Heath McKim
Heath McKim - Valley High School – Class of 2000
Athletic Hall of Fame Induction 2017
Heath McKim is clearly the most highly decorated high school wrestler to ever walk the halls of Valley, Waterloo, or Douglas County West High Schools. He started his assault on the Valley record books during his freshman campaign in 1996. His wrestling career took him all the way to the US Air Force Academy where he posted over 100 varsity wins, qualified twice for the US Division I National Collegiate Tournament, became the 2003 Western Regionals Champion, and was named the most valuable wrestler for the US Air Force Academy following his senior season. Unfortunately, Heath’s college career ended earlier than expected due to a serious knee injury half way through his senior campaign. Heath reflected, “ I was ranked 7th in the country entering the Las Vegas Invitational. When I felt my knee pop, I knew my wrestling career was over.”
Heath was a 3-time Nebraska High School State Wrestling Champion and 1-time runner up for Valley High School from 1997-2000. He ended his high school career with a record of 139-4. He was a 3-time all-state wrestling selection, holds the Valley school record for wins, takedowns, and points, and won the Nebraska State Wrestling Coaches Association “Guy Mytty” Award as the state’s most outstanding wrestler in 2000. Other high school wrestling accomplishments include being a member of multiple all-star teams such as the Nebraska USA Junior Duals and National Teams. Additionally, he won eight different USA regional tournaments in freestyle and Greco-Roman at Western Nationals, Northern Plains Regionals, Rocky Mountain Regionals and the Southern Plains Regional Championships. Former Valley High School wrestling coach Nick Modrcin stated, “Heath was everything a coach would want in an athlete. He was smart, competitive, tough, coachable, and a tremendous leader. He was truly the epitome of what a student athlete should be!”
Heath graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in social science and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force. He still serves in active duty today as a Major at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Since his wrestling career ended, he has had opportunities to further his education, earning a Master’s Degree in education and completing Air Command and Staff College. Heath was proudly deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OPERATION EDURING FREEDOM, and OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE; however, he considers his greatest accomplishment as being married to his amazing wife Katie and raising two children; daughter Baili, and son Beau. In 2016, Heath was inducted into the Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately, due to his recent station move to the Pentagon in Washington DC, Heath is unable to be here to accept this Hall of Fame award. Accepting in Heath’s honor tonight are his father, Aaron and brother Kellen. Please welcome HEATH MCKIM to the Douglas County West Hall of Fame!