Former UConn, WNBA player to speak at Rae Burick banquet

Award candidates

Alter: Ashley Christie; Beavercreek: Megan Gill; Bellbrook: Alyssa Morrison; Bethel: Taylor Hart; Brookville: Elisabeth Wheeler; Carroll: Ronni Burns; Centerville: Molly Osterhage; Chaminade Julienne: Samarie Walker; Covington: Alyssa Angle; Dayton Christian: Morgan Nuess; Dixie: Lindsay Seim; Eaton: Kristie Kiracofe; Fairborn: Brittany Duncan; Fairmont: Abby Galbreath; Fenwick: Mary Turvy; Greenville: Jordy Fisherback; Lebanon: Megan Campbell; Meadowdale: Ashley Bumpus; Miami East: Juli Accurso; Miami Valley: Erika Shaver; Miamisburg: Megan Wright; Milton-Union: Leah Minneman; Newton: Keeley Booher; Northmont: Marianne Bonanno; Oakwood: Alexandra Miller; Piqua: Beth Caldwell; Sidney: Tarah Heath; Springfield: Lindsey Butterfield; Springfield Catholic Central: Leah Ann Miller; Spg. Kenton Ridge: Elizabeth Mathews; Spg. Northeastern: Jillian Adams; Spg. Northwestern: Chloe West; Southeastern: Rhianna Wyss; Stebbins: Autumn Johnson; Tecumseh: Sarah Flory; Tippecanoe: Jenny Bashore; Troy: Kaitlyn Francis; Troy Christian: Maria Schafer; Valley View: Tessa Parks; Vandalia Butler: Kacie Cassell; Versailles: Megan Campbell; Waynesville: Jessica Dahnke; West Carrollton: Sydney Coy; Yellow Springs: Reini Brickson.

Tamika (Williams) Raymond will be the first award winner to return as a guest speaker at the 23rd Rae Burick Women in Sports award banquet.

The event, honoring the area’s outstanding female high school athlete, will be held today, May 19, at Faimont’s Trent Arena. The dinner begins at 6:45 p.m., followed by program at 8 p.m.

Raymond was the award winner in 1998 as a senior at Chaminade Julienne High School. She went on to play basketball four years at the University of Connecticut, winning national titles in 2000 and ’02.

Following graduation, she split time between playing in the WNBA and coaching at Ohio State and Kansas. She spent seven seasons in the WNBA — six with the Minnesota Lynx and one with the Connecticut Sun.

She was an assistant under Jim Foster at OSU for five years before moving to Kansas in the 2008-09 season. Her primary duty at Kansas is working the post players.

She married Ben Raymond, a former basketball player at Minnesota-Duluth.

There are candidates from 45 schools for the award, which includes a trophy and $1,500 scholarship. The winner is chosen for her athletic achievement, academic excellence along with school and community involvement.