Altamont celebrated its girls basketball team’s historic season this weekend.
Supporters of the Lady Indians gathered in the gymnasium at Altamont High School Sunday afternoon to welcome home the team and celebrate its third place finish at the Class 1A State Final Tournament in Bloomington on Thursday.
During the ceremony, residents heard from several speakers who reflected on the historic season. Speakers included coaches, former players, Altamont Unit 10 staff and the team’s four senior players: Grace Nelson, Claire Boehm, Peyton Osteen, and Brianna Grunloh.
“We hope that everyone sees what hard work can get you, and if you set your mind on something, you can achieve it,” Boehm said during the ceremony.
“Although we made history, we’re sad to see this part of our story come to an end,” Osteen said.
The team’s coach, Craig Carr, delivered an emotional speech, expressing his gratitude for the support he’s received throughout the season, particularly from his family. He praised his team for working well together and playing with confidence.
“It was really disappointing to lose to Illini Bluffs when we were so close. However, the fact that these young ladies came back and persevered to win that third place game almost means more because it shows what kind of kids we have,” Carr said. “We have tough kids, and tough wins in life.”
Carr also reminded his players that they were the reason why so many people showed up to both their regular and post-season games.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in 35 years of education,” Carr said in reference to the crowd at regular season games.
This weekend’s ceremony also served as a reunion for several of the Lady Indians who played on the 1980-81 team that made it to the Elite Eight, the furthest the team had ever gone until this year’s third place win. Kristi Lange and Karla McGinnis, who both played on the 1980-81 team, spoke during the ceremony in the same gym they were honored in for their post-season run more than four decades ago.
“It is a great day to be an Indian,” McGinnis said. “Girls, these memories will last a lifetime, and the friendships that you have developed will be forever. Enjoy this. Thank you for representing our school and community so well. Your sportsmanship on and off the court has not gone unnoticed.”
McGinnis and Lange also took a moment to remember their former teammate Pam Kepley, who died of brain cancer in February of 2023. Kepley was the 1980-81 team’s starting center.
“We miss her dearly,” Lange said. “She was an avid Indian fan and would have loved every minute of cheering for the Lady Indians.”
Additionally, McGinnis said the support for the team this season is a “testament to the strong bond” of the Altamont community, calling it “nothing short of incredible.”
Another former Lady Indian, Altamont High School Principal Peggy Bueker, recognized the team for its “magical post-season run.”
“I’m not sure what triggered it, but three weeks ago, all these girls stepped up their game and individually were willing to do whatever they needed to do, and in some cases not do, in order for our teams to win games,” Bueker said.
Bueker also thanked the school’s Tribal Council for their unwavering support of the team throughout the season. She noted that so many fans attended the team’s sectional championship game that two buses were required to transport them.
“We had kids in our building that went to basketball games, probably for the first time in their life,” Bueker said. “I’m so proud to be a part of this.”
Also speaking during the ceremony was Scott Beal who serves as the PA announcer during the team’s games.
“Congratulations, not only to these ladies, but to all the young women who came before because it’s you who helped create the path that makes it possible for these young ladies,” Beal said.
The crowd also heard from Altamont Unit 10 Athletic Director Katie Lurkins. She called this season “unforgettable.”
In addition to being the district’s athletic director, Lurkins is the former coach of the Altamont High School girls basketball team and the parent of one of its players, Kaylee Lurkins.
“Seeing her have the standout game that she did up at the state tournament was, from my mom perspective, the best opportunity, best highlight I would say,” Lurkins said in an interview after the ceremony.
Lurkins also praised fans and other community members who supported the team by offering to make donations or providing the team with items like cookies.
“We don’t have band wagon fans. We have Altamont fans, and it doesn’t matter the sport. It doesn’t matter the season. We support one another,” Lurkins said.
Among those in the bleachers cheering on the team Sunday was Claire Boehm’s mother, Ann Nelson, who works as a paraprofessional at Altamont High School. She said it’s been “surreal” to see just how far her daughter and her team made it this season.
“This last week at school has been exciting for the kids,” Ann Nelson said. “The town showed up.”
Additionally, Ann Nelson explained that the four seniors on the team made it to the girls basketball state tournament when they were in seventh grade.
“These girls have been through a lot together,” Ann Nelson said. “They wanted to relive that again, so it was a lot of fun for them.”
Following the ceremony, several young fans inspired by the successful season lined up to get autographs from the Lady Indians – including Grace Nelson who described the moment as “heartfelt.”
“It was cool to see everyone here supporting us,” Grace Nelson said.
Grace Nelson is also still processing the fact that her high school basketball career is over.
“It doesn’t seem real, even today, to think that Tuesday we’re not going to have basketball practice. We’re not going to have a game,” she said.
For Ken Milleville, who was born and raised in Altamont, seeing the team make history is particularly special because he’s the grandfather of two players, Peyton and Kylie Osteen. He said it “meant the world” to him to watch the team head into previously “uncharted territory.”
“I think they’re all good kids,” Milleville said of the team following the ceremony. “They set a good example for the next generation.”
One thing that stood out to Milleville this season was the community’s support for the team, and he said this support for local sports programs is nothing new for the city.
“I think the fanbase says it all,” Milleville said. “The community has always backed the sports program in Altamont. We’ve been through the thick and thin of it.”