(Atlantic) This Friday night, two outstanding former Atlantic High School wrestlers will be inducted into the Atlantic Wrestling Hall of Fame. Jeff Riggs, a 1978 graduate, and Scott Rhodes, a 1983 graduate, will join an elite group of athletes who have made significant contributions to the Atlantic wrestling program both on and off the mat.
Jeff Riggs: A Legacy Built on Wrestling and Football Excellence
Jeff Riggs began his wrestling journey at the age of 10 in the YMCA League, encouraged by his older brother Mike. It didn’t take long for Jeff to embrace the sport and make his mark. Riggs competed in the 167-pound weight class throughout his high school career, finishing with impressive records each season: 23-6 as a sophomore, 22-6 as a junior, and 19-4-1 as a senior.
Riggs’ high school wrestling accomplishments were numerous. As a sophomore, he finished as the Hawkeye 8 runner-up. His junior year saw him claim the conference championship, and he placed third his senior year. Riggs also performed exceptionally at the Corning Wrestling Tournament (now the John J. Harris Tournament), finishing as the runner-up in his sophomore and senior years and taking fourth place as a junior.
His senior season started late due to a football injury, with his first competition occurring at the Corning Tournament. In a memorable moment, Riggs pinned the eventual state champion in his first match. By the end of his career, Riggs was a two-time sectional champion, two-time district champion, two-time state qualifier, and a two-time state medalist, earning a seventh-place finish as a junior and a fourth-place finish as a senior.
Off the wrestling mat, Riggs was a standout football player. A four-time letterwinner, he earned first-team All-State honors in all classes his senior year and was named to the first-team All-State Class 3A team during his junior season. Riggs was also a two-time All-Conference first-team selection. He played a pivotal role on the football team that defeated Nevada in the quarterfinals and advanced to the state semifinals, where they fell just short to Emmetsburg.
After high school, Riggs continued his athletic career at Ellsworth Junior College, where he played as a backup linebacker on the National Championship football team and wrestled in the heavyweight division. He later attended South Dakota University.
In his professional life, Riggs worked for Morman’s Feed Company and spent 22 years with Nebraska Machinery, working in both Omaha and Kansas City. He also worked for 20 years with Hydraulic Power and is currently employed at International Construction Equipment Company.
Jeff and his wife, Jane, have three grown children: Ross, Lauren, and JoAnna. The Riggs family’s legacy of excellence continues with Jeff’s induction into the 2024 Atlantic High School Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to Jeff Riggs on this well-deserved honor.
2024 Atlantic High School Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee: Scott Rhodes
It’s often said that “it’s not the quantity, but the quality that counts.” Scott Rhodes, a 1983 graduate, proved that point in a unique way during his time as a wrestler at Atlantic High School.
Although he began his freshman year playing basketball, Rhodes made a pivotal switch to wrestling after encouragement from Head Coach Lynn Barnes. Barnes, recognizing that Rhodes’ aggressive playing style led to frequent foul trouble on the basketball court, and height disadvantage , thought wrestling might be a better fit. It turned out to be an inspired decision.
A standout four-sport athlete, Rhodes wrestled in the 112-pound weight class for three years. His wrestling career didn’t start off with immediate success—his sophomore year was a learning experience, finishing with a 4-11 record. But his determination and work ethic paid off. By his junior year, Rhodes rebounded with an impressive 21-4 record, and as a senior, he finished with a 26-5 mark. His resilience led him to dominate in the sectional and district tournaments, where he earned championships in both his junior and senior seasons. In addition, his senior year culminated in a third-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament, marking the pinnacle of his high school wrestling career. Rhodes was also named to the all-conference team both his junior and senior years, with a runner-up finish in his final season.
Beyond wrestling, Rhodes excelled in football, track, and baseball. On the football field, he was a member of the Class 3A runner-up team as a sophomore and played wingback as a junior. By his senior year, he was a starter on both offense and defense. In track, Rhodes earned three varsity letters, and in baseball, he was a standout pitcher and outfielder, earning unanimous all-conference, all-district, and all-state honors.
After high school, Scott took his athleticism to Northwestern College in Orange City, where he wrestled at 118 pounds. In his freshman year, he made an impressive run, just one tournament away from qualifying for the National Tournament.
Today, Scott Rhodes is a successful carpenter, having spent the last 22 years in partnership with J & S Carpentry in Atlantic.
Congratulations to Scott Rhodes on being selected for induction into the 2024 Atlantic High School Wrestling Hall of Fame. His dedication, hard work, and all-around athleticism have left a lasting legacy at Atlantic High School.
Scott Rhodes, and Jeff Riggs will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday, November 22 at the Venue in Atlantic. The banquet starts at 6:00 p.m. with the dinner, and the awards to follow. The public is invited to attend. Tickets are $15.00 at the door. All the proceeds go to the Little Trojan Wrestling Club.
