CyberCivics

Nicole Ohlde

• Born: March 13, 1982
• Died:
• Connection to Kansas: Born in Clay Center

Achievement:

Nicole Ohlde was one of the most decorated players ever produced in Kansas as she was a three-time All-State and a high school All-American. She then starred at Kansas State University where she was a four-time All-Conference selection, Big XII Conference Freshman of the Year, two-time Big XII Conference Player of the Year, 2004 Big XII Conference Female Athlete of the Year, two-time All-American, and a finalist for the Wade Trophy, the Naismith Player of the Year, and the Senior CLASS Award. She set six K-State records including finishing her career with the most points (2161), rebounds (970), and blocked shots (201) in school history, and had her #3 jersey retired. She was drafted in the first round of the 2004 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft by the Minnesota Lynx and played seven seasons with the Lynx, Phoenix Mercury, and Tulsa Shock. She is a member of the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Ruth Riley

• Born: August 28, 1979
• Died:
• Connection to Kansas: Born in Ransom

Achievement:

Ruth Riley was a very accomplished player while she attended the University of Notre Dame and led Notre Dame to a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I national championship in 2001. She was a two-time All-American, three-time All-Conference selection, three-time Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Big East Conference Player of the Year, NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, and Naismith Player of the Year. She was drafted in the first round of the 2001 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft by the Miami Sol and played 14 seasons with the Sol, Detroit Shock, San Antonio Silver Stars, Chicago Sky, and Atlanta Dream. She was named a WNBA All-Star, helped lead the Shock to two WNBA championships, and was named WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player.

See also under Olympic Athletes.

Ernest Schmidt

• Born: February 12, 1911
• Died: September 6, 1986
• Connection to Kansas: Born in Nashville

Achievement:

Nicknamed "One-Grand," because he scored exactly 1,000 points playing at Pittsburg State University, Ernest Schmidt was a four-time All-Conference player for the Gorillas and also named an All-American. He helped lead Pittsburg State to a 47-game winning streak and four straight conference titles in the 1930s and stood as the longest winning streak by a team until 1956. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Pittsburg State Athletic Hall of Fame and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Wayne Simien

• Born: March 9, 1983
• Died:
• Connection to Kansas: Born in Leavenworth

Achievement:

Wayne Simien was a talented high school athlete who earned All-State honors, was named Mr. Kansas Basketball and Kansas Player of the Year, and was also a high school All-American. He went on to play at the University of Kansas where he was a two-time All-Conference selection, the 2005 Big XII Conference Player of the Year, a two-time All-American, a finalist for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Player of the Year Award, and winner of the Lowes Senior CLASS Award. KU retired his #23 jersey. He was drafted in the first round of the 2005 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft by the Miami Heat and played three seasons with the Heat where he won an NBA Championship. He is a member of the KU Athletics Hall of Fame and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Jackie Stiles

• Born: December 21, 1978
• Died:
• Connection to Kansas: Born in Kansas City, raised in Claflin

Achievement:

Jackie Stiles was one of the greatest basketball players in Kansas high school history. She was a high school All-American and holds the Kansas record, male or female, for most points scored in a game (71), most points scored in a season (1,252) and most points scored in a career (3,603). She didn't stop at high school though. She played at Missouri State University where she was a three-time All-American and set the National Collegiate Athletic Associaion (NCAA) Division I record for points in a season (1,062) and points in a career (3,393) and is second in career points in women's Division I basketball history behind Lynette Woodard. Her #10 jersey was retired by Missouri State. She was drafted in the first round of the 2001 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft by the Portland Fire and played in the WNBA from 2001 to 2002 with the Fire and Los Angeles Sparks before injuries forced her to retire. She was the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2001. She is a member of the Missouri State Athletics Hall of Fame, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Darnell Valentine

• Born: February 3, 1959
• Died:
• Connection to Kansas: Graduated high school in Wichita

Achievement:

Darnell Valentine was an All-State player on one of the best high school teams in Kansas history that resulted in a state championship and being named a high school All-American. He went on to play at the University of Kansas where he was a four-time All-Conference selection, an All-American, a three-time Academic All-American and selected to play on the 1980 U.S. Olympic basketball team. He finished his career as KU's second all-time leading scorer and had is #14 jersey retired. He was selected in the first round of the 1981 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and played 10 seasons with the Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers. He is a member of the KU Athletics Hall of Fame and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Kendra Wecker

• Born: December 16, 1982
• Died:
• Connection to Kansas:Born in Marysville

Achievement:

Kendra Wecker was an outstanding athlete in high school as was All-State in three different sports, set a national high school record in the javelin throw, and was a high school All-American in basketball. She had a prolific career at Kansas State University where she was a three-time All-Conference selection, 2005 Big XII Conference Player of the Year, two-time All-American, three-time Naismith Player of the Year finalist, two-time Wade Trophy and Wooden Award finalist, and name the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winner. She finished her career as K-State's all-time leading scorer (2,333) and rebounder (1,087). Her #53 jersey was retired. She was drafted in the first round of the 2005 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft by the San Antonio Silver Stars and played four seasons with the Silver Stars and Washington Mystics. She is a member of the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Lisa Carey

• Born: February 26, 1978
• Died:
• Connection to Kansas: Born in Topeka

Achievement:

Lisa Carey was a four-time all-city player and a high school All-American who went on to star as a shortstop/first baseman at the University of Oklahoma. At Oklahoma she was a three-time All-Conference selection, a three-time All-American, was the 2000 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year and help lead the Sooners to a conference championship and the 2000 national championship. She is a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.