Lady Shoes Receive Warm Welcome Home

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Published on February 28 2016 2:53 pm
Last Updated on February 28 2016 2:53 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

A good crowd turned out Sunday afternoon for the Welcome Home to honor the Class 2A State Runner-Up Teutopolis Lady Shoes.

Teutopolis finished 29-7 on the season and second in the state in Class 2A following a Saturday night 53-44 loss to Byron.

A reception took place in J.H. Griffin Gym at Teutopolis High School following a fire truck ride through the village.

Teutopolis Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Andy Johnson served as Master of Ceremonies. The main speaker was Lady Shoes Coach Laurie Thompson.

Coach Thompson spoke of her team as being "a class act" and had a good team chemistry that paid off in the postseason. She said the squad was good at taking things away from a loss and turning it into something positive. She also spoke of her three seniors on the team, Anna Hartke, Molly Smith and Danielle Repking, noting that Hartke set a state tournament record Saturday for most rebounds in a game with 19. The previous record was 14.

(THE THREE LADY SHOES SENIORS...MOLLY SMITH, DANIELLE REPKING AND ANNA HARTKE)

Other speakers included Father Ken, Superintendent Bill Fritcher, school board representative Chad Hewing, Village Board President Greg Hess, Brian Hardiek for the Teutopolis Sportsbackers, boys varsity basketball coach Jason Hanson, Beth Hartke who offered the parents' response, and Anna Hartke flanked by the other two seniors with the players' response.

(THE POSTSEASON HARDWARE AMASSED BY THE 2015-16 TEUTOPOLIS LADY SHOES)

Mention was made during the ceremony that this year's squad presented Thompson with her 250th career victory, and Fritcher noted Johnson's recent award as Illinois State Assistant Principal of the Year.