Spotlight: Rochelle honors Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018

Six inductees include King, Luxton, Moellering, Kessen, Hagemann Larsen and Johnson

Russell Hodges
Posted 9/13/18

Rochelle Township High School inducted the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018 when the Hubs hosted Geneseo for sophomore and varsity football games Friday evening. This year’s honorees are Taryn Hagemann Larsen, Nate Kessen, Mark Moellering, Toby Luxton, Tony King and Justin Johnson.

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Spotlight: Rochelle honors Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018

Six inductees include King, Luxton, Moellering, Kessen, Hagemann Larsen and Johnson

Posted

ROCHELLE — Rochelle Township High School inducted the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018 when the Hubs hosted Geneseo for sophomore and varsity football games Friday evening. This year’s honorees are Taryn Hagemann Larsen, Nate Kessen, Mark Moellering, Toby Luxton, Tony King and Justin Johnson.

Hagemann Larsen

Taryn Hagemann Larsen is a member of the RTHS graduating class of 2004.  She played volleyball for four years, but she was most recognized for her accomplishments in softball.  Taryn earned four varsity letters playing softball under the coaching of Brian Mungai.

She was recognized as an All-Conference player all four years, and she was named to the First Team twice, the Dixon Telegraph All-Area First Team and co-captain during her junior and senior seasons. She still holds the RTHS all-time strikeout record of 759 and single-season strikeout record of 227 batters.  Taryn and her teammates played to the regional title her senior year having an ERA of 0.65.

College at NIU gave her the opportunity to continue to play Softball with a full scholarship.  She was named Most Improved Player for the 2006 season and MAC pitcher of the week for two consecutive weeks in 2007 having thrown a No Hitter against the University of Buffalo.  Following an internship with the NIU Athletic Department, Taryn graduated in 2009

Taryn is the daughter of Mike Hagemann and Lynda Larcom. She is married to Zach Larsen and they are the parents to Madden, Maizy and Haedyn. For two years she coached RTHS softball with Adrian Smith and worked as an orthodontic technician for eight years before staying home with their three kids.

Kessen

Nate Kessen graduated in the RTHS of 2000. He began his wrestling life at an early age as a member of the Rochelle Wrestling Club, becoming an IKWF State Placewinner. At RTHS, he wrestled under head coach Tom Mahoney, winning 126 matches as a Hub.

During Kessen’s high school wrestling, he became a regional finalist, sectional placewinner and state qualifier. He finished in the top 12 in the state at the 215-pound weight class in 2000.  He served as team captain twice and was a three-time All-Conference wrestler. He was named to the First-Team All-Area wrestling team twice.

His high school athletic career was not limited to wrestling. As a member of the football program, Kessen played under head coach Kevin Crandall.  Their team never lost a regular season game during the 1998 and 1999 seasons going on to the state semifinal game. Nate was named as a two-time All-Conference and All-Area Team honoree, being chosen as a unanimous selection his senior year.

He continued his wrestling at the collegiate level as a member of the Truman State University team, being a two-time letterwinner and starter at the 184-pound weight class. He then transferred to Northern Illinois University and was on the roster during the 2002-03 season.

When not on the mat himself as a wrestler, Nate has coached for the Rochelle Wrestling Club and as a volunteer and head coach at Rochelle Middle School. Becoming an IHSA wrestling official, Kessen has officiated 11 IHSA Regionals, 12 Sectionals and six IHSA State Tournaments, being one of the youngest ever to officiate at the State Tournament. He has also officiated numerous IKWF and IWCOA Tournaments and has been an IHSA certified clinician since 2016.

Nate lives in Sugar Grove with his wife Tracy. They are the parents of three daughters, Kylie, Sydney and Quincy. He is a director of operations for EASi, LLC which is a division of the Allegis Group. Most of all Kessen gives credit to his mother, Connie for her support and love through the years in pursuing his athletic accomplishments.

Moellering

Mark Moellering graduated in the RTHS class of 1999. He was a four-year member of student council, he was on the high honor roll (four years) and he was selected to the National Honor Society. He was on the WYSE team during his junior and senior years, and he was on the math team for three years. Outside of the classroom, Moellering was a member of the basketball team during his freshman and sophomore years.  He was a four-year member of the football team, earning varsity letters and being named to the NCIC All-Conference Team his sophomore, junior and senior years.  

As a four-year member of the track team, Moellering earn four varsity letters along with being named NCIC All-Conference for each year. His success in the classroom earned him Academic All-Conference honors his junior and senior years. On the track, he was a state qualifier both his sophomore and junior years in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. His senior year, he qualified for state in the long jump and as a member of the 1600-meter relay.

