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Hall of Fame basketball class includes Elle Ruffridge and Kelly Krei
Ruffridge is the all-time record-holder in points, assists and 3-pointers; Krei led Iowa City High to a title in 2008, then was a three-year starter at Iowa
Mar. 6, 2025 12:15 pm
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DES MOINES -- The 2025 class of the IGHSAU Basketball Hall of Fame includes the state’s all-time leading scorer, and a former local star.
Despite a 5-foot-4 frame, Elle Ruffridge piled up 2,951 points at Pocahontas Area, leading the Indians to state championships in 2016 and 2017, and a four-year record of 100-7. She also holds the state’s assist record (802) and 3-point record (466).
Ruffridge went on to play at Missouri State, and currently is an assistant coach at Spirit Lake.
Kelly Krei led Iowa City High to a Class 4A state championship in her senior year (2008), and was a three-year starter at Iowa. She also was a 13-time state placewinner in track and field.
“One of the best sporting experiences I’ve been through,” Krei said of the 2008 title run. “It was with that team I had played with since elementary school, and something City High had not accomplished. It’s great to be a part of and have your banner up at City High forever. Nobody can take that away.”
Krei now practices sports medicine at Mercy One Genesis in the Quad Cities and lives in Bettendorf.
Carmen Jaspers (Ackley-Geneva, 1985) rounds out the Hall of Fame class. Jaspers played six-player ball in high school, then played at Iowa State.
The induction ceremony is at halftime of Saturday’s 2A final.
Other honors
North Linn’s Brian Wheatley has been named as the Golden Plaque of Distinction winner, and will be honored at halftime of the 3A championship Friday.
The year before Wheatley arrived, North Linn was 0-22. He gradually built the program into one of the state’s elite: 421-91 with nine state appearances, including championships in 2020 and 2024. The Lynx have won 20-plus games in 15 consecutive seasons.
His current team is 24-1 and will face Newell-Fonda in a 1A semifinal Friday.
Also receiving awards this weekend:
* IGHSAU staffer Heidi Reed, First Lady Award.
* Dike-New Hartford alum Payton Petersen, Jack North Basketball Award.
* Former IGHSAU staffer John Overton, Jack North Award.
* Public address announcer Tim Fitzpatrick, Executive Director’s Award.
* Fort Dodge softball coach Andi Adams, Character Counts Coach of the Year.
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
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