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Former Sioux Falls Storm players Nate Fluit, Parker Douglass highlight 2022 IFL Hall of Fame nominees

matt zimmer, sioux falls argus leader
·2 min read
Parker Douglass kicks a field goal in a game at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.
Parker Douglass kicks a field goal in a game at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

Four players with ties to the Sioux Falls Storm are among the nominees for the 2022 class of the Indoor Football League Hall of Fame, including former Augustana defensive lineman Nate Fluit and former South Dakota State kicker Parker Douglass.

Douglass is the IFL's all-time leader in points (896), field goals (104) and extra points (584), as he won six championship rings with the Storm in a career that ran from 2009-2021. He was a two-time All-IFL pick, made over 90 percent of his PATs and 55.3 percent of field goals, an impressive number given the narrow goalposts of the indoor game and that punting is not allowed, forcing teams to attempt field goals on 4th and longs no matter the distance.

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Fluit was one of the Storm's first defensive stars, winning two championships in a five-year career from 2003-2007. He was a five-time all-league pick and ranks second in franchise history with 62.5 sacks and blocked kicks with 23.

Also nominated for the hall are wide receiver Carl Sims and defensive lineman Mike Bazemore, both of whom are key figures in Storm history.

Carl Sims died in 2017 at the age of 31. He helped the Storm to IFL championships in 2011 and 2012.
Carl Sims died in 2017 at the age of 31. He helped the Storm to IFL championships in 2011 and 2012.

Sims, who died in 2017, was one of the IFL's most decorated wideouts, playing for a number of teams, including the Storm. He caught 307 passes in his career for over 5,000 yards and 112 touchdowns. A two-time All-IFL first team pick, Sims' 112 touchdown catches are third most in IFL history.

Bazemore began his career with Billings and later came to Sioux Falls, winning three straight IFL titles from 2009-2011, the latter with the Storm. He notched 163 tackles, 24 sacks and was a three-time All-IFL pick. A Michigan State alum, Bazemore interned with USF athletics while playing for the Storm, and is now the athletic director at Montana State University-Billings.

Other nominees for the IFL 2022 class are Iowa wide receiver Brady Roland, defensive back Michael Eby, coach Adam Shackleford (Tri-City, Spokane), former Nebraska Danger owner Charlie Bosselman, Tri-City quarterback Houston Lillard and Willie Copeland, who was a star quarterback for Green Bay, Cedar Rapids and Colorado.

Fans can vote for the IFL Hall of Fame by visiting goifl.com.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Nate Fluit, Parker Douglass highlight 2022 IFL Hall of Fame nominees