1st year guard ‘used to winning’
Rockford freshman experiences losing at collegiate level
Article by:
Ian Waddick - Asst. Sports Editor
• iwaddick@northernstar.info
During her first three seasons at Rockford Lutheran High School, NIU
freshman guard Stephanie Raymond lost a combined seven games.
At about the midpoint of her freshman season at NIU, Raymond and the
Huskies already have lost eight games and are three games below .500.
Raymond knew about the differences from high school athletics to college,
but losing, in particular, is something she has had to deal with more
often than she and the Huskies would like.
“You can tell she’s been used to winning because when we
lose you can really see her get hurt by it,” NIU senior forward
Lindsay Secrest said. “It really shows.”
During her time as an athlete, Raymond has experienced many victories.
From the junior high court to the high school hardwood, she has seen
success even on the track.
As an eighth grader at St. Paul Junior High in Rockford, Raymond and
the Lady Rams cruised through the state playoffs, beating opponents
by an average of 22 points en route to a state title.
“We were a small school, and everybody doubted us, which made
the win that much better,” Raymond said.
She also was named the most valuable player of the tournament.
Once in high school at Rockford Lutheran, Raymond saw four consecutive
years with 20 or more wins. The NIU women’s team has not seen a
20-win season since it won 24 in the 1993-‘94 season.
During her four seasons in high school, she accumulated a career 99-15
record, including the playoffs where she won three regional titles and
one sectional.
“A reason she was so successful in high school was because she
scored more than 2,000 points in her career,” NIU coach Carole
Hammerle said. “She’s had a lot to do with her success. It’s
a big adjustment going from high school to college, and I think she’s
doing a very nice job of making that adjustment.”
During her senior season at Lutheran, Raymond lost a career-high eight
games, but was named to the Associated Press Class A All-State first
team.
Thirteen games into her first college season, Raymond now leads the
Huskies in steals, is second in assists and is fifth in scoring.
“She is fearless, so fearless,” Hammerle said. “She
is one of the best point guards I’ve been able to coach. She makes
everyone around her look good, which is a characteristic you like to
have in a point guard.
Even on the Lutheran track team, she won. She was able to qualify for
the state tournament in at least one event during each of her first
three years.
One thing Raymond has learned during her athletic career is to keeping
working and to always get better, she said. Raymond’s team goal
is to get a winning season under their belt.
“I hope to help bring lots of wins to this program,” Raymond
said. “I know there hasn’t been a winning season here for
a while, so it’d be nice to get one.”
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