Wikipedia

Jaime Walz Richey

Jaime Walz Richey (born 1977 or 1978) is the girls basketball coach at Fort Thomas Highlands High School since 2003. As a player at Fort Thomas, Jaime Walz reached the final of the Sweet Sixteen during 1994. She was the Kentucky Miss Basketball and won a Gatorade Player of the Year during 1996. With her 4948 points, she held the KHSAA record in girls basketball from 1996 to 2016. During 2023, she remained in first for the KHSAA with 539 three-pointers and 1354 assists.

At Western Kentucky University, Walz played in the second round during the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament during 1998 and 2000. She had the most assists in two seasons, most steals for one season, and scored 1044 points overall while at the university. At Highlands, Walz started out as an assistant coach during the early 2000s. As their coach, she reached 400 victories in 2022. In other positions, Walz Richey has worked in business as a teacher and chair for the school. She was selected for the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Early life and education

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Childhood and high school

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Walz grew up in Fort Thomas, Kentucky with three siblings after her birth during the late 1970s.[1] During her childhood, she played baseball and basketball with boys.[2] In 1990, Walz competed at the Elks National Hoop Shoot Finals.[3] During the 14U Championship in the AAU, Walz was an All-American with Cincinnati AAU.[4][5] Additional All-America selections were in the 16U event with Northern Kentucky Hustle during 1994 and the 18U event with Team Kentucky the following year.[6][7]

During grade seven, Walz joined the basketball team at Fort Thomas Highlands High School.[8] At the Sweet Sixteen, Walz's basketball team reached the final during 1994.[9] Her 121 points during that year's tournament remained as a KHSAA record during 2023.[10] She was also named All-Tournament between 1994 and 1996.[11] During 1996, she played in the WBCA High School All-America Game.[12] That year, she took a break from basketball by skipping the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star tournament.[13]

When "totals in eight high school semesters" were accepted by the National Federation of State High School Associations during December 1995, points made by Walz before ninth grade were made ineligible by the KHSAA.[14] The following month, these 1078 points became eligible by the KHSAA.[15] In 1996, she became first for most girls basketball points in Kentucky.[16] With 4948 points at Highlands, Walz held the KHSAA career record until it was surpassed in 2016.[17]

In other career statistics for the KHSAA, Walz's record of 1004 steals was broken by 2012. Her 539 three-pointers and 1354 assists remained in first during 2023.[18] For her NFHS career statistics, Walz was in the top ten with 996 assists during 2014 and 453 three-pointers during 2023.[19][20] In 2020, she was in the top twenty with 3872 points.[21] Outside of basketball, Walz was on the volleyball and softball teams while attending Highlands.[22]

College

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In 1996, Walz joined the basketball team at Western Kentucky University.[23] At the 1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, she played in the second round.[24][25] She injured her anterior cruciate ligament in January 1999 and stopped playing the following month.[26] Following surgery and therapy, Walz went back on the team in October 1999.[27] They competed in the second round of the 2000 NCAA Division I tournament.[28][29]

While at Western Kentucky, Walz held the season record for assists twice and steals once.[30] After leaving the school in 2000, Walz had 182 three pointers and 1044 points.[31] During 2023, she was seventh for most three pointers at Western Kentucky.[32]

Career

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At Highlands, Walz was an assistant coach between 2001 and 2002.[33] While at the school, she started coaching the girls basketball team during 2002.[34] During 2013, Highlands reached the championship game during the Ninth Region Tournament.[35] For her victories, Jamie Walz Richey reached 300 in 2017 and 400 in 2022.[36][37] She remained as coach leading up to the mid-2020s.[38][39]

Outside of coaching, Walz was at Scottsville, Kentucky in 2001 and worked as a student teacher.[40] With Highlands, she was a business teacher during 2002.[41] Between the late 2010s to early 2020s, Walz Richey continued to work in business as their chair.[36][42]

Honors and personal life

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Walz was named All-State by the Kentucky Associated Press between 1993 and 1996.[43] During this time period, she was a Prep Athlete of the Year for them in 1995 and 1996.[44] Walz was an All-American for Parade during 1995 and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in 1996.[45][46] She also was All-USA for USA Today in 1996.[47] That year, she was the Kentucky Miss Basketball.[48] She also won Player of the Year awards from Gatorade and Parade.[49][50]

