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November
21, 2006 KRISTEN WEDDLE EARNS INAUGURAL BRENDA HOWELL SPIRIT AWARD TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State women’s basketball coach Jim Wiedie announced today (Nov. 21) that former Sycamore standout Kristen Weddle (Terre Haute, Ind./Toledo) is the inaugural recipient of the Brenda Howell Spirit Award. This award will be presented following each basketball season to an ISU women’s player whose passion for the game and desire in the classroom matches that of Brenda Howell, an avid ISU women’s basketball supporter, who passed away in 2005. As part of the award, Weddle will receive a personalized plaque which will commemorate her achievement, and she will be the first name listed on a plaque which will hang in the women’s basketball locker room. The names of each year’s winner will be added to the plaque as they are honored. The Howell family and friends have donated an endowed scholarship to the women’s basketball program which will be used in conjunction with this award. In following years, the winner of the Brenda Howell Spirit Award will be named at the team’s annual postseason banquet.
“We are truly honored to
have an award in the memory of Brenda Howell,” Wiedie commented.
“Brenda was a long time supporter and fan of our program. She
was a courageous woman, with a fighting spirit, who genuinely
cared more about those around her than she did for herself.” Weddle finished her
senior year by being named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic
All-District Second Team. She earned First Team Academic All-MVC
honors, while connecting on 107 career 3-pointers, good enough
for seventh-best in school history. Weddle poured in a
career-high five 3-pointers to top her previous career-best with
24 points in a 96-81 victory at Eastern Kentucky. Weddle topped
off a stellar senior campaign when she recorded her lone career
double-double by scoring 14 points and pulling down 10 rebounds
as part of an 88-85 road victory over Wichita State. “I could not think of a
better player to receive the inaugural Brenda Howell Spirit
Award than Kristen Weddle,” Wiedie said. “She is a selfless
young lady who embodies the spirit of what our program is all
about. She faced numerous challenges during her playing career,
both physical and emotional, and handled each with dignity and
class. I think Brenda would be extremely proud to know that
Kristen is the first recipient of her Spirit Award.”
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