SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Erica 'Peterson' Espaillat '93

As one who never sought the limelight, Erica Peterson Espaillat always seemed to have at least a share of it by being the ultimate team player. But her skills were actually developed individually: dance, acrobatics, water & snow skiing, biking and more, thanks to loving parents who made such activities possible. Them from little league sports to modified, the team sports took over.

Field Hockey (3 varsity seasons), basketball (4) and softball (3) were Erica's choices, though an attempt at track & field as an 8th grader nearly made her a quarter-miler and discus thrower! But what a scholastic career! As a high-scoring forward in field hockey, Erica led the Warriors to a NYS Class A runner up in 1990 (19-3-1), the "A" State title in '91 (20-0-2) and the Class B semifinals in 1993. Basketball's four seasons nearly matched that level. The team's apex was the 1992 appearance in the Class C State semifinals as a junior. Her individual peak was as a senior, earning 1st team All-Sus, All-Mtero and NYS Class C-D 4th team designation. And in softball, the 1991 squad won its first-ever Sus championship as well as Section IV. Ditto in 1993. That final season in a Sidney uniform saw Erica earn various all-star awards on the basis of her stellar fielding (2b) and .588 average, including a perfect 5-for-5 in the Sus title game. Senior awards were many, including WCDO and WAA Outstanding Female Athlete and the Redmond Scholar-Athlete.

A little-known freak accident just prior to Erica starting her collegiate days at Brandeis University never fully healed and it affected her basketball season, now as a shooting guard. But she was 100% healthy as a shortstop on the softball team. Two seasons of 2-sport competition gave way to just softball by her junior year. But those first two? Well she was softball's MVP! The double-major also graduated Cum Laude in 1997 (Psychology and Fine Arts) before completing her graduate studies in 1999 with an MA in Nutrition Science.

One more sports nugget: Brandeis softball played in a traveling league called the University Athletic Association (UAA), a newly formed entity allowing for more exposure. In their recent SilverAnniversary Celebration, the UAA named Erica Peterson to their all-time All-Star Team!

But her talents go way beyond sports as an adult. Now a homeschooling mother, Erica has spent time running an art gallery in Puerto Rico (she paints in acrylics), been a certified dietitian in Florida, taught aerobics classes, and has found time to do some of those activities mentioned earlier, all with her on-the-go family. Tonight she gets to relax and enjoy her induction into the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame.