By Al Stilley
Editor
Franklin Central High School’s first and only varsity softball coach Kathy Joann Stricker passed away on July 2 after her courageous battle against cancer.
Stricker, 67, was at IU Health University Hospital when she passed away.
The Celebration of Life for coach Stricker was conducted July 6 at the Flinn and Maguire Funeral Home on U.S. 31 North, Franklin, the honorable Julie Fessel Flanigan officiating with interment at Sellersburg Cemetery.
“Strick Strong” was her rallying cry as she fought bravely against cancer for several years. Throughout her battle, coach Stricker’s strength shone brightly as did her devotion to her girls on the Flashes’ softball teams.
As a journalist, I sat with coach Stricker many times for pre-season interviews and pre- and post-game comments particularly at many Marion County tourneys and the official naming of the FCHS softball complex in her honor on a special game night against rival New Palestine.
This past season her words resonate so passionately for her team and so bravely in her fight against cancer.
We sat on the bleacher in the Flashes’ auxiliary gymnasium for her pre-season outlook. She finished talking about each player and their strengths. Then she talked about what keeps her going while staring cancer in its face.
Her comments that day are published for the first time:
“This keeps me going. I just love the game. I like the kids. They keep me motivated. And I think I still have something to offer them. I enjoy being with them and I want them to be the best young ladies they can be – contributing as students and eventually to the community as adults. We always talk about an attitude of gratitude, ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ appreciating where they come from and appreciating the people who have helped them along the way. The kids are a little more entitled nowadays; they are encouraged to stop and think about how they got there and who helped them. It isn’t easy. And I want them to make the most of their high school education. There are teams here in the past that haven’t had what they have. They just need to keep working hard.”
Those words are the legacy that coach Stricker leaves behind.
Her involvement in athletics began at Silver Creek High School in Sellersburg. She graduated from Franklin College where she earned 17 athletic letters. She was hired as the first varsity softball coach at FCHS where she displayed her competitive spirit for 45 years.
Her Franklin Central teams won eight Marion County championships, eleven Sectional championships, seven Regional championships, two Semistate championships, and two IHSAA state runner-up teams. Additionally, her teams won 16 conference championships and she was named conference coach of the year 17 times. Coach Stricker has been inducted into both the Franklin College (1998) and Indiana Softball Halls of Fame (2017).
She was pre-deceased by her brother, Larry Stricker, and her parents, Everett “Bud” Stricker, and Freida Stricker. Survivors include sisters, Rita (Bob) Hake, Shirley (Wayne) Wells, brother, Donnie (Jennifer) Stricker, nieces and nephews, Shellie Hodge, Audrey Hayman, Ginny Williams, Sam Stricker, Zac Stricker, and many friends who were like family.
The family urges those who supported coach Stricker to “Be strong, Strick Strong!”
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Franklin Central High School Athletic Department for the Kathy Stricker Memorial can be mailed to the high school at: 6215 S. Franklin Road, Indianapolis, IN 46259.
Editor
Franklin Central High School’s first and only varsity softball coach Kathy Joann Stricker passed away on July 2 after her courageous battle against cancer.
Stricker, 67, was at IU Health University Hospital when she passed away.
The Celebration of Life for coach Stricker was conducted July 6 at the Flinn and Maguire Funeral Home on U.S. 31 North, Franklin, the honorable Julie Fessel Flanigan officiating with interment at Sellersburg Cemetery.
“Strick Strong” was her rallying cry as she fought bravely against cancer for several years. Throughout her battle, coach Stricker’s strength shone brightly as did her devotion to her girls on the Flashes’ softball teams.
As a journalist, I sat with coach Stricker many times for pre-season interviews and pre- and post-game comments particularly at many Marion County tourneys and the official naming of the FCHS softball complex in her honor on a special game night against rival New Palestine.
This past season her words resonate so passionately for her team and so bravely in her fight against cancer.
We sat on the bleacher in the Flashes’ auxiliary gymnasium for her pre-season outlook. She finished talking about each player and their strengths. Then she talked about what keeps her going while staring cancer in its face.
Her comments that day are published for the first time:
“This keeps me going. I just love the game. I like the kids. They keep me motivated. And I think I still have something to offer them. I enjoy being with them and I want them to be the best young ladies they can be – contributing as students and eventually to the community as adults. We always talk about an attitude of gratitude, ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ appreciating where they come from and appreciating the people who have helped them along the way. The kids are a little more entitled nowadays; they are encouraged to stop and think about how they got there and who helped them. It isn’t easy. And I want them to make the most of their high school education. There are teams here in the past that haven’t had what they have. They just need to keep working hard.”
Those words are the legacy that coach Stricker leaves behind.
Her involvement in athletics began at Silver Creek High School in Sellersburg. She graduated from Franklin College where she earned 17 athletic letters. She was hired as the first varsity softball coach at FCHS where she displayed her competitive spirit for 45 years.
Her Franklin Central teams won eight Marion County championships, eleven Sectional championships, seven Regional championships, two Semistate championships, and two IHSAA state runner-up teams. Additionally, her teams won 16 conference championships and she was named conference coach of the year 17 times. Coach Stricker has been inducted into both the Franklin College (1998) and Indiana Softball Halls of Fame (2017).
She was pre-deceased by her brother, Larry Stricker, and her parents, Everett “Bud” Stricker, and Freida Stricker. Survivors include sisters, Rita (Bob) Hake, Shirley (Wayne) Wells, brother, Donnie (Jennifer) Stricker, nieces and nephews, Shellie Hodge, Audrey Hayman, Ginny Williams, Sam Stricker, Zac Stricker, and many friends who were like family.
The family urges those who supported coach Stricker to “Be strong, Strick Strong!”
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Franklin Central High School Athletic Department for the Kathy Stricker Memorial can be mailed to the high school at: 6215 S. Franklin Road, Indianapolis, IN 46259.
This file photo shows FCHS coach Stricker hitting infield batting practice a few years ago before a game against Southport High School.
(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY AL STILLEY)
(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY AL STILLEY)
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