Attended Morton High School 1989-90
First Team All-Conference 1989 and 1990
IBCA All Star Game 1990
Pantagraph All Area Team 1989 and 1990
Amateur Athletic Union/Mars Milky Way Bar
High School All American 1990
Holds 3 all-time records at MHS-
single game points (42),
season field goal percentage (.615%),
field goals scored in a game (19).
Scored 1001 points in two years at Morton.
Is listed 13 times on the all-time records sheet.

Played at Illinois Central Junior College
1992 Division II NJCAA National Champions
1992 First Team All American Division II NJCAA
Played at Eastern Illinois University
Graduated Suma Cume Laude

2003 – 1992 ICC team was inducted into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame.

“I had the pleasure of coaching Tammy Wilkinson for her two years at MHS. Tammy’s accomplishments in those two years at Morton are quite impressive! Tammy’s style of play was exciting to watch and coach. She was a player that had a nose for the basket and played with great intensity. She could slice or drive to the basket or stop and take a jump shot. Her strong and physical game was often times way too much for opponents to guard. Tammy was a leader on and off the court, excelled academically, and also participated on the track team.

Tammy’s success has continued as she has been a leader in the educational field as a psychologist and is now a principal at the elementary level. Tammy and her husband Gary have four wonderful girls which I have enjoyed getting to know. My last bit of advice from coach to player is one more girl and you’ll have your starting five!”

Coach Lynn Rudin

One on One with Coach Rudin;

1. Bring us up to date on your life after MHS. (college- job-family)
After MHS, I played basketball for Lorene Ramsey at ICC where I was lucky enough to be a part of their first National Championship in 1992. After ICC I went on to play at Eastern Illinois. I then earned my MS.Ed from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and have been working for the Lancaster Community Schools in Lancaster Wisconsin for the past 16 years. 15 of these years I worked as the district school psychologist and this year I took a job as the elementary principal. I have been married to my husband Gary, an auto tech. instructor at our local technical college, for the past 12 years. We have four beautiful daughters—Allie (age 9), Maddie (age 8), Cassie (age 5) and Lillie (age 4).

2. When did you start playing basketball?
I started playing basketball at age 8 in my school’s intramural program on Saturday mornings.

3. Before moving to Morton what basketball successes did you have in WI.
I played for a very small rural school in Potosi, Wisconsin (population of 800; high school of about 200). I started as a freshman on the varsity and was awarded all-area and all-conference as honors as sophomore. I also was chosen to play on our Badger State Basketball team in the summer of my sophomore year. I hold several school records for rebounds and points scored at Potosi High School.

4. Share some memories of basketball at MHS.
I have many great memories of playing basketball at MHS. Things that stick out are winning the Mid Illini Conference Championship my junior season and winning the Woodruff Christmas Tournament. I also remember losing to Limestone in the regional game my senior season. I also have many great memories of my teammates and the friendships we developed over the two years I played for Morton.

5. Tell us about your college basketball experience.
As I noted earlier, I played for ICC and EIU. My time as ICC was awesome! I played for a great program and learned what it takes to be a National Champion. I played for a Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Coach, Lorene Ramsey, and also had the privilege of playing with some of the most talented players in the Peoria area. Playing for EIU was an entirely different experience. The team had a lot of controversy within the team and among the coaching staff. While I do not feel I learned a lot about basketball at EIU, I did learn a lot about life and how to deal with adversity. Overall, playing college basketball was an experience I would never take back. It taught me about hard work, the power of a team, and the importance of setting goals and priorities.

6. What advice would you give young players who want to compete at the varsity or college level?
Like anything in life—Hard work is the key. To be successful you have to put in the time and respect what your coaches have to teach you. If you have a positive attitude and a strong work ethic there will be a place for you on any team!

7. It’s been 21 years since you graduated from MHS and you still are in the top of many records. You hold the all-time records for single game points (42), field goal percentage / season (.615), field goals scored / game (19) and scored 1001 pts in two years. How does that make you feel or what do you think of that?
I am humbled to be among the best of best in Morton given all success the program has seen over the years. I definitely don’t think I would have been as successful as I was without the people I had surrounding me. I had a great coach in Lynn Rudin and a wonderful group of gals as teammates, especially my senior teammates, Allie Carey, Amy Schwartzendruber, Tonya Sparkman, and Amy Reynolds.

In one or two sentences sum up playing basketball at MHS.
I cherish the memories I have of MHS basketball. It truly was one of the most awesome experiences of my life. As a small town Wisconsin kid, I was terrified of moving to a bigger school like Morton, but Coach Rudin and the entire team welcomed me with open arms and really brought out the best in me. In the end, it was the people that made my time as a Morton Lady Potter so special. For that, I am truly grateful!

1990 IBCA Girls All-Star Basketball Game Program (page 55)