Hall of Fame Inductee - Ruth Kipping

What Quincy basketball player scored more points than any other during their high school career? The answer might surprise you. Quincy High School’s Ruth Kipping scored 2,287 points in her vaunted career, setting a new standard for individual performances and helping the Blue Devils reach unprecedented heights. During Kipping’s four-year career, the Blue Devils won two Western Big Six Conference championships, three regional titles and two sectional crowns. In 1998, they became the only girls basketball team in school history to reach the state tournament. Along the way, Kipping racked up the honors. She was named a first-team all-stater in 1998 by the Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and Chicago Sun-Times. She was an IBCA all-stater three times, and a two-time selection by the Sun-Times. She was a four-time All-WB6 selection, a four-time Herald-Whig all-area selection and twice named the newspaper’s Player of the Year. To top it off, Kipping received the Don Morris Award, given annually to the WB6’s most outstanding senior scholar-athlete. Being a multi-sport standout certainly helped. Kipping received all-state honors in cross country three times, winning three WB6 cross country titles and earning all-conference honors all four years. She was also a three-time all-stater in track, capturing an individual state championship in the 800-meter run in 1995. She is one the only girl in school history to win a state champion. The 880-yard relay team also won a state championship in 1973. Kipping finished third in the 800 in 1997 and fourth in 1998. She also took fourth in the 1,600 run in 1995. Kipping signed a national letter of intent with the University of Michigan and played for the Wolverines for two seasons, starting 17 games each season as Michigan compiled a 40-20 record. She had career highs of 19 points and 11 rebounds. She transferred to SIU-Edwardsville for her final two seasons, earning first-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors in 2003 and second-team honors in 2002. She was the league’s leading rebounder in 2002. Kipping received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from SIUE in 2003 and currently works as a deputy sheriff for the Adams County Sheriff’s Department. She lives in Quincy.

Acceptance Speech

"I just want to thank everyone involved in inducting me into the Quincy High School Blue Devils Sports Hall of Fame. It is truly a great and prestigious honor to be included in this elite group. I would like to thank all of my coaches as well as all of my former teammates for being there and challenging me to be successful. I would also like to thank my mother and father, Vickie and William, for their support. My sisters, Margaret Cannady and Sara Grawe, for making several road trips to see me play. My brothers, Curt and Sean, for always being there with encouragement. My brother, Chris, for working with me for countless hours teaching me how to play basketball when I was younger. Last, but not least, my best friend, Heather Hillebrenner McKinzie. Heather and I used to go all over Quincy and play in pick-up basketball games. I think we have actually played at just about every court in Quincy. In closing, I know there are many more people who deserve thanks and there are too many to name. For anyone that ever helped me in any way throughout my high school career, I just want to express a heartfelt thanks."