Karlee (Gengenbacher) Bruenger set a standard for others to follow, not just her younger sisters.
Bruenger was a multi-sport standout who graduated as the QND girls basketball program’s all-time leading scorer after leading the Raiders to a pair of state final-four appearances in her career.
As a senior during the 2009-10 season, Bruenger averaged 18.2 points as the Raiders finished 30-3 and as the state runners-up in Class 2A. She was named a first-team all-stater by the Illinois Associated Press and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and The Quincy Herald-Whig Player of the Year.
Bruenger also helped the Raiders finish fourth in Class 3A as a sophomore during the 2007-08 season when they went 32-2 and she averaged 15.2 points per game.
In her four-year varsity career, Bruenger helped the Raiders compile a 111-13 record and was the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,869 points at the time of her graduation. She now ranks third all-time in scoring. Bruenger also finished her career with 576 rebounds and 242 steals.
A standout softball player as well, Bruenger finished her career as a .387 hitter with 147 hits, 118 RBIs and seven home runs. She was named a third-team Illinois Coaches Association all-stater as a senior.
Bruenger played two seasons of college basketball at Quincy University where she averaged 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds before transferring to Minnesota State-Mankato, where she was a two-year starter averaging 10.3 points and 3.8 rebounds as a junior and 11.3 points and 3.2 rebounds as a senior. She was a two-time Academic All-GLVC performer at Quincy and a two-time Academic All-NSIC performer at Minnesota State-Mankato.
A Note of Thanks
Thank you so much for this incredible honor. Being inducted into the Quincy Notre Dame Hall of Fame is truly humbling, and I’m deeply grateful. I want to thank my parents, family, friends, coaches, mentors, and teammates as I wouldn’t be here without your support. I feel blessed to have my husband Regan and children Blaize, Nolan and Archie be a part of this incredible honor. This recognition means the world to me and I will cherish it always. Thank you! - Karlee