Induction Ceremony - April 27, 2013

Rebecca Harris | Women's Basketball (2004-2006)

Ranks No. 1 or 2 on Lady Warrior Scoring Charts after scoring 707 points as sophomore. Total and 23.6 ppg average both rated third-best in NJCAA D-I and earned her All-America Honorable Mention status for 19-12 team under Glenn Box in 2005-06. Also averaged 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals.

⭐ Statistics for seven games freshman season not available, but she tallied 498 points in 22 documented outings. Even without those seven games, her 1,205 points trail only the 1,368 of Charter Hall-of-Famer Susie Woodward, and her 22.6 ppg freshman average projected over seven more games would put her very close to the best.

⭐ Well-traveled daughter of military family (Mascoutah H.S.) was go-to player in clutch with outside shooting touch and ability to drive.

⭐ Potent 1-2 punch with 3-point specialist Courtney Magness, Harris scored 30 or more at least 10 times. Included: 33, 33 and 30 in four-game span early and back-to-back-to-back outbursts of 35 (23-24 FT), 35 and 30 late in 2004-05; 32, 33 (four treys) and 30 (13-15 FT in swan song) down the stretch as soph.

⭐ First U. of Illinois Juco recruit in six years played in 30 games as junior, started 25 of 35 games at point as senior. Averaged 10.1 ppg final season en route to Academic All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten Tournament berth with double-double and 15.3 ppg as team reached finals. Career – 8.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 36.9% 3FG (third all-time) and 79.3% FT (sixth-best).

⭐ Assistant Coach at Chipola College (FL).

Craig Sands | Baseball (1987-1989)

Completed all seven starts as freshman Fall 1987 with 6-1 record and never let up during sterling career which brought All-GRAC and All-Region XXIV recognition.

⭐ Set combined Fall-Spring season records as newcomer with 16 wins (16-6, thanks to 10-3 Spring) and 16 complete games (19 starts) in 144 innings pitched. Left with career marks in the same categories – 31 wins (11 losses), 28 CG (37 starts) and 258 IP.

⭐ Coach Paul Evans & Co. claimed league title – 23-8 overall – thanks to 2.83 ERA by 6-foot-5, 220-pound righthander whose decisions included 10-0 win vs. Kaskaskia, a pair of 4-1 verdicts over J.A. Logan and two setbacks in relief.

⭐ Evans called his four-hit, 3-1 10-inning win over Lincoln Land that Spring (unearned run) “probably the best pitched game I’ve seen here.” Effective breaking pitch and ability to throw strikes led to 3.13 ERA for 69-31-1 squad.

⭐ As soph went 9-2 in Fall for 24-8 team, 15-5 overall (62-29) for Coach Jim McGuire.

⭐ Career stats include 45 appearances, 3.66 ERA, a 200:122 strikeout-to-walk ratio and seven shutouts.

⭐ Batterymate first season was Hall-of-Famer Chad Stombaugh (2010).

⭐ Highland product played last two seasons for ex-Warriors Keith Guttin and Pitching Coach Evans at Southwest Missouri State U. His three shutouts in Spring 1990 a record he still shares; 1.60 ERA as junior ranks third-best all-time.

⭐ Returned to RLC as Assistant under McGuire (’91-92) and Rich Campbell (’92-94) for two GRAC runners-up and 1993 Sectional champs.

Brad Weathers | Alumni Coach (1981-Present)

Former Benton Ranger and RLC Warrior coached 32-3 Carlyle Indians to IHSA Class A Basketball State Championship in 1988-89. Also guided teams to five other 20-win seasons, school’s first Regional title in 1985-86 and two others (1987-88 and 1999-2000) during 23-year career which produced 391-288 (.576) record. Led by Fighting Illini signees Phil Kunz and Tom Michael, Indians were 132-23 during five seasons capped by championship run.

⭐ Left coaching after 2003-04 to become Nashville Community H.S. Principal. Returned to bench in 2009 as successor to RLC product Darin Lee, leading Hornets to 86-36 (.705) mark and 2013 Regional title.

⭐ Overall – 477-324 (.596) and 10 league crowns.

⭐ Inducted into McKendree Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and Illinois Basketball Coaches Assn. Hall of Fame in 2005.

⭐ District 19 Class A “Coach of Year” in 1988, IBCA and SICA Class A “Coach of Year” in 1989.

⭐ A Past-President of SICA, he serves on IBCA Board of Directors and IHSA Basketball Advisory Committee.

⭐ Carlyle’s 6-7 Jason Peters came to RLC after earning All-State Tournament during championship season.

⭐ Weathers played for Coach Jim Waugh in 1971-72 (18-11) and 1972-73 (20-6; 7-1 SICC champs). Averaged 4.5 ppg and 4.8 rpg as freshman, 6.4 and 5.5, respectively, as soph, before playing for Bearcats.

⭐ Eight Warrior mates went into coaching, including 2011 RLCF “Alumnus of Year” Ron Smith and GRAC Official Steve Morris.

⭐ Brad and wife Cindi have three children – Lindsay, Patrick and Holly.

NJCAA Division I Men's Cross Country National Championship Team (2006-2007)

Who could have known the 2006 Cross-Country National Championship may have been even more charming than the first three? That is because Title No. 4 came in NJCAA Division I competition . . . the top two divisions melded into one following RLC’s third straight D-II crown in 2003. Against upgraded rivals, Coach Brent McLain’s Warriors had settled for third twice previously.

⭐ A tactical error may have cost frontrunner Elkanah Kibet (Eldoret, Kenya) an individual triumph, but the freshman finished third in 22:44 over the flat, 8K El Paso, TX, course . . . good enough for First-Team All-America honors behind winner and fellow Kenyan Tyson David of Central Arizona (22:36) and Daniel Maina of Cowley County (KS) (22:41).

⭐ Steeve Gabart (Miami Shores, FL) was Second-Team All-America in ninth at 24:07, Cory Currie (Ontario, Canada) was Honorable Mention All-America in 11th at 24:24 and the next two were Coaches Association All-Americans – Kyle Cash (Greenup), 19th in 24:55, and Ahmed Mohamed (Carol Stream), 26th in 25:16. Warrior depth led to 64 points, ahead of Central Arizona at 74 (despite 1-5-6 from top three). Jeremy Whitaker (Granite City) and Trevor Popravak (Ft. Myers, FL) did not figure in scoring in 67th and 77th.

⭐ McLain called it the “sweetest” triumph to date.

⭐ Warriors claimed Region XXIV against three Illinois foes, placing 1-2-3-4 (Kibet-Gabart-Currie-Cash) and 6-7 (Mohamed-Whitaker).

⭐ Earlier, Kibet won Border War Championship over 315 competitors and team was runner-up to Missouri Southern State.

⭐ Kibet returned to finish fifth in the 2007 Cross-Country Nationals; captured NJCAA Championships Indoors (5000M) and Outdoors (10,000M) and was runner-up Indoors twice (Mile and 3000M) as sophomore; All-America in six other career events, and Distinguished Academic All-America (3.92 GPA). Currie (fourth) and Cash (eighth) were Indoor All-America in the 5000M, and Whitaker was two-time All-America as soph (Indoor 4x800M Relay, second, and Outdoor Steeplechase, sixth).

⭐ PICTURED (L-R): McLain, Currie, Assistant Coach Mark McCall, Cash, Andrew Acuna (Indianapolis, IN), Phil Mevert (Steeleville), Popravak, Mohamed, Robert Kapsoiyo (Eldoret, Kenya), Chris Rengifo (Ontario, Canada), Gabart, Kibet, John Kennedy (Pittsboro, IN) and Whitaker. Not shown, Alphonso Shepherd (Dayton, OH), Stephen Williams (Marion) and Ty Williams (Panama City, FL).