With her historic career at Fort Hays State University now in the rear-view mirror, women’s basketball icon Kate Lehman, a Newton High School graduate, is tackling a new challenge.

 

Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, Lehman said she will be “first and foremost” a first-grade teacher at Plainville Elementary School — as well as the new girls basketball coach at the high school.

Lehman, who came to FHSU from Newton, also will serve as assistant coach for the Cardinal volleyball team.

Check out a portion of her interview with Eagle Communications Gary Shorman.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn., announced this week that it will display Lehman’s Fort Hays State jersey (No. 40) in its “Ring of Honor” for her accomplishments as a senior during the 2014-15 season.

Over 100 jerseys, which includes high school and college All-Americans, from the 2013-14 season are currently on display in an exhibit that changes annually. The Hall of Fame will borrow Lehman’s jersey for a year to display in honor of her numerous individual achievements for 2014-15. Lehman was the BennettRank.com Division II Player of the Year, the MIAA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, the Daktronics Central Region Most Outstanding Player, and an All-America First Team selection by four organizations (WBCA, Daktronics, Division II Bulletin, and BennettRank.com).

Lehman averaged 19.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.2 blocked shots per game in 2014-15, helping the Tigers to a 30-4 record overall, the MIAA Regular Season Championship, and an appearance in the Central Regional Finals of the NCAA Tournament. She averaged 15.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.3 blocked shots per game in her four-year career at FHSU.