Mike Cunningham
Mike Cunningham - Waterloo High School – Class of 1965
Athletic Hall of Fame Induction 2016
Mike Cunningham was a tremendous multi-sport athlete for Waterloo High School in the mid-1960s. He earned ten letters while participating in football, basketball, track, and baseball. Mike describes his participation in high school athletics as, “A tremendous experience that had a lasting impact on me as an individual.”
The 1964-65 school year was very successful for Waterloo Panther sports. Mike Cunningham played a major role in that success. He was a four-year starter at quarterback for the football team; during his senior year, the Panthers reached a state ranking of #4. As a baseball pitcher and third baseman, he was known to have a strong arm with a lethal bat. He was also a strong contender on the track team where he ran the mile throughout his high school career.
Although Mike was a standout athlete in all sports, the basketball court was where his talents shined the brightest. While at Waterloo, Mike played for Nebraska High School Hall of Fame coach, Jim “Killer” Kane. Coach Kane knew that he had an outstanding shooter in Mike and created a system that allowed him to use his quickness to score in every way possible. Mike still holds the career record for scoring at Waterloo High School with1642 career points. Mike is also currently 10th all time in the state of Nebraska for points scored in a game with 59. This is especially impressive since Mike set these scoring records before the 3-point line was implemented in high school basketball. When asked about his high school basketball career, Mike said, “I enjoyed playing with my teammates and working hard for my coaches. I would hope that my teammates would remember me as someone who would always do what was best for the team.”
Mike and his wife Linda currently reside in Fremont, Nebraska and have one son, Joey, and three grandchildren.
Please welcome Waterloo great, Mike Cunningham, to the Douglas County West Athletic Hall of Fame.