Cara (Thomas) Dey

Girls basketball began at Taylorville High School in the fall of 1979.  Cara Dey was five years old.  Cara was not really that interested in basketball.  She didn’t play in Junior High but her friends and coaches encouraged her to give the game a try as she entered high school her freshman year.  She did….. and,  the rest as they say, is history. Cara earned four varsity letters on the Lady Tornadoes basketball team and along the way set three individual school records in rebounding and established herself as a top ten rebounder in the State of Illinois.  30 rebounds against Sacred Heart Griffen is a record that may never be broken.  564 rebounds during her senior year and 1149 rebounds during her career are both records still standing at THS.

As a result of her domination “In the Paint”, Cara was selected to the Apollo Conference All- Conference First team in 1992; was a three time Springfield Journal-Register All-Area Selection; earned Decatur Herald and Review All- Area in 1992; was selected WTIM Player of the Year in 1992.  Cara was selected as a team captain her final three years and was Team MVP  her sophomore season.

Following graduation, Cara received a scholarship to play basketball at Illinois Central College in East Peoria and was a member of their National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Championship Team in 1993 and again on their 4th place team in 1994.

Cara was not just a one sport athlete.  She lettered three years on the Tornado Volleyball team and was co-captain her senior year.

Cara Dey Thomas, welcome to the Hall of Fame.