Dream Team: Schlegel returns to nab top honor

WAPAKONETA — There was a time, not too long ago, when simply playing basketball was an iffy proposition for Heidi Schlegel. She was laid up in a hospital bed the summer before her sophomore year at Wapakoneta after undergoing surgery on a torn ACL.

“That day in the hospital was ridiculous,” Schlegel said. “I was like, ‘There’s no way. My dream has always been to play in college. There’s no way.’”

It wasn’t easy, as anyone who has rehabbed from major knee surgery can attest, but Schlegel — who was picked as the Lima News Dream Team girls player of the year — came back in a big way.

Next year, she will suit up for Youngstown State University, fulfilling her dream.

“A lot. My rehabilitation was long. I came back in 3 1/2 months, but I give that all to my (physical therapy) work. Sandy Huffman, she worked me hard, three days a week,” Schlegel said. “It was a lot of hard work. I complained, but she got me to do it.”

As a junior, she played a major role in helping the Redskins to a Division II state runner-up finish last year.

The team slipped a bit during her senior campaign, but she was still satisfied with the results. Individually, she averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds; she shot 55 percent from the field (111-of-203).

“We did a lot better than what a lot of people expect us to do,” Schlegel said.

Schlegel is the second straight Wapakoneta player to earn Dream Team player of the year honors, following Devon Golden, who averaged six points and four rebounds while playing 15 minutes per game as a freshman for Georgetown College in Kentucky.

“Devon taught me a lot through the three years I had with her. We’ve been best friends since we were little,” Schlegel said. “She taught me so much leadership.”

Joining Schlegel on the first team are Zefiryn Bryan (Delphos St. John’s), Kiaira Crockett (Lima Senior), Tasha Kaufman (Ottoville), Kristin Klausing (Delphos Jefferson), Samantha Robison and Kieona Foster (Shawnee), Stephanie Recker (Pandora-Gilboa), Emily Ruhe (Bath), Jo Thompson (Crestview) and Cenzie Yoder (Celina).

The coach of the year was Ottoville’s Dave Kleman, who led the Big Green to an undefeated regular season, a Division IV district title and the Associated Press poll title.