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2004 Inductee Karen
Irons (Lepley)
 Few
would argue that the greatest female athlete to ever wear
the Bellevue red and white was Karen (Lepley) Irons.
A three-sport athlete for the Lady Red, Irons excelled in
volleyball, basketball, and track and field, earning a total
of 10 varsity letters along the way.
In basketball, Irons helped the freshman team to a 10-0
record in 1982, leading the team in scoring, rebounds, and
recoveries. She earned her first varsity letter the
following year and was All-NOL honorable mention, leading
the team in blocked shots.
In 1983, she helped guide the team to the NOL title, earning
Most Valuable Player honors and All-NOL first team honors
along the way. She led the team in scoring, rebounds, and
blocked shots.
In 1984, Irons once again was chosen team MVP for the NOL
runner-up Lady Red. She was All-NOL first team and All-Ohio
second team.
In track and field, Irons was a member of the 1983 NOL
championship team. She finished first in the 400-meter run
at the regionals, finished fourth at the state in the same
event, and was a member of the sixth place team at state in
the 1,600 meter relay.
As a sophomore, Irons helped the team make it back-to-back
NOL titles. She finished first in the 200-meter dash,
400-meter dash, and high jump at districts, and was fourth
in the 400 at state, third in the high hurdles, and sixth as
a member of the 1,600-meter relay team.
During her junior year, the team was again crowned NOL
champs as Irons was named team MVP. She was NOL champ in the
400-meter dash, and was also a member of the State
Championship relay team that same season.
In her senior season, Irons once again guided the team to
the NOL title and took home team MVP honors once again. She
was NOL champion in the 400-meter dash and high jump events,
took first in the district high jump and the 3,200 meter
relay, and finished seventh at state in the high jump. Along
the way, she set four school records and three Bellevue
Invitational records.
But it was the sport of volleyball where Irons truly
excelled. She was a member of the junior varsity squad in
1981 before joining the varsity in 1982. She was All-NOL
first team in helping Bellevue to the NOL championship. The
following year, Irons was team MVP for the NOL champs,
All-NOL first team, All-District Six first team, and
All-Ohio first team.
In 1984, Irons guided the team to the NOL title and took
home team MVP honors once again. She was All-NOL first team,
All-District Six first team, All-Ohio first team, and guided
the Lady Red to the state semi-finals.
Irons was named the Gazette Award Winner as the top female
athlete in both 1984 and 1985. |
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