His accomplishments on the track earned him school records in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, which still stand. Records were set in the long jump and as a member of the 800-meter relay and 1600-meter relay teams.

Following graduation at RTHS, Moellering attended Illinois State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude having been on the Dean’s List all semesters and was a recipient of ISU’s highest undergraduate academic honor of being selected as a Robert G. Bone Scholar. He received the double major of a Bachelor of Science in marketing and business administration. While a student at ISU, Moellering was a member of the track and field team, competing on both the outdoor (100-meter dash, 200-meter dash) and indoor teams (60-meter dash, 200-meter dash).

Moellering married his wife, Anna in 2005. They have daughters Madeline and Elizabeth. The family resides in Libertyville and Mark is a procurement program specialist for Caterpillar, Inc.

Luxton

Toby Luxton is a, RTHS graduate from the Class of 1990. During his athletic career as a Hub, Luxton was a four-year member of the football, basketball and baseball teams earning a total of seven varsity letters. As a member of the Hub baseball team, Luxton earn three of these varsity letters.  As a member of the 1990 NCIC Championship Team, he was named the All-Conference shortstop and he received the team’s High Batting Average Award.

While playing football for Rochelle his senior year, Toby was named to the All-Conference Team as a Hub running back. He was named to the Dixon Telegraph All-Area Offensive Team (First Team) as a running back and also to the All-Area Second Team as a defensive back. These honors led to his selection as the 1989 Dixon Telegraph Player of the Year. As a senior under coach Jim Conrad, he led his team with 1,045 yards and 147 carries. This team won the NCIC Southwest Division with a record of 9-0. Due to its outstanding season, the entire team was named as the Hackett MVP recipient.

The Ellis Sportsmanship Award is given to the Hub varsity football player who is selected by his teammates as the person who best represents the program. Luxton was chosen for this award both his junior and senior seasons. Upon graduating from RTHS, Luxton played football at Taylor University for two years. He has worked with the Ogle County Educational Cooperative for 19 years as a special education teacher and jobs program coordinator. He and his wife, Kellie are parents to children.

King

Tony King graduated from RTHS in the Class of 1980. He was a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball and baseball. King, a four-year baseball team member, played a variety of positions on the team. Along with being the No. 2 pitcher, he played centerfield, third base and shortstop. His senior year, he was named to the All-Conference Second Team.

As a four-year member of the football team, King had a starting position his junior and senior years. As a junior, he played safety and received Honorable Mention All-Conference. His senior year he became a two-way starter at quarterback and safety.  He was also the team’s punter.  His success on the field earned him First-Team All-Conference honors as quarterback.  He was also named to the Dixon Telegraph All-Area Second Team, the Rockford Register Star All-Area Team (Honorable Mention), the Chicago Sun Times All-State Team (Honorable Mention) and he was named “Player of the Week” by the Dixon Telegraph following the defeat of an undefeated, state-ranked Dixon team.

As a four-year member of the basketball team, King lead the team in scoring his sophomore year and was named an All-Conference Honorable Mention his junior season. His rebounding earned him the Hoffman Award both his junior and senior seasons. Additionally, he was named an All-Area Honorable Mention of the Rockford Register Star and the Dixon Telegraph as well as the All Conference Second Team.

King received his bachelor’s degree from Elmhurst College and his master’s degree from DePaul University. His work career has been in the packaging industry which lead him to open his own company, Merkatta, which is focused on the distribution of plastic packaging to food and industrial companies. He and his wife, Lynn, live in the Hampshire area and are parents to four adult children.

Johnson

Justin Johnson is a 2004 RTHS graduate.  As a freshman he wrestled for coach Tom Mahoney. He played baseball his sophomore and junior years, earning a varsity letter for both seasons.

Johnson played football for four seasons as a Hub and he earned three varsity letters. As a junior, he was named to the All-Conference First Team as a defensive back. He was voted by his peers as the 2003 Hub Power Lifter of the Year and as a team captain of the 2003 varsity football team.

Johnson was chosen to the All-Conference First Team as a defensive back, running back and kick returner, all of which were unanimous selections. He received the Hackett Award as being the Most Valuable Player of the 2003 team voted by his teammates. Johnson was named the Sauk Valley All-Area Defensive Back and the Edgy Tim All-State Defensive Back.

Following graduation at RTHS, Johnson represented the Hubs in the Illinois High School Football Shrine Game and was selected as a team captain. He committed to play football at NIU the following season having received a full scholarship. After one year at NIU, Johnson attended Saint Xavier University and was a two-time letterwinner as a member of their football team.

Johnson currently resides in Chicago and works as a senior consultant to technology firms. He is the father to two children, Jayla and Preston.