A dedicated and passionate supporter of Blue Bullets athletics is the first member to be inducted into the newly created Knoxville High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Elise Engebretson, a popular life skills student who served as team manager for the Blue Bullets basketball, baseball and football teams, entered the Knoxville Hall of Fame as a Friend of Athletics during a special ceremony Sunday evening in the auditorium.
Engebretson, KHS Class of 2016, is facing a progressive terminal illness, prompting Hall of Fame committee members to give her a special ceremony Sunday. The full inaugural Knoxville Hall of Fame class will be enshrined at a ceremony sometime this winter.
Nearly a hundred supporters including family, friends, former coaches and administrators turned out Sunday to honor Engebretson. She is the daughter of Tim and Melissa Engebretson.
“Elise is the perfect person to be our first Friend of Athletics to be inducted into the hall of fame,” said Hall of Fame committee chairperson Chad Clevenger. “She was and is still so passionate about Knoxville athletics. She always wanted to be involved. She is true to being what a friend of Knoxville athletics is all about. It was a no brainer for us.
“We wanted to make sure we could celebrate Elise’s honor and be sure she knew what was going on.”
According to Melissa Engebretson, Elise has a moderate mental impairment which leaves her with the cognitive level of a 5-year-old. Now 26, Elise has been diagnosed with a deteriorating health issue.
“(The committee) was kind enough to move her induction up so she could be apart of it and understand what is going on,” Melissa Engebretson said. “She was overwhelmed, and a little nervous. She was so happy. She loved seeing the past players and parents, coaches and administrators who came to see her on her special night.
“We knew it was going to be big and emotional, but the night was even better than we thought.”
Melissa, who said her daughter has no concept of time, added, “Elise usually sleeps until noon, but she was up at 8 a.m., wanting to know what time the doors opened for her ceremony.”
Sports were, and remain an integral part of Elise Engebretson’s life, according to her mom.
“She wanted every day to be a game day, because she loved sports so much,” Melissa said. “She bleeds blue and gold. Even now, at the age of 26. When we go for a car ride, we have to stop by the football field, the school and the baseball field.”
Clevenger presented Elise with her Hall of Fame plaque which reads:
Elise Engebretson
Friend of KHS Athletics
KHS Student from 2012-2019
Graduating class of 2016
From pre-game pep talks as manager with the basketball team to her volunteer service with other athletic teams, Elise epitomizes what it means to be a friend of KHS Athletics. During football season, she would be found navigating the gator before and after games making sure the pylons were where they needed to be. Basketball season brought her favorite job – being in charge of the ball rack on game nights. As a spectator, whether it was cheering on the team or disagreeing with a call, her passionate voice would often be heard at baseball games and basketball games.
You will find no truer friend of KHS Athletics than Elise Engebretson. Her service and passion served as a backbone to our program for many years.
Former KHS athletic Heather Smith and former principal Chad Bahnks joined Clevenger in making remarks Sunday night.
Joining Engrebretson in the Knoxville High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023 are:
- Mike Kemmer — baseball coach
- Dennis Larson — football coach
- Dave Whiteman — AD/coach
- Kirk Whiteman — Class of 1988
- Barb Bogard Lenz — Class of 1981
- Jeff Putnam — Class of 1971
- 2006 cross country team
“As far as launching our hall of fame, there wasn’t a much better way to do it than we did last night,” Clevenger said. “We look forward to honoring Elise and the rest of our hall of famers later this winter.”