Feburary 16, 2004
Schutt Sports and the Illinois High School Association today
announced that the "Official Rim of IHSA Basketball" is
being manufactured by the Central Illinois company.
Rims manufactured by the Litchfield-based company will be used in
both the IHSA Girls and Boys State Final Basketball Tournaments, and
on the baskets at the center courts and interactive venues in the
March Madness Experience in the Peoria Civic Center during the
weekends of the two boys tournaments. Schutt Sports is sponsor of
the Thunder Zone venue. And the company is now sponsor of the Schutt
Sports Slam Dunk Spectacular competition held in conjunction with
the boys state finals.
"We are excited about this new relationship with another
company whose roots are deep into interscholastic athletics,
particularly America's Original March Madness," said IHSA
Executive Director Dr. Martin L. Hickman. "Many of the
innovations in athletic equipment are the result of the imagination
of people who played on or coached IHSA teams. Schutt Sports brings
that history not only to students in IHSA schools, but to high
school athletes across America."
Schutt Sports, with corporate headquarters in Litchfield, is one of
the nation's leading sports equipment companies. Bill Schutt, the
company's founder, started the business building basketball rims in
1918. Today, the company manufactures a series of basket assemblies,
backboards and rims for gymnasiums and another series of hoops for
driveways and backyards as well as football, baseball, and softball
equipment.
"Basketball rims are an important part of Schutt's history as a
sporting goods manufacturer," said Julie Nimmons, President and
CEO of Schutt Sports. "Some of the earliest basketball rim
patents were developed at Schutt. This partnership with the Illinois
High School Association brings together two organizations who are
dedicated to excellence and innovation."
Schutt Sports is synonymous with innovation in sports equipment,
from the pros to youth leagues. Schutt Sports is the largest
provider of football helmets and faceguards in the world, and also
markets innovative, quality, protective and field/court equipment
for baseball, basketball, and softball, and is the Official Base
Supplier of Major League Baseball®. The Litchfield, Ill.?based
company also markets collectible football helmets and bases to
promote fan enjoyment. Schutt Sports has introduced many of sports'
most important advances in equipment and continues to do so today.
Schutt Sports is The Gear That Makes The Game™. For more
information about Schutt Sports, visit the company's web site at www.schuttsports.com.