By Rapid City Central High School 

Central High School Activities Director, Jordan Bauer is excited to announce the third class of the Rapid City Central Athletic Hall of Fame. “Central has great tradition with several outstanding former student-athletes, coaches, teams, and contributors. The Cobbler Athletic Hall of Fame is a great way to recognize these amazing Cobblers”. Central High School will induct the Class of 2024 into the Athletic Hall of Fame before the Rapid City Central and O’Gorman boys’ basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 scheduled to tip off at 2 pm. Inductees will include Mel Minton, Megan Trotter, and Adam Vinatieri.

Mel Minton taught biology at Rapid City Central from 1952 to 1973 and coached at Central from 1963-1973. Coach Minton won state track championships in 1964 (the first in school history), 1965 and 1966. He also coached the cross-country team to the first school championship in 1964. Coach Minton also started the “R’ club at RC Central and was a scorekeeper for basketball and wrestling. Coach Minton was named the SD Sportswriter track coach of the year in 1965, the 1973 District 7 track coach of the year, and received the SDHSAA Distinguished Service Award in 1985. Coach Minton has been inducted into the South Dakota High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Howard Wood/Dakota Relays Hall of Fame, and South Dakota Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame. 

Megan Trotter graduated from Rapid City Central in 2003. While at Rapid City Central High School, Megan was a standout athlete in track. At Central, Megan won 13 state track championships, 3 time state champion in the 100, 3-time champion in the 200, 3 time 800 meter relay, 4 time 400 meter relay champion. 11 of these championships were gold medals, this means that it was the fastest time amongst all classes. Megan’s accomplishments in her career also include: a 5 Year Varsity Letter Winner, Class AA State Meet Most Outstanding Female Athlete: 2002, 2003, 3 Time Howard Wood Dakota Relays 100 M Dash Champion: 2000, 2001, 2002, Howard Wood Dakota Relays “Special Event” 200 M Dash Champion: 2003, Top Cobbler Female Athlete (2000, 2002, 2003), Will Robinson Outstanding Female Athlete (2001, 2002, 2003), Rapid City Journal’s Top 10 Greatest Cobbler Athletic Figures of All Time (2014). Megan is still considered one of the greatest Sprinters in South Dakota History and is amongst the most decorated South Dakota athletes of all time.

Adam Vinatieri graduated from Rapid City Central in 1991. Adam was a letter winner in football, basketball, wrestling, soccer while at RC Central. He played college football at SDSU where he set records for career field goals made, extra points made, points by a kicker and longest field goal. After college Adam played in the NFL for the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. While in the NFL Adam put together an unmeasurable list of Accolades. Some of those accolades include: 4 time Super Bowl champion, 3 time First-team All-Pro, 3 time Pro Bowl, NFL scoring leader (2004), NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team. Alongside those accolades he holds numerous NFL records: Most career points scored: 2,673, Most consecutive field goals made: 44, Most combined regular season and postseason games played: 397, Most career field goals made: 599, Most seasons with 100+ points: 21, Most career overtime field goals: 11, Most field goals made in a postseason: 14. Adam is considered one of, if not the greatest kicker in NFL history.