Jaime Walz Richey

Walz grew up in Fort Thomas, Kentucky with three siblings after her birth during the late 1970s.{{cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Neil |title=Highlands' Jaime Walz holding court in Kentucky |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=March 22, 1995 |pages=A1, A8}} During her childhood, she played baseball and basketball with boys.{{cite news |last1=Posnanski |first1=Joe |title=No time to jest, Walz is the best |work=The Cincinnati Post |date=February 3, 1995 |page=1C}} In 1990, Walz competed at the Elks National Hoop Shoot Finals.{{cite news |last1=Randall |first1=Steve |title=Rushville's Stewart third in Nationals |work=Rushville Republican |date=April 23, 1990 |page=6}} She competed in the 1991 Junior Olympics Basketball Championship with Ohio AAU in the 13U division.{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Terry |title=Walz packs Olympic wallop |work=The Boone County Recorder |date=July 17, 1991 |page=8}} During the 1992 14U Championship in the AAU, Walz was an All-American with Cincinnati AAU.{{cite web |title=1992 Girls' Basketball 14:u |url=https://image.aausports.org/sports/girlsbasketball/results/1992/14u.html |website=Amateur Athletic Union |access-date=May 11, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Schutte |first1=Dave |title=AAU team finishes fifth |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=August 9, 1992 |page=C-8}} At the event, her team had a fifth place tie. Additional All-America selections were in the 16U event with Northern Kentucky Hustle during 1994 and the 18U event with Team Kentucky the following year.{{cite web |title=1994 Girls' Basketball 16:u |url=https://image.aausports.org/sports/girlsbasketball/results/1994/16u.html |website=Amateur Athletic Union |access-date=May 11, 2024}}{{cite web |title=1995 Girls' Basketball 18:u |url=https://image.aausports.org/sports/girlsbasketball/results/1995/18u.html |website=Amateur Athletic Union |access-date=May 11, 2024}}

During grade seven, Walz joined the basketball team at Fort Thomas Highlands High School.{{cite news |last1=Story |first1=Mark |title=Highlands star Walz picks WKU over UK |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=October 28, 1995 |page=B1}} At the Sweet Sixteen, Walz's basketball team reached the final during 1994.{{cite news |last1=Weston |first1=Mark |title=M.C. Napier girls roll to state title |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=March 20, 1994 |page=C1}} Her 121 points during that year's tournament remained as a KHSAA record during 2023.{{cite web |title=KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16® Basketball Record Book |url=https://khsaa.org/records/basketball/gbk-recordbook_sweet16records.pdf |website=Kentucky High School Athletic Association |access-date=March 14, 2024 |date=March 1, 2023 |at=Individual Records}} She was also named All-Tournament between 1994 and 1996.{{cite web |title=KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16® Basketball Record Book |url=https://khsaa.org/records/basketball/gbk-recordbook_sweet16historyresults.pdf |website=Kentucky High School Athletic Association |access-date=March 14, 2024 |at=Girls’ Sweet 16® All-Tournament Teams |date=March 1, 2023}} During 1996, she played in the WBCA High School All-America Game.{{cite web |title=WBCA High School All-America Game Box Scores |url=http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_high_school_all-america_game_box_scores |website=Women's Basketball Coaches Association |access-date=May 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715064856/http://www.wbca.org/pages/AWARDS_high_school_all-america_game_box_scores |archive-date=July 15, 2014}} That year, she took a break from basketball by skipping the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star tournament.{{cite news |last1=Beas |first1=Mike |title=Family of Miss Basketball for Kentucky fires back at rumors |work=The Indianapolis News |date=June 29, 1996 |page=C-2}}

When "totals in eight high school semesters" were accepted by the National Federation of State High School Associations during December 1995, points made by Walz before ninth grade were made ineligible by the KHSAA.{{cite news |last1=Schaefer |first1=Ray |title=Walz turned away from record |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=December 29, 1995 |page=D1}} The following month, these 1078 points became eligible by the KHSAA.{{cite news |last1=Schaefer |first1=Ray |title=Wals gets the points |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=January 10, 1996 |page=C1}} In 1996, she became first for most girls basketball points in Kentucky.{{cite news |last1=Culpepper |first1=Chuck |title=Walz breaks girls' state scoring record |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=January 20, 1996 |page=B1}} With 4948 points at Highlands, Walz held the KHSAA career record until it was surpassed in 2016.{{cite web |last1=Fields |first1=Mike |title=Creech has been scoring machine for years |url=https://khsaa.org/whitney-creech-has-been-a-scoring-machine-for-years/ |website=Kentucky High School Athletic Association |access-date=March 14, 2024 |date=February 3, 2016}}