From the Sun Belt Conference, Walz was All-Tournament and All-Conference during 2000.[51][52] During 2013, she joined the KHSAA Hall of Fame and the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame.[53][54] The following year, Walz Richey entered the Kentucky All-Star Hall of Fame.[55] As a regional inductee, she became part of the Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame during 2005 and the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame during 2016.[56][57] For Kentucky, Walz Richey was selected for the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.[58] She has two children during her marriage.[59] Richey is related to coach Jeff Walz.[60]

References

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  1. ^ Schmidt, Neil (March 22, 1995). "Highlands' Jaime Walz holding court in Kentucky". The Cincinnati Enquirer. pp. A1, A8.
  2. ^ Posnanski, Joe (February 3, 1995). "No time to jest, Walz is the best". The Cincinnati Post. p. 1C.
  3. ^ Randall, Steve (April 23, 1990). "Rushville's Stewart third in Nationals". Rushville Republican. p. 6.
  4. ^ "1992 Girls' Basketball 14:u". Amateur Athletic Union. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Schutte, Dave (August 9, 1992). "AAU team finishes fifth". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C-8.
  6. ^ "1994 Girls' Basketball 16:u". Amateur Athletic Union. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  7. ^ "1995 Girls' Basketball 18:u". Amateur Athletic Union. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  8. ^ Story, Mark (October 28, 1995). "Highlands star Walz picks WKU over UK". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
  9. ^ Weston, Mark (March 20, 1994). "M.C. Napier girls roll to state title". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
  10. ^ "KHSAA Girls' Sweet 16® Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Kentucky High School Athletic Association. March 1, 2023. Individual Records. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "KHSAA Girls' Sweet 16® Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Kentucky High School Athletic Association. March 1, 2023. Girls’ Sweet 16® All-Tournament Teams. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "WBCA High School All-America Game Box Scores". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  13. ^ Beas, Mike (June 29, 1996). "Family of Miss Basketball for Kentucky fires back at rumors". The Indianapolis News. p. C-2.
  14. ^ Schaefer, Ray (December 29, 1995). "Walz turned away from record". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. D1.
  15. ^ Schaefer, Ray (January 10, 1996). "Wals gets the points". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C1.
  16. ^ Culpepper, Chuck (January 20, 1996). "Walz breaks girls' state scoring record". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
  17. ^ Fields, Mike (February 3, 2016). "Creech has been scoring machine for years". Kentucky High School Athletic Association. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  18. ^ "KHSAA Basketball Record Book - Girls" (PDF). Kentucky High School Athletic Association. May 5, 2023. pp. 9–10. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "Record Book Result". National Federation of State High School Associations. Basketball - Girls Individual Offense Most Assists Career. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  20. ^ "Record Book Result". National Federation of State High School Associations. Basketball - Girls Individual Offense Most Three-point Field Goals Made Career. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  21. ^ "Record Book Result". National Federation of State High School Associations. Basketball - Girls Individual Offense Most Points Scored Career (3000 or more). Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  22. ^ Embry, Mike (July 2, 1995). "Walz gain girls honor". The State Journal. Associated Press. p. sec. B p. 1.
  23. ^ "Lady Toppers hope foes get the picture". The Courier-Journal. C-J and Wire Dispatches. September 8, 1996. p. C 11.
  24. ^ "NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament". The Delaware Gazette. The Associated Press. March 17, 1998. p. 9.
  25. ^ "Holdsclaw stops W. Kentucky". The Cincinnati Enquirer. The Associated Press. March 17, 1998. p. D5.
