Hall of Fame
Kathleen McEneny ’83 – Class of 1993
Commitment…
The world of Division II women’s basketball in the 1980’s was not a place for conceit. This was a sport where contestants could outnumber spectators. This was a sport where the drive to succeed had to come from the depths of an athlete’s personal commitment to excellence. This was a sport where individual and team motivation had to replace the adrenalin produced by a packed arena.
No Dolphin athlete has exhibited greater personal motivation than a young woman who came to the Heights in 1979 after a stellar career at Bishop Ludden High School. She came with a commitment to herself, to her coach, and to her team. Possessed with solid – yet not superb – talent, sound fundamental skills, and an outstanding player’s sense of the court, her commitment was to achieve the excellence that can only be realized by constantly demanding more of one’s self.
And she delivered from day one.
The measure of a true competitor might be a 28-point performance in the opening game of a rookie season. It could be 452 rebounds in 80 games from a 5-foot 6-inch guard. It could be the 207 assists and 1071 points in a league where 60 points was often enough to win.
By any standard, this young woman was a fierce competitor. She played with an aggressive style that allowed her to move to the forward position and excel against far taller players. In a game, or at practice, she could always be found where the action was – boxing out for a rebound, diving for the errant pass, hounding an opposing ballhandler.
In tandem with Eileen Emmons Cunningham ’81, she played a key role in establishing the Le Moyne women’s basketball program at the Division II level.
For what she brought to Le Moyne basketball on the court, and for demonstrating that a personal commitment to excellence is a necessary component of athletic success, Kathleen M. McEneny ’83 is inducted to the Le Moyne College Athletic Hall of Fame.
February 6, 1993