In other career statistics for the KHSAA, Walz's record of 1004 steals was broken by 2012. Her 539 three-pointers and 1354 assists remained in first during 2023.{{cite web |title=KHSAA Basketball Record Book - Girls |url=https://khsaa.org/records/basketball/gbk-recordbook_indivteams.pdf |website=Kentucky High School Athletic Association |access-date=March 14, 2024 |pages=9–10 |date=May 5, 2023}} For her NFHS career statistics, Walz was in the top ten with 996 assists during 2014 and 453 three-pointers during 2023.{{cite web |title=Record Book Result |url=https://www.nfhs.org/RecordBook/Record-book-result.aspx?CategoryId=1530 |website=National Federation of State High School Associations |access-date=March 14, 2024 |at=Basketball - Girls Individual Offense Most Assists Career}}{{cite web |title=Record Book Result |url=https://www.nfhs.org/RecordBook/Record-book-result.aspx?CategoryId=1505 |website=National Federation of State High School Associations |access-date=March 14, 2024 |at=Basketball - Girls Individual Offense Most Three-point Field Goals Made Career}} In 2020, she was in the top twenty with 3872 points.{{cite web |title=Record Book Result |url=https://www.nfhs.org/RecordBook/Record-book-result.aspx?CategoryId=1505 |website=National Federation of State High School Associations |access-date=March 14, 2024 |at=Basketball - Girls Individual Offense Most Points Scored Career (3000 or more)}} Outside of basketball, Walz was on the volleyball and softball teams while attending Highlands.{{cite news |last1=Embry |first1=Mike |title=Walz gain girls honor |work=The State Journal |agency=Associated Press |date=July 2, 1995 |page=sec. B p. 1}}

In 1996, Walz joined the basketball team at Western Kentucky University.{{cite news |title=Lady Toppers hope foes get the picture |work=The Courier-Journal |agency=C-J and Wire Dispatches |date=September 8, 1996 |page=C 11}} At the 1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, she played in the second round.{{cite news |title=NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament |work=The Delaware Gazette |agency=The Associated Press |date=March 17, 1998 |page=9}}{{cite news |title=Holdsclaw stops W. Kentucky |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |agency=The Associated Press |date=March 17, 1998 |page=D5}} She injured her anterior cruciate ligament in January 1999 and stopped playing the following month.{{cite news |title=Walz tears ACL, out for season |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |agency=Enquirer news services |date=February 2, 1999 |page=D2}} Following surgery and therapy, Walz went back on the team in October 1999.{{cite news |last1=Seiger |first1=Jennifer |title=WKU's Walz returns to court |work=The Park City Daily News |date=October 17, 1999 |page=1-B}} They competed in the second round of the 2000 NCAA Division I tournament.{{cite news |title=Duke trounces Western Kentucky |work=The Daily Progress |agency=Associated Press |date=March 21, 2000 |page=C4}}{{cite news |title=2000 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 24, 2000 |page=C7}}

While at Western Kentucky, Walz held the season record for assists twice and steals once.{{Cite press release |title=2023-24 Lady Topper Basketball Media Guide |date=November 3, 2023 |publisher=Western Kentucky University |url=https://wkusports.com/documents/2023/11/3/2023-24_WKU_WBB_Media_Guide_v2.pdf |access-date=May 19, 2024 |pages=86–87 |editor-last1=Mulligan |editor-first1=Lillie-Anne}} After leaving the school in 2000, Walz had 182 three pointers and 1044 points.{{cite news |last1=Russell |first1=Shannon |title=Proving her 4,948 points |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=November 23, 2006 |page=B7}} During 2023, she was seventh for most three pointers at Western Kentucky.Mulligan ed. 2023, p. 82

At Highlands, Walz was an assistant coach between 2001 and 2002.{{cite news |last1=Demling |first1=Jody |last2=Cook |first2=Josh |title=Walz promoted to head girls' coach at Highlands |work=The Courier-Journal |date=May 18, 2002 |page=C2}} While at the school, she started coaching the girls basketball team during 2002.{{cite news |last1=Demling |first1=Jody |title=Girls' jump shots |work=The Courier-Journal |date=December 10, 2002 |page=E4}} During 2013, Highlands reached the championship game during the Ninth Region Tournament.{{cite news |last1=Hardin |first1=Marc |title=Pandas run to state |work=The Kentucky Enquirer |date=March 5, 2013 |page=C5}} For her victories, Jamie Walz Richey reached 300 in 2017 and 400 in 2022.{{cite news |last=Weber |first=James |title=Highlands legend Richey keeps focus on players |agency=Cincinnati Enquirer |work=Alexandria Recorder |date=December 21, 2017 |page=1B}}{{cite news |last1=Weber |first1=James |title=Highlands' Richey joins select list of NKY coaches |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=February 17, 2022 |page=1B}} She remained as coach leading up to the mid-2020s.{{cite news |last1=Boehmker |first1=Terry |title=Cooper’s depth, experience garner No. 1 ranking in preseason poll of local girls basketball coaches |url=https://nkytribune.com/2023/11/coopers-depth-experience-garner-no-1-ranking-in-preseason-poll-of-local-girls-basketball-coaches/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |work=Northern Kentucky Tribune |date=November 25, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Boehmker |first1=Terry |title=Highlands wins on last shot, Ryle roars on offense in first round of 9th Region girls basketball tournament |url=https://nkytribune.com/2024/03/highlands-wins-on-last-shot-ryle-roars-on-offense-in-first-round-of-9th-region-girls-basketball-tournament/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |work=Northern Kentucky Tribune |date=March 4, 2024}}

Outside of coaching, Walz was at Scottsville, Kentucky in 2001 and worked as a student teacher.{{cite news |last1=Demling |first1=Jody |title='96 Miss Basketball to return to Fort Thomas Highlands as assistant coach |work=The Courier-Journal |date=November 23, 2001 |page=F4}} With Highlands, she was a business teacher during 2002.{{cite news |last1=Demling |first1=Jody |title=Former Miss Basketball is starting over as coach |work=The Courier-Journal |date=December 2, 2002 |page=E8}} Between the late 2010s to early 2020s, Walz Richey continued to work in business as their chair.{{cite news |last1=Frakes |first1=Jason |title=Still championship-caliber |work=The Courier-Journal |date=March 26, 2021 |page=1B}}

Walz was named All-State by the Kentucky Associated Press between 1993 and 1996.{{cite news |last1=Embry |first1=Mike |title=Walz named to first team for 4th consecutive year |work=Messenger-Inquirer |agency=Associated Press |date=March 20, 1996 |page=4B}} During this time period, she was a Prep Athlete of the Year for them in 1995 and 1996.{{cite news |title=Couch, Walz make history as repeat winners |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |agency=Associated Press |date=July 3, 1996 |page=C3}} Walz was an All-American for Parade during 1995 and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in 1996.{{cite news |last1=O'Shea |first1=Michael |last2=Cohen |first2=Haskell |title=Meet Parade's All-America High School Girls Basketball Team |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=April 16, 1995 |page=sec. Parade Magazine p. 26}}{{cite news |title=Walz, Elzy picked for All-America Game |work=The Courier-Journal |date=March 2, 1996 |page=B 5}} She also was All-USA for USA Today in 1996.{{cite news |title=Six East Texans On All-USA Team |work=Tyler Morning Telegraph |date=May 4, 1996 |page=sec. Sports p. 4}} That year, she was the Kentucky Miss Basketball.{{cite web |title=Miss Kentucky Basketball History |url=https://mrandmisskybasketball.com/miss-kentucky-basketball-history/ |website=Mr & Miss Kentucky Basketball |accessdate=March 14, 2024}} She also won Player of the Year awards from Gatorade and Parade.{{cite news |title=Walz Gets Gatorade Player of the Year; Fishback gets invite |work=Daily News |date=March 28, 1996 |location=Bowling Green, Kentucky |page=9-A}}{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Darren |title=Morton named to Parade All–American team |work=The Republic |date=April 12, 1996 |location=Columbus, Indiana |page=B1}}

From the Sun Belt Conference, Walz was All-Tournament and All-Conference during 2000.{{cite news |last1=Demling |first1=Jody |title=Lady Toppers trio honored |work=The Courier-Journal |date=March 9, 2000 |page=D6}}{{cite web |title=2024-25 Women's Basketball Record Book |url=https://sunbeltsports.org/documents/2024/4/16//2425RecordBook.pdf |website=Sun Belt Conference |access-date=May 19, 2024 |page=31 |date=April 16, 2024}}

During 2013, she joined the KHSAA Hall of Fame and the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame.{{cite news |last1=Skinner |first1=Richard |title=Richey, Klein Hall Connections |work=The Kentucky Enquirer |date=April 16, 2013 |page=C5}}{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Josh |title='He just knew how to play' |work=The Sentinel-News |date=July 24, 2013 |page=A7}} The following year, Walz Richey entered the Kentucky All-Star Hall of Fame.{{cite web |title=Kentucky All-Star Hall of Fame Female Inductees |url=https://mrandmisskybasketball.com/kentucky-all-star-hall-of-fame-female-inductees/ |website=Mr & Miss Kentucky Basketball |access-date=February 28, 2024}} As a regional inductee, she became part of the Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame during 2005 and the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame during 2016.{{cite web |title=GCBHOF Class of 2005 |url=https://gcbhof.com/gcbhof-class-of-2005/ |website=Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=February 28, 2024}}{{cite web |title=Membership 2010 |url=https://nkyshof.org/membership-2010/ |website=Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=February 28, 2024}} For Kentucky, Walz Richey was selected for the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.{{cite news |title=Lindsey, Walz-Richey get Kentucky HOF honors |work=The Park City Daily News |date=May 1, 2008 |page=3C}} She has two children during her marriage.Frakes 2021, p. 4B Richey is related to coach Jeff Walz.{{cite news |last1=Weber |first1=James |title=A look at Louisville women's basketball coach and Highlands grad Jeff Walz's career |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/high-school/high-school-sports/2018/03/30/look-louisville-womens-basketball-coach-and-highlands-grad-jeff-walzs-career/473593002/ |access-date=September 30, 2024 |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |orig-date=March 30, 2018 |date=March 31, 2018}}

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Category:1970s births

Category:Western Kentucky Lady Toppers basketball players

Category:Business educators

Category:Schoolteachers from Kentucky

Category:Living people

Category:Parade High School All-Americans (girls' basketball)

Category:People from Fort Thomas, Kentucky

{{Gatorade National Basketball Player of the Year}}