  26. ^ "Walz tears ACL, out for season". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Enquirer news services. February 2, 1999. p. D2.
  27. ^ Seiger, Jennifer (October 17, 1999). "WKU's Walz returns to court". The Park City Daily News. p. 1-B.
  28. ^ "Duke trounces Western Kentucky". The Daily Progress. Associated Press. March 21, 2000. p. C4.
  29. ^ "2000 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 24, 2000. p. C7.
  30. ^ Mulligan, Lillie-Anne, ed. (November 3, 2023). "2023-24 Lady Topper Basketball Media Guide" (PDF) (Press release). Western Kentucky University. pp. 86–87. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  31. ^ Russell, Shannon (November 23, 2006). "Proving her 4,948 points". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. B7.
  32. ^ Mulligan ed. 2023, p. 82
  33. ^ Demling, Jody; Cook, Josh (May 18, 2002). "Walz promoted to head girls' coach at Highlands". The Courier-Journal. p. C2.
  34. ^ Demling, Jody (December 10, 2002). "Girls' jump shots". The Courier-Journal. p. E4.
  35. ^ Hardin, Marc (March 5, 2013). "Pandas run to state". The Kentucky Enquirer. p. C5.
  36. ^ a b Weber, James (December 21, 2017). "Highlands legend Richey keeps focus on players". Alexandria Recorder. Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 1B.
  37. ^ Weber, James (February 17, 2022). "Highlands' Richey joins select list of NKY coaches". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 1B.
  38. ^ Boehmker, Terry (November 25, 2023). "Cooper's depth, experience garner No. 1 ranking in preseason poll of local girls basketball coaches". Northern Kentucky Tribune. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  39. ^ Boehmker, Terry (March 4, 2024). "Highlands wins on last shot, Ryle roars on offense in first round of 9th Region girls basketball tournament". Northern Kentucky Tribune. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  40. ^ Demling, Jody (November 23, 2001). "'96 Miss Basketball to return to Fort Thomas Highlands as assistant coach". The Courier-Journal. p. F4.
  41. ^ Demling, Jody (December 2, 2002). "Former Miss Basketball is starting over as coach". The Courier-Journal. p. E8.
  42. ^ Frakes, Jason (March 26, 2021). "Still championship-caliber". The Courier-Journal. p. 1B.
  43. ^ Embry, Mike (March 20, 1996). "Walz named to first team for 4th consecutive year". Messenger-Inquirer. Associated Press. p. 4B.
  44. ^ "Couch, Walz make history as repeat winners". Lexington Herald-Leader. Associated Press. July 3, 1996. p. C3.
  45. ^ O'Shea, Michael; Cohen, Haskell (April 16, 1995). "Meet Parade's All-America High School Girls Basketball Team". Omaha World-Herald. p. sec. Parade Magazine p. 26.
  46. ^ "Walz, Elzy picked for All-America Game". The Courier-Journal. March 2, 1996. p. B 5.
  47. ^ "Six East Texans On All-USA Team". Tyler Morning Telegraph. May 4, 1996. p. sec. Sports p. 4.
  48. ^ "Miss Kentucky Basketball History". Mr & Miss Kentucky Basketball. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  49. ^ "Walz Gets Gatorade Player of the Year; Fishback gets invite". Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. March 28, 1996. p. 9-A.
  50. ^ Phillips, Darren (April 12, 1996). "Morton named to Parade All–American team". The Republic. Columbus, Indiana. p. B1.
  51. ^ Demling, Jody (March 9, 2000). "Lady Toppers trio honored". The Courier-Journal. p. D6.
  52. ^ "2024-25 Women's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Sun Belt Conference. April 16, 2024. p. 31. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  53. ^ Skinner, Richard (April 16, 2013). "Richey, Klein Hall Connections". The Kentucky Enquirer. p. C5.
  54. ^ Cook, Josh (July 24, 2013). "'He just knew how to play'". The Sentinel-News. p. A7.
  55. ^ "Kentucky All-Star Hall of Fame Female Inductees". Mr & Miss Kentucky Basketball. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  56. ^ "GCBHOF Class of 2005". Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  57. ^ "Membership 2010". Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  58. ^ "Lindsey, Walz-Richey get Kentucky HOF honors". The Park City Daily News. May 1, 2008. p. 3C.
  59. ^ Frakes 2021, p. 4B
  60. ^ Weber, James (March 31, 2018) [March 30, 2018]. "A look at Louisville women's basketball coach and Highlands grad Jeff Walz's career". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
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