Don Wente To Be Inducted Into Quincy University HOF

He then headed to Quincy University on a scholarship and proved what a good basketball player he actually was.

This coming Saturday he will be inducted into the Quincy University Hall of Fame.

Wente and his teammates were a scoring machine. The team ended up becoming the highest scoring team at Quincy and had a 22-8 record his senior season.

"We had a good team that year," said Wente. "I was probably the leading scorer as a senior."

John Ortwerth was the coach that season. His teams the four years Wente was a member went 17-4, 19-10, 14-13 and 22-8.

"In my senior year, I was a team leader in scoring with 19.2 points a game," said Wente. "I was also the leading rebounder with 12.1 a game and finished up being voted the Most Valuable Player by my teammates and coaches for the 1969-70 basketball team.

"At the time of my graduation, I had the most field goals in a game and in a season as well as most points as a senior."

Wente was named to the Peoria Journal Star All-State small college basketball team as well as making the NAIA District 20 Second Team.

"I went to college from 1966 to 1970 and got a degree in Sociology," said Wente. "After that I worked for the state department of corrections for 10 years and then I decided to come back to Effingham and work for Dust & Son Auto Supply. I worked there 37 years."

Wente joinrs four other starters on his team his senior year who have all now been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Wente actually is listed in 37th spot on the Quincy University list of players who have scored 1,000 or more points. He finished with 1.059.

"We averaged 91.2 points per game before the three-point shot," said Wente. "Unfortunately we were knocked out in the NAIA District 20 regional finals by Illinois Wesleyan by three points in triple overtime."

Wente is actually the fourth area men's basketball player to be inducted into the Quincy Hall of Fame. Also entered are Mike Hoene, who graduated from Effingham St. Anthony, and Gene and John Runde, both from Teutopolis.

The ceremony for the Hall of Fame Induction will be Saturday with a brunch starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Hall of Fame roon.

Also entering the Quincy Hall of Fame this year are the 1984-85 women's tennis team, Demetrius Young, 1992 football; Jamie Oitker, 2000 women's basketball; Julie LeMaire, 2004 softball; Kevin Reller, 1990 men's basketball, Shane DeSherlia, 2003 football, William Starkey, 1970 professional achievement and Kevin Steinkamp, meritorious service.