the KSHSAA Hall of Fame in 1997. While coaching volleyball at both Haven and Washington, Ks, her teams qualified for state 8 times, taking 4th place twice in 1974 and 1975, plus a 3rd place finish in 1988. Her Washington High team won state twice with wins in 1971 and 1972. Coleman was a third generation Haven teacher.
Koontz was a state champion in track and field for the Wildcats as well as All-State in football while leading Haven to an undefeated season in 1944. Koontz went on to play football at Hutchinson Community College and Kansas State University after a stint in the US Navy. He was a 1950 graduate of Kansas State. He went on to be very successful in various business ventures with Great Plains Industries and Great Plains Ventures.
For those interested in attending the Wall of Fame induction ceremony, contact the Haven High Alumni Association at PO Box 131, Haven, KS 67543 or go to havenhighalumni.org.