Tri-County Awards
Athletes and Coaches of the Year
The Tri-County Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year awards annually recognize the individuals who achieved the most during the previous calendar year. Four winners are chosen: Male Athlete, Female Athlete, Male Coach and Female Coach.
The award originated in the mid-1960s when the Independent Sports Club would recognize the Tri-County Sports Figure of the Year. The Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame assumed responsibility for the award in the 1980s. In 1992, the award was split in two: one for Athlete of the Year, one for Coach of the Year. In 1995, the GPSHOF Board of Directors voted to honor one female and one male in each category.
Candidates for the award are monitored throughout the year by a special committee, which submits nominees to the Board of Directors for final selection in December.
TRI -COUNTY AWARD WINNERS
2023 Coach of Year
Tracy Heffren
Danny Grieves
Athlete of Year
Anna Peplowski
Kannon Webster
2022 Coach of Year
Maribeth Dura
Jean-Guy Trudel
Athlete of Year
Kenna Woollard
Malachi Washington
2021 Coach of Year
Lindsey Lox
Brett Charlton
Athlete of Year
Lauren Doerr
Seth Glatz
2020 Coach of Year
Andrea Gorski
Tom Lacher
Athlete of Year
Anna Peplowski
Kendrick Green
2019 Coach of Year
Nancy Meyer
Nick Miller
Athlete of Year
Hanna Hicks
Adam Snedden
2018 Coach of Year
Olivia Morris
Pat Garst
Athlete of Year
Amelia Glueck
Jace Punke
2017 Coach of Year
Bob Becker
Denee Menzione
Athlete of Year
Jacob Warner
Brandi Bisping
2016 Coach of Year
Tim Thornton
Tracy Heffren
Athlete of Year
Kendrick Green
Madi McCoy
2015 Coach of Year
Scott Carlson
Stephanie Ramsey
Athlete of Year
Randy Meneweather
Maryjeanne Gilbert
2014 Coach of Year
Bryan Medlin
Maggie Mose
Athlete of Year
Andy Shadid
Maryjeanne Gilbert
2013 Coach of Year
Darrel Crouch
Cathy Sanders
Athlete of Year
Cole Henderson
Taylor McClintock
2012 Coach of Year
Taren Martin
Athlete of Year
Sam Durley
Brenna Detra
2011 Coach of Year
Roland Brown
Athlete of Year
Caitlin Comfort
2010 Coach of Year
Mike Bare
Paula Buscher
Athlete of Year
Matt Elliott
Dylan Reel
Jodi Rebholz
2009 Coach of Year
Pat Ryan
Sue Sinclair
Athlete of Year
Sherrick McManis
Becky Stoughton
2008 Coach of Year
Mike Bare
Leanne Bonifas
Athlete of Year
Matt Elliott
Mackenzie Camp
2007 Coach of Year
Pat Ryan
Jim Derose
Jennifer Mallicoat
Athlete of Year
John Ehrgott
Allison McGlaughlin
2006 Coach of Year
Jerry Rashid
Linda Branan
Athlete of Year
Zach Mcallister
Matt Savoie
Caitlin Comfort
2005 Coach of Year
Sue Sinclair
John Gross
Athlete of Year
Giordan Pogioli
Charlie Swearingen
2004 Coach of Year
Sue Sinclair
Peter Nash
Chuck Buescher
Athlete of Year
Tara Toepke
Shawn Livingston
2003 Coach of Year
Chuck Buescher
Lorene Ramsey
Athlete of Year
Britney Jordan
Nick Cicciarelli
Shawn Livingston
2002 Coach of Year
Ron Smith
Lorene Ramsey
Athlete of Year
Derek Hunsinger
Heather Cassady
2001 Coach of Year
Brett Charlton
Sue Sinclair
Athlete of Year
Matt Savoie
Dee Reynolds
2000 Coaches of Year
Bob Darling
Nancy Meyer
Athletes of Year
A.J. Guyton
Shawna Neff
1999 Coaches of Year
Lorene Ramsey
1998 Coaches of Year
Jim Derose
Lorene Ramsey
Athletes of Year
Gary Strait
Frank Williams
Mary Ellen Hill
Melissa Cassidy
Marlena Williams
1997 Coaches of Year
Wayne McClain
Pat Ryan
Lorene Ramsey
Athletes of Year
Sergio McClain
Tammy Van Oppen
1996 Coaches of Year
Wayne McClain
Gigi Macintosh
Athletes of Year
Sergio McClain
Heather Cassady
1995 Coaches of Year
Gigi Macintosh
Wayne McClain
Athletes of Year
Kim Hartzler
Tim Broe
1994 Coaches of Year
Cindy Clark
Athletes of Year
Brandon Hughes
Stephanie White
1993 Coaches of Year
Lorene Ramsey
Dave Darnall
Athletes of Year
Andy Devooght
Patience Grayer
1992 Coaches of Year
Lorene Ramsey
Athletes of Year
Tammy Van Oppen
Sports Figure of Year
1991
Dick Van Scyoc
1990
Tony Wysinger
Darrel Taylor
1989
Renee Heiken
1988
Rod Butler
1987
Mike Dunne
1986
Dennis Brown
1985
John Venturi
Pete Vonachen
1984
Tom Peeler
Nora Lewis
1983
Mary Kay Hungate
1982
Dick Versace
1981
Betsy Silzer
1980
Mark Smith*
1979
Lorene Ramsey
1978
Mike Bridges
1977
Bruce Boyle
1976
John Helmick
1974
Joe Stowell
1972
Tom Peeler
1971
Bob Koeppel
1970
Ron Ghidina*
1969
Tom Peeler
1968
Leo Schrall*
1967
Dawdy Hawkins*
1966
Tim Sweborg
1965
Ed Stonebock*