| Year: | 2004 |
LESLIE HILL-BERENS
By the time she graduated in 1978, Leslie Hill-Berens had accomplished a spectacular high school career, academically and athletically. She earned 13 varsity letters in four sports: volleyball, basketball, tennis and swimming.
In volleyball, Leslie won four varsity letters in a program that had 44 wins and two sectional titles in four years. As captain her junior year, she led the team to a UPI volleyball coaches’ poll #12 ranking and to an eventual undefeated season, both firsts for NCCHS volleyball. She was All-Sectional in 1976 and 1977, All-North Central Conference in 1977, and team MVP in 1977. Her senior year, the team was 15-4 but ended its season at the regional, losing to top-ranked and eventual state champ Muncie North. Les continued her volleyball career with a scholarship to Miami University where she was captain her junior and senior years, helped earn two Mid-American Conference Championships (1980 and 1981), and enjoyed two trips to NCAA volleyball tournament.
In basketball, Leslie was a sophomore who scored 30 points in a sectional victory over Tri High; her team won the first girls sectional tournament. She was team captain her junior and senior years and helped win two more sectional championships, being named to the All-Sectional team in 1977 and 1978. As a senior, she was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and made the All-Regional team in 1978. By the time she graduated, Les was in the top ten of New Castle Girls Basketball scoring and rebounding. Her 562 points and 320 rebounds still rank her in the top 25 all-time.
Tennis provided four more varsity letters for Leslie. Again, she was team captain her junior and senior years. She played number one singles her final two years and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1977 and 1978. Her tennis teams were 35-10 during her four years, winning a North Central Conference Championship in 1977 and a team sectional championship in 1978.
Les also experienced success as a swimmer. Her freshman year, she was named the Most Valuable Swimmer and went to State in the 50 backstroke, where she finished 3rd. As a sophomore, she returned to State where she placed 9th in the 50 backstroke.
Leslie currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband John and three children. Her interest in sports continues as she has coached a swim club that won nine straight city championships and by winning the championship in the A flight for ladies at a prominent Charlotte Golf Club.
