By Coach Aaron Rios
2022-2023 was the season of “DAWGS vs. EVERYBODY” or the team motto DVE! This year’s team achieved a school record for wins and losses and ended the season 27-6. The team was 8-0 in the NTC and were both back-to-back conference champs and regional champs. They played in the program’s 7th sectional in school history.
Throughout the season, the Lady Bulldogs were ranked top 10 in the state consistently, and in the last month of the season, the team was ranked the top 5 in the state. During the season, the team beat #3 ranked Tuscola who was 29-0 at the time the Lady Bulldogs faced off at the Enlow center. The Lady Bulldogs also beat class 2A ranked Pana, Robinson, and also top 10 state-ranked Neoga. This is the first time in school history that the Bulldogs were state ranked in the top 10 consistently all season.
The Lady Bulldogs, over the last two years, are 50-16 and have made history in back-to-back years in wins and in playing in a Sectional final. This year’s MVP is Lucy Fearday. Lucy averaged 18.8 points per game and 9.2 rebounds and was first team all National Trail Conference two years in a row. Lucy was all NTC the four years she played in the program. She broke the girls all team scoring record totaling 1,634 points for her career and 781 rebounds. Lucy passed the previous record holder Jaclyn Jansen by 181 total points. The record was held by Jansen for 15 years. Lucy was only 29 points away from breaking the overall school scoring record held by Mike Wente. Which dates back 53 years ago in Bulldog basketball history. Lucy will go down as arguably the best Lady Bulldog in history to step in between the four lines and compete at the highest level. Lucy “The Beast” Fearday will be sorely missed and we wish her the best of luck at the next level she competes at.
Our defensive player of the year was Stacie Vonderheide. Stacie improved tremendously year over year. Stacie averaged 13 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 4.8 assists per game and 3.8 steals. Stacie was our floor general at the point guard position. Stacie was a nightmare for our opposing teams’ guards that she faced. Stacie was voted as a National Trail Conference all-conference player this year. Stacie will return to the Sisterhood next season with a lot of success coming. We look forward to having Stacie V back in 23.
The Sisterhood’s most improved player of the year was Senior Anna Faber. Faber Fabe stepped up her game on the floor but more importantly her overall leadership of the team. During the season Anna averaged 10 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 4 assists per game and 2.4 steals per game. Anna was a big part of the team’s overall success. Anna was voted as an all National Trail Conference all-conference player this season. Anna will be sorely missed as well next season. We wish Faber Fabe the best as she heads to Kankakee Community College on a Softball scholarship. Go Cavaliers!
The team’s newcomer of the year award goes to Freshman Nancy Ruholl. Although she was a freshman in class rank she played like a seasoned veteran throughout the year. Nancy averaged 14.3 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game, 2.5 steals per game and led the team shooting 73% from the free throw line. Nancy broke the freshman scoring record this season. Nancy was also selected in the top 12 players in the National Trail All-Conference team on the second team. The future is bright for Nancy and we are looking forward to seeing Nancy succeed as she continues on in the Sisterhood program.
This year’s Leadership award goes to Senior Riley Willenborg. Also known as “W’s.” It was a joy to have W’s on the team this year after taking a few years off from playing basketball. Riley did an excellent job being positive and leading our teams on the bench and in the locker room or in practice. Riley always knew how to pick someone up on the team when they were down and always found a way to put a smile on someone’s face. Riley will be greatly missed next year and we wish her all of the best of luck at Ole Miss University as she pursues a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Comedic Arts.
Adysen Rios was awarded the hustle award this year. Adysen averaged 3 steals per game during the season and played an integral role in the team’s success. Adysen showed great hustle and competitive spirit throughout the entire season and guarded some of our toughest opponents’ players. Adysen was always diving on the floor for loose balls and willing to do the dirty work against our opposing teams. We look forward to the success that Adysen will bring to the team next season.
Returning to the Lady Bulldogs “Sisterhood” we have a lot of talent coming back next season. Addi Nuxoll “Nux” was a team starter for most of the season and was a big contributor to the team’s success. Kallie Kabbes “KK” played big moments for the team and will be back competing for success next season. Katie Kollman joined the team as a sophomore and will return for her junior year. Last, but not least, from the post player position, the team returns Maddie “Maddog” Kibler who missed most of the season with a knee injury. The team is excited to have Maddie back and healthy in November of next year.
At the guard spot, we have Ava Faber who is “Lil Faber fabe” coming back as a Junior and veteran in our program’s system, in addition to Freshmen guards Lily Gannaway who played in key moments at the varsity level this season, and Mady Hoge who had a successful freshman season.
Thank you for all the support from our parents, administrators, our fans, and our community for getting behind all of these awesome girls and sharing all of the success the team has had this season. The team would like to give a special thank you to Hall of Famer scorekeeper William Farrey and for his mentee Coach Sandra Faber. Thank you to Coach Stacey Rios and Coach Ashley Dryden. You two were awesome to partner with and two of the best coaches I have had a chance to work with in my coaching career. That concludes the year of DVE 2023! We can’t wait for the summer to start and for the ball to get tipped up in November for the 2023-2024 season! Go Sisterhood! Go Dawgs! DVE on 3!
