SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Shirley Pierce '79'
Shirley Pierce was like a lot of girls growing up in the 1970s. She saw the fast rise of basketball talent taking hold and wanted be a part of it. But the basketball she watched came from the boys playing at Moose courts. The boys that would be in the first two Final Fours in New York, with the second year ending in the NYS Class B Championship.
The basketball world in Sidney for the girls was not nearly as glamorous. Their opportunities were limited, even with the passage of Title IX in 1972. The initial Varsity games were played at the Pearl St. Elementary gym with a hand held timer and a chalkboard (and -student volunteer) keeping score.
But by the 3rd season, an 8th grade girl - Shirley - showed enough skill to earn a chance to play in a few games at the end of that season. She made a good impression with Coach Donna St. John, who would want her back full time her freshman year. Statistics were not available for that season, however Shirley would begin a run of four straight Susquenango League West Division All-Star selections.
In addition, she played varsity volleyball, field hockey and softball starting in her freshman year, making Shirley the first 16-letter winner at Sidney.
By her sophomore year, in 1976-77 under new coach Diane Munro, Shirley was 2nd in the Western Division in scoring with a 13.7 average and was third in assists with a total of 31.
At the end of that year, she was voted team MVP for softball and was one of two sophomores honored with the WAA (Women's Athletic Association) Award.
In th fall of 1977, Sidney's Field Hockey team nearly pulled out a huge upset versus Greene. With Shirley at center forward, the Lady Warriors almost shattered the 3 year win streak put up by their rivals. Down 3-2 late in the game, Greene came back to tie and then win in the final five minutes. It was Shirley's top memory of her field hockey days.
But basketball was where her heart was, and more good things came her way. Shirley averaged a "double-double" in points and rebounds the next two seasons. As a junior it was 19 points and 16 rebounds. That year included a school record 33 points versus Sherburne-Eariville. Under new coach Doug Fessenden, her senior season revealed 14 points, 11 rebounds and six assists per game. It was during that season that she became the first Sidney basketball player - male or female - to surpass 1,000 points, finishing with 1,135. Shirley was named team MVP once again in both basketball and softball and was also the recipient of the WAA Award those two years. The last WAA trophy in 1979 signified her status as the top female senior athlete at Sidney.
She was selected to play in the Empire State Games for the Central Region basketball team in 1978 (Bronze Medal scholastic division) and 1979 (Silver medal Open division).
Always a sports fan, Shirley established herself as a premier bowler in the area. She also got her coaching certification and helped coach at various levels for her alma mater between 1995-2003.
The women's sports movement was still in its early stages when Shirley Pierce came through Sidney. Who knows what impact she would have had given a "do-over in today's athletic landscape. The important thing here is that in Shirley's 16 varsity seasons she helped bring other girls into the mainstream of women's sports while being a leader by example.
Congratulations, Shirley Pierce, on this well-deserved honor!