26 Continuing the proud tradition of Richwoods Knights... Congratulations to HEATHER CASSADY 1974, 1975 & 1976 Boys Basketball Teams 2012 INDUCTEES into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame and to BREIMIMA DETRA 2012 Female Tri-County Athlete of the Year from the Girls Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Girls Track and Richwoods Athletic Department Photos courtesy of Julie Hammond
nil iii-iiisft ifnuns it tii tin BRENNA DETRA 2012 Tri-County Female Athlete of the Year Richwoods High School tri-sport standout Brenna Detra was an all-mid- State 6 Conference selection in volleyball, basketball and track and field. A junior last spring, she qualified for the IHSA Class 2A state meet in the 200-meters, 400-meters, 100-meter hurdles and long jump with area wide season-bests in each event.
BASKETBALL HEATHER CASSADY Heather Cassady was a fierce competitor on the hardwood floor. Heather was certainly blessed with athletic ability, but always worked harder to be the best player on the floor. She had a standout career at Dunlap High School and Indiana University. INDUCTEE- Heather was a three-time Peoria Journal Star class A basketball player of the year, and runner-up for Ms. Basketball in 1998. While at Dunlap she scored 1,945 points in her career with 927 assists (second in the state all-time) and 525 steals (top 10 all-time) and helped the Dunlap Eagles to their first state basketball tournament appearance in school history in 1996, when they finished in fourth place. Heather earned a basketball scholarship to University of Indiana where she went on to star. At Indiana Heather finished with 1,301 points and 411 assists. In 2002, she led Indiana to the Big Ten tournament championship and was named MVP of the tournament. She also was named to the Academic-Big Ten three times, and two time second team All-Big Ten. Heather was twice named the Tri-County Female Athlete of the year, in 1996 while a sophomore at Dunlap, and in 2002 while a senior at Indiana. She went on to play professionally in Greece. When she returned to the United States she served as an assistant coach for four years at Indiana State. The Sycamores won a Missouri Valley Conference title during her tenure. She also taught at Southern Illinois, worked in marking, and coached at a high school in the St Louis area, before returning to Peoria in the fall of 2011. In April 2012, Heather was inducted to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame as an athlete. Today Heather is the head coach at Richwoods High school.
1973-74 RICHWOODS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM Front Row, left to right: G. Schwab, Manager, K. Westervelt, G. St. Julian, K. Krick, S. Mach, G. Moreland, D. Loyd. Back Row, left to right: Coach Hammerton, M. Nelson, C Williams, D. Holcolm, R. Bailey, M. Grimm, S. Miller, P. Addy, Manager. The 73-74 Knights had the right combination of muscle, speed, skill, and determination. With a starting lineup of seniors Ray Bailey, Dave Krick, Dave Loyd, junior Chris Williams, and sophomore Dereck Holcolm, this team was programmed to win. The amazing point potential of Williams, along with the strength of the other players, shot the Knights almost immediately to an all-time high state ranking, and a well deserved MS-9 championship. With all starters carrying a double-figured game point average, a "close" game was a rare sight for the Knights. The newspaper raves came in from all around, including a complimentary write-up in the Chicago Tribune. The Knights won the Pekin Holiday Tournament hands down, then went on to win the Mid-State 9 conference title. They captured the regional championship by defeating the Galesburg Silver Streaks. The Knights won their first game in the sectionals, before losing to Peoria Central in a disappointing double overtime defeat. The Knights finished the season with a 27-2 record.
1974-75 RICHWOODS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM Left to right: Coach Hammerton, K. Sims, J. Hohstadt, J. Grigsby, K. Westervelt, A. Cornelius, M. Smith, D. Marr, D. Holcomb, C. Williams, S. Miller, G. St. Julian, D. Stein, J. Dixon, K. Kowalis, Assistant Coaches Eisele and Snarr. JEWELL INDUCTEE- The Knights looked promising with four-returning lettermen. They remained undefeated through every MS-9 bout including a sellout game with Peoria High. The Knights only fell once to upstate Thornton, to take second in the Pekin Holiday Tournament. The perfect conference record got Richwoods its second consecutive crown. It was only the second time in conference history that a perfect record had been accomplished. The Knights were led by Chris Williams with 801 points that season which was a school record. Other players that performed outstanding that year were Kevin Westervelt, all-conference guard; Derek Holcomb, a defensive specialist and all-conference center; and Jim Hohstadt, conference leader in free-throw shooting. The Ricwoods Regional proved to be two of the best games they played all year. They set a school scoring record with 121 points in defeating Canton. In the title game they defeated Galesburg and won a chance to meet arch rival Peoria High in the Sectional. The Knights were able to avenge their loss from last year and beat Peoria High and advance to the Super Sectional, where they defeated North Central Sterling Warriors. The Knights found themselves in the Elite Eight for the first time. They won their first game at state then dropped the last two to finish fourth in the state. The Knights finished with a 30-3 record and 16-0 in conference play.
1975-76 RICHWOODS BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM Front Row, left to right: R. Rice, manager, J. Grigsby, J. Hohstadt, R Myers, R. Brandt, L. Biederbeck, F. Dothard Back Row, left to right: Coach W. Hammerton, A. Cornelius, D. Stein, M. Smith, D. Holcomb, D. Marr, H. Burnside, Coach Snarr, Coach Eisele. INDUCTEE This Richwoods team had one of their finest seasons ever as they finished the season with 26 wins and only a single loss. The Knights won the conference for the 3rd consecutive year and also had their second straight undefeated conference season. The team ended their regular season schedule with a perfect 25-0 record and a No. 1 ranking in the state. The season started by winning the Round Robin tournament for a 6th consecutive year. The team also won the Pekin Holiday Tournament and Holcomb, Hohstadt, and Smith made the tournament team. In the regionals the Knights beat Canton in the first game, but suffered their only loss to Galesburg in overtime. The team still set the record of the best winning percentage in Richwoods history (.963). Derek Holcomb made All-State team and second team All-America as well as All Conference, Mark Smith made special mention All-State as well as All-Conference, Jim Hohstadt made honorable mention All-State as well as special mention All-Conference, Fred Dothard led the conference free throw percentage (.844) and along with Alen Cornelious made honorable mention All- Conference. Richwoods had an 83-6 overall record over three seasons and a 47-1 conference record. This was the best three-year record by any team in the state over this period.