2009 Mystery Torchlighter

Cory Schlesinger

Duncan native and 12-year NFL veteran Cory Schlesinger opened the 25th Cornhusker State Games Friday as the Opening Ceremonies Mystery Torchlighter.  The Ceremonies mark the beginning of competition in 63 sports for some 13,000 Nebraskans.

Schlesinger competed in the first Cornhusker State Games in 1985 as a wrestler and went on to a stellar football career with the University of Nebraska, scoring two 4th-quarter touchdowns in the Huskers’ memorable 24-17 Orange Bowl win over the University of Miami, capping a perfect 13-0 season in 1994.  The win secured the Huskers’ first national championship under coach Tom Osborne.

At Columbus High School he won two State Wrestling Championships in the 189-pound division and rushed for 1,543 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior running back.  He was Husker football’s Lifter of the Year as a junior in 1993.

His professional football accolades include 11 seasons with the Detroit Lions, where he ranks 5th all-time in games played (181) and first in destroyed facemasks (200).  His tough play as a fullback earned him a spot on the 1999 all-Madden Team, the 2001 Howie Long Tough Guy Team and the Detroit Lions 75-Year Anniversary Team.

Schlesinger currently resides in Dearborn, Mich. and teaches computer-aided design and drafting at Allen Park High School, where he also serves as the strength and conditioning coach for all athletic teams.  He and his wife Karen have two daughters, Natalie, 11, and Kate, 9.

Schlesinger’s caldron-lighting capped ceremonies featuring skydivers, fireworks, a parade of athletes and a free-style motocross exhibition at Seacrest Field in Lincoln.  Competitions take place over the next two weeks at more than 70 different venues.  Results and highlights are available at CornhuskerStateGames.com.

Past Mystery Torchlighters

1985--Jim Hartung
1986--Julie Vollertsen
1987--Diane Beideck & Tom Haase
1988--Scott Johnson
1989--Bob Boozer & Kelly Vejraska
1990--Tom Rathman
1991--Todd Eisner & Rich King
1992--Kim Odin
1993--Karen Jennings
1994--Dennis Harrison
1995--Allison Weston
1996--Angie Henry & Terri Steer
1997--Jeremy Sonnenfeld
1998--Erick Strickland
1999--Jay Novacek
2000--Heather Brink
2001--Kim Behrands & Angie Oxley
2002--Jeff Leise
2003--Rulon Gardner
2004--Russ Hochstein
2005--Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Dorn, Andy Gerch
2006--Curt Tomasevicz
2007--Jordan Larson and Sarah Pavan
2008--Eric Piatkowski