Coach, two players enter Esko's athletic hall of fame

The Esko Sports Alliance held its sixth Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Saturday with three new members being inducted in ceremonies at Esko High School.

"This was a real solid class of athletes," said Steve Knutson, president of the Esko Sports Alliance. "Our inductees are some very special athletes and coaches, and we are very proud of welcoming them into the hall of fame."

Joining the hall this year are longtime football coach Bob Peterson, former three-star athlete 1976 graduate Kevin Bohren, and 2014 graduate Karson Kuhlman, who now plays professional hockey in Finland.

There are a number of criteria that need to be met in order for a person to qualify for the hall in Esko, including having been out of high school for 10 years.

"We also have a committee of seven that reviews each applicant and looks at statistics and character," said Russ Davidson, one of the founding members of the alliance.

Davidson and Davis Helberg established the hall of fame in 2017. Helberg passed away in 2018. Davidson continues to act as the main organizer of the event and the banquet master of ceremonies.

The late Bob Peterson

Bob Peterson

The late Bob Peterson began his coaching career in Esko in 1959. During his tenure he served as a basketball assistant coach, head football coach, and baseball and golf coach as well as the athletic director for Esko.

He was the head football coach from 1965 through 1989. In the fall of 1975, Peterson led Esko to the Minnesota Class C state football championship. He finished his football coaching career with a record of 174 wins and 58 losses. His teams won 11 conference championships.

He also had success coaching baseball with six Polar League championships. In 1986 he was honored as the Minnesota State Class B Coach of the Year. Peterson was inducted in the Minnesota State High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995.

Kevin Bohren

Bohren was a star in three sports for Esko in the mid-1970s. He was a starter in basketball, football and baseball. Overall Bohren earned 10 varsity letters: four in baseball, three in basketball and three in football.

In the 1975 football season, Bohren helped to lead Esko to the State Class C football title in a 62-0 blowout win over Karlstad and was named all-state that season. In his senior season, Bohren was also a key starter on the basketball team, which finished as section runner-up.

As good as Bohren was in basketball and football, his big claim to fame was as a pitcher, in which his blazing fastball helped land him a Division I scholarship to play baseball for the University of Minnesota. He was also named all-state in baseball and played in the Lions all-state baseball series.

Karson Kuhlman

Karson Kuhlman

Kuhlman was unable to attend the induction ceremony because he is playing pro hockey in Finland. He sent a video, thanking the committee and the community for their support. After starring in hockey for the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjacks, Kuhlman played four seasons for the University of Minnesota Duluth. As a senior at UMD, Kuhlman captained the Bulldogs to a national championship, where he was named the outstanding player in the tournament. He was also named to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference All-Academic team. Kuhlman went on to play in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, the Seattle Kraken, the New York Islanders and the Winnipeg Jets, as well as numerous professional affiliates in the American Hockey League. He is under contract with Lukko in the Finnish professional hockey league.

"All three of these people accentuate the excellence in Esko athletics, and we hope to perpetuate the future in Esko," Knutson said.

Supporting athletics

The Esko Sports Alliance not only hosts the HOF ceremonies each year, they also support Esko athletics through three major fundraisers each year.

"We play a critical role in fundraising for Esko athletics," Knutson said.

The alliance recently donated $40,000 for weight benches for the newly renovated Esko Fitness Center, plus more than $5,000 for transforming the old tennis court into a new sports court. The committee also donates $6,000 in scholarships each spring.

Following the ceremony on Saturday, family and friends of the inductees gathered at the Buffalo House to talk and reminisce about the day.

Athletes become eligible for consideration 10 years after graduation, while administrators become eligible in five years. Athletes, administrators, fans, teams and other contributors are all considered for the hall if they are nominated. To submit a nomination, go to the ESA webpage on the Esko School website under "athletics" or contact activities director Chad Stoskopf at [email protected] or 218-879-1909.