High School
Winkler was one of the most successful pitchers in Nebraska, playing at Elkhorn High School and Elkhorn Legion Post 211 from 1991-1995. Winkler led his Legion teams to a Junior State Championship in 1993 and a Senior State Championship in 1995. In 1993, he posted an 11-0 record with a 1.19 ERA while averaging more than 1.5 strikeouts per inning. In 1995, he amassed a 13-1 record and was an undefeated 5-0 in the post-season, shutting out Lincoln Pius X in the state championship game, and defeating Class A runner-up Papillion-Lavista in the regional playoff game – pitching all nine innings in a 3-2 win.
Baseball Achievements
Elkhorn High School
- First Team Honors Class A 1994 – 1995
- Named 1995 Omaha World-Herald All-State selection
- Selected as an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Star
- Chosen as All-Star Game Starting Pitcher, delivering three hitless innings
Elkhorn Legion Post 211
- Earned Cornhusker Conference All-Star honors
Academic Achievements
University of Nebraska–Omaha
- Bachelor of Science in Aviation Science
University of Nebraska College of Law
- Juris Doctor
- President, Equal Justice Society
- Law School Badminton Champion — three consecutive years
Winkler was born in Elkhorn to Don Winkler and Susie Sip who both spent countless hours at ballfields watching their son. Steve lives in Saint Peter with his wife, a professor at Gustavus Adolphus College, and his two children Vivian (12) and Bennet (10). When not running and coaching his daughter’s softball team, Winkler plays baseball for the Saint Peter Over-35-year-old baseball team. The Saints were 2025 State Champions – 30 years after Winkler’s last state championship in 1995. Winkler was 2-0 in the tournament, throwing two complete games.
Winkler’s career as a pitcher has taught him how to work within a team, and provided an early taste of the pressures and satisfaction derived in getting to step-up for those around you.
A favorite quote from Coach Frerichs was that while we were too young to understand at the time, we would come to learn that one of life’s purest pleasures was running under and catching a fly ball. I’m pleased to be able to reflect back on those words, and appreciate the rightness of them.
