The 1994 North Fayette Hawks girls’ basketball team became the first team in school history to qualify for the State Basketball Tournament. Members of the team, which qualified 25 years ago, included (front, l-r) cheerleaders Nicki White, Kara Burkhart, Carla Shippy, Stephanie Martin, Rochelle Fleshner, Chrissy Lewis; (middle) Heather Hemesath, Wendy Einck, Stacie Schroeder, Laurie Soppe, Jenni Brekke, Diane Schmitt, Meleena Henderson; (back) Kris Scott, Nancy Riley, Susan Miller, Brandi Woodson, Dawn Bushkofsky, Danielle Orr, Jenny Haupt, Stephanie Eberhard, and Cheryl Gade. (submitted photo)
A look back at the '94 NF girls' basketball team
Zakary Kriener
News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com
March 9, 1994, will go down as one of the most famous dates in North Fayette High School athletics history.
The date marked the school’s first and only Girls’ State Basketball appearance as the team capped a 17-6 season with an appearance at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines.
“It was a game that no one expected us to win,” said the team’s head coach Cheryl Gade 25 years later, referring to her team’s 38-31 win over Mason City Newman to advance to State. “The game was played at Charles City and it was a super intense atmosphere. In fact, I just watched a replay of the game last night.”