T.J. Kistner completed a rare trifecta his senior year.
As a starting defensive back and wide receiver, Kistner helped the QND football team reach the playoffs. As a point guard, he led the boys basketball team to a third-place finish at the Class A state tournament. As a third baseman and lead-off hitter, he guided the Raiders to a Class A state runner-up finish in baseball.
Kistner was a first-team all-area defensive back and an honorable mention wide receiver, ranking among area leaders with four interceptions and registering 21 tackles. He also caught 18 passes for 377 yards and one touchdown. His 20.9 yards-per-catch average ranked second in West-Central Illinois.
On the hardwood, he led the Raiders with 88 assists and averaged three points per game. In the state quarterfinals against Pana, Kistner scored 12 points, going 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. He also had 10 points in the third-place game against Peoria Christian.
But his best sport was baseball.
As a junior, Kistner was forced to be the Raiders’ No. 1 starter due to injury and responded by going 5-2 with a 0.85 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. He also led the Raiders with a .389 average, 33 runs scored and 10 doubles.
As a senior, Kistner moved from center field to third base to shore up the Raiders’ defense, all the while remaining a spark plug offensively in the leadoff spot. He finished the season hitting .426 with 34 walks, 64 runs scored and 21 extra-base hits while earning first-team all-area honors. He also went 16 for 16 in stolen bases.
He went on to become a three-year starter in the outfield at Western Illinois University, being named to the Mid-Continent Conference all-tournament team in 2005 and a second-team all-conference selection in 2006. As a senior in 2007, he led the Leathernecks in walks and triples.
"What an incredible honor to be inducted into the QND Hall of Fame. I remember going to The Pit to watch QND basketball games when I was younger and walking past the names on the Hall of Fame plaque and thinking one day, I hope to see my name on it. My memories from playing baseball, basketball, and football are some of my most cherished and QND will always hold a special place in my heart.Â
I want to thank my parents, Terry and Bonnie, who sacrificed their whole lives so that I might have the opportunity to attend such a revered institution as QND and who never missed any of my games. I’d also like to thank my brother, Rob, for being my mentor and role model and teaching me what it meant to be a Raider. We had some pretty special teams during my time at QND and that meant I had special teammates as well. They pushed me each and every day to be a better player and a better person and for that I am truly grateful.Â
Finally, I want to thank Coach Connell, Coach Wyss, Coach Douglas, and Coach Sheffield for their support, encouragement, leadership, guidance, and at times, tough love. Without it, I would not be where I am today. Finally, thank you to the Hall of Fame Committee for this great honor."
-T.J. Kistner '04Â