Peoria Standard

The Peoria Public School District 150 Board paid tribute to the Richwoods High School varsity boys basketball team on a successful season during the board's March 13 meeting.

Richwoods Principal William Robinson introduced the team and coach Will Smith, praising Smith for his excellent leadership. Smith began by thanking the school system and the board for its support for athletics and the students, helping them make the season possible. He thanked his assistant coaches, Jeff Richards, a former teammate, Karl Taylor, who is Smith’s cousin, and young coach Brian Johnson, who is just a few years out of high school himself, Robinson said.

"The team had a great season, disappointed to lose in the sweet sixteen of the state tournament, but proud to say that they made it all the way there and that the only team that beat them was the one who went on to win the whole tournament," Robinson said. "Coach Smith commended the team’s dedication to fighting until the very last second of each game, their work ethic in coming to the gym every morning at 5:30 for workouts, to their ranking of 8th in the whole state."

Robinson went on to praise Smith and his players.

"Coach Smith just finished his 13th year, and the most impressive thing to me is the character that he instills in our young student athletes," he said. "The athletes are better because of the program, and the program is better because of the athletes, and that is all due to his leadership."

Smith called up his players, introducing them to the board. He said the team's freshmen had worked harder than anyone to move up to the varsity. He also acknowledged that many athletes played other sports like golf, tennis and football, he said the team's juniors had held the team together, he spoke highly of all his seniors, calling them "true fighters and heart and soul" of the team.