SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Amanda 'Haney' Blette '04

In any other year, Amanda would be introduced as our "baby", which is Hall of Fame speak for "youngest member". