TriCounty Tammy Van Oppen, voted the Tri-County Female Athlete of the Year, had a Bradley basketball career that will be surpassed only with great difficulty. "She leaves the Hilltop," says the 1997-98 Bradley women's basketball press guide, "as arguably the best all-around player in the history of the program."
The 6-foot-1 former Limestone High School standout (she was named Tri-County Female Athlete of the Year in 1992) forged a truly dream career:
She was selected to the 1996-97 All-Missouri Valley Conference defensive team and all-conference tournament team. She was Bradley Athlete of the Year. She recorded the first "triple double" in the history of the women's or men's basketball program.
She also led Bradley in scoring and rebounding in her two varsity seasons (she started her career at South Florida) and also led the Lady Braves in assists and steals in her senior year. She was an NCAA Woman of the Year Award nominee.
At Limestone she was voted Illinois Miss Basketball when she led Limestone to a 32-1 record and second place in the state.
| MIKE MCCOY The selection of Sheriff Mike McCoy as our Neve Harms Award winner this year was a natural. The Neve Harms Award is given each year to the person who makes significant contributions to the youth of the greater Peoria area. We've all heard and read about the run from Peoria to Memphis for St. Jude each August. Mike McCoy founded the St. Jude Run in 1982, and the children of St. Jude and their parents are well aware of this charity. This event has raised over $15.6 million dollars for St. Jude since its inception. |  |