Which historic teams are headed into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame?
One of the greatest eras of Peoria-area high school football will forever be immortalized.
The Metamora football state runner-up squads from 1996, '97, '99 and 2000 were among the teams voted into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame in the Class of 2022. Also voted in were the 2005-06 Illinois Central College national champion women's basketball team and the 1983 Limestone state runner-up football team.
These teams are only part of the GPSHOF's newest class, set to be inducted during the March 25, 2023 ceremony in the Peoria Civic Center Ballroom. Individuals being inducted will be announced next month, along with the top Tri-County athletes and coaches for 2022.
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Here is a look at the teams being inducted:
Metamora football (1996, '97, '99, 2000)
Legendary coach Pat Ryan turned Metamora into the premier program in central Illinois during this run, its potent run game and tenacious defense ascending the school from area power to state power.
Each of these four Redbirds teams advanced to the Class 4A championship game, losing twice to New Lenox Providence and twice to Joliet Catholic. Metamora was a combined 51-5 over the four seasons, winning the Mid-Illini Conference each time.
Over this stretch, the Redbirds were quarterbacked by Jared Grebner, now the program's coach, Jamie Dishroom and Joe Stamm. All three of those served as captains at one point, along with Luke Maurer, Ryan McCoy, John Mischler, Jake Ioerger, Trent Delinski, Justin Markle, Jeff Seckler, David Long, Sam Elbert and Matt Vogelsang.
These four Redbirds squads join six previous Metamora football teams in the GPSHOF: 1966, '68, '73, '75, '76 and '77.
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Illinois Central College women's basketball (2005-06)
This team wrote a championship chapter to the ICC women's basketball legacy, finishing 30-5 and winning the program its sixth national title in 14 seasons.
Coach Steve Garber led the Cougars that season, his only title as head coach to go with three as an assistant under legendary coach Lorene Ramsey.
All-America pick Rachel Merriman led the team, setting career and single-season assist marks for ICC. Before heading off to Bradley, she was named to the all-tournament team at the NJCAA Division II national championships, joined by teammate Suzanne Bofia.
This squad heads to the hall and joins ICC's previous five championship teams from 1992, '93, '98, '99 and 2003.
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Limestone football (1983)
The first Limestone football team inducted into the hall also finished second statewide in Class 5A and won the school's first Mid-Illini Conference championship.
The Rockets and coach Roger Drach finished 10-3, upsetting Joliet Catholic in the semifinals before a loss to Glenbard West in the title game.
Nine players made the all-M-I conference first team, four unanimously. Another five earned second-team honors.
Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame ceremony
When: March 25, 2023
Where: Peoria Civic Center Ballroom
Details: Cocktails at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the induction ceremony.
Tickets: Guest ticket prices for the banquet are $55 before March 11th and $65 after March 15. No tickets for sale at the door. Reservations can be made by calling Susie Stockman at (309) 691-3553.
Inductees: Teams being inducted include the 1996, '97, '99 and 2000 Metamora football teams; the 2005-26 Illinois Central College women's basketball team and the 1983 Limestone football team. Individual inductees to be announced in January.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame teams 2023: Metamora, ICC, Limestone
