Pausing to remember a friend

Carbaugh played four seasons for Scheidegger, her last ending with a trip to the state quarterfinals. Tears hit her eyes at the mention of Scheidegger. 

"He held our respect," Carbaugh said. "He didn't have to yell. He didn't have to scream. He had so many wins as a coach that you knew he knew what he was talking about."

Scheidegger had remained in contact with Carbaugh and watched a few of her games at Lewis University.

Rochelle coach Kay Dobbs, whose team won in the game before the Sterling-Rock Falls game, paused to reflect on Scheidegger.

"I always looked forward to coaching against Bruce's teams," Dobbs said. "They were always so well prepared, and they knew every single play we were going to run.

"But he was even better off the court. He was the kind of coach and person that you could call up and run something by, and he'd give you an honest answer." 

Jim Spencer and Matt Gingrich have called hundreds of games as the voices of Golden Warrior sports. Spencer works for the Sterling Schools Foundation and Gingrich coached in the junior high system under Scheidegger.

"Bruce was the rare person that excelled as an athlete, as a coach and an administrator," Spencer said. "There are very few people who can say they've done that. We've missed him since he left for Sandburg, and now we miss him even more."

"It didn't matter how emotional the game was, Bruce would always come up here so calm," Gingrich said. "I remember after beating Freeport in the sectional he was so calm, but he always knew how to keep the game in perspective."

Scheidegger was a multi-sport athlete out of Chadwick who was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 36th round in 1976. 

There will be a celebration of life for Bruce Scheidegger at 1 p.m. Sunday at Eagle Gym at Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park. The memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tinley Park.