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Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame picks the top players and coaches of 2023

journal star staff
·3 min read
Germantown Hills native and Indiana University star swimmer Anna Peplowski has earned a spot on the U.S. Women's national team for the upcoming 2023 World Championships in Japan
Germantown Hills native and Indiana University star swimmer Anna Peplowski has earned a spot on the U.S. Women's national team for the upcoming 2023 World Championships in Japan

Athletes who performed on the national stage. Coaches who competed for championships. The Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame has announced its Tri-County sports award winners and the Neve Harms Award for meritorious service.

Big Ten Conference athletes Anna Peplowski (Indiana swimming) and Kannon Webster (Washington and University of Illinois wrestling) were named the top athletes for 2023. The top coaches were Metamora basketball coach Danny Grieves and Illinois Central College volleyball coach Tracy Heffren. Longtime coach and volunteer Jim Carlson was named the Neve Harms Award winner.

The GPSHOF also recently announced the individuals and teams headed into the Class of 2023. Those inductees and the Tri-County winners will be honored at its March ceremony in the Peoria Civic Center ballroom.

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Here's a look at the award winners:

Anna Peplowski, Indiana swimming

Female athlete of the year: The Metamora native was the Big Ten Conference champion in three events: 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke, and the 800 free relay. She earned medals in all seven events she competed in at the Big Ten championships. The Indiana sophomore earned all-America honors in three events and made the U.S. national team for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Japan, where she won a silver medal in the 4x200 relay.

Illinois Central College volleyball coach Tracy Heffren leads her team through a recent practice at the CougarPlex in East Peoria.
Illinois Central College volleyball coach Tracy Heffren leads her team through a recent practice at the CougarPlex in East Peoria.

Tracy Heffren, Illinois Central College volleyball

Female coach of the year: Took her team to the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament on an 11-match winning streak. She had six wins against top-20 teams, won the district tournament, had four players selected for the all-region team including two selected all-America. ICC went 2-2 at nationals to finish with a 33-12 record.

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Washington senior wrestler Kannon Webster, shown here with his 2023 state championship medals, has won three individual state championships plus a team championship. He's also the top-ranked high school wrestler in the nation at 145 pounds. He's the 2023 Journal Star Wrestler of the Year.
Washington senior wrestler Kannon Webster, shown here with his 2023 state championship medals, has won three individual state championships plus a team championship. He's also the top-ranked high school wrestler in the nation at 145 pounds. He's the 2023 Journal Star Wrestler of the Year.

Kannon Webster, Washington wrestling

Male athlete of the year: The current University of Illinois wrestler capped off a 50-0 high school season by winning the Class 2A state title at 145 pounds and led the Panthers to a team dual state championship a week later. In the summer, he won a gold medal at the U20 Pan-American Championships in Chile and won national titles in Greco-Roman and freestyle at the U.S Junior National Championships.

Metamora head coach Danny Grieves coaches the Redbirds as they battle Peora Notre Dame in the first half of their Tournament of Champions basketball game Tuesday Nov. 21, 2023 in Washington. The Redbirds defeated the Irish 64-45.
Metamora head coach Danny Grieves coaches the Redbirds as they battle Peora Notre Dame in the first half of their Tournament of Champions basketball game Tuesday Nov. 21, 2023 in Washington. The Redbirds defeated the Irish 64-45.

Danny Grieves, Metamora basketball

Male coach of the year: The coach guided Metamora through a 32-game winning streak and the school's first boys basketball championship. The Redbirds, who went 34-2 and earned the first No. 1 ranking in school history, beat Chicago Simeon, 46-42 in overtime, in the Illinois High School Association's Class 3A state title game.

Jim Carlson

Neve Harms Award: The former player and coach at Peoria Notre Dame precursor Bergan, he is a longtime "super volunteer" and coach for youth sports in Peoria. He has run a charity youth basketball camp for nearly three decades and also served as team host for the 25 years the Illinois High School Association state finals were in Peoria.

Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame ceremony

  • When: March 23, 2024

  • Where: Peoria Civic Center Ballroom

  • Details: Social hour at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony. Tickets are $55 through March 14 and $65 thereafter. No tickets are available at the door. To order tickets, contact Susie Stockman: (309) 691-3553 or susie1026@comcast.net.

  • Individual inductees: Richwoods alum and NFL veteran Sherrick McManis; wrestling champion Grant Hoerr from Morton; longtime Bradley baseball coach Dewey Kalmer; longtime Limestone softball coach Lou Dobrydnia, and retired Journal Star sports editor Kirk Wessler.

  • Team inductees: Championship 2000 and 2002 Peoria Pirates indoor football teams, the 1999-2000 champion Peoria Rivermen hockey team, and the 1980-81 Richwoods girls basketball team.

  • Award winners: Tri-County athletes of the year — Anna Peplowski (Indiana swimming), Kannon Webster (Washington and Illinois wrestling); Tri-County coaches of the year — Danny Grieves (Metamora boys basketball), Tracy Heffren (Illinois Central College volleyball). Neve Harms Award — Jim Carlson.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame picks 2023 Tri-County award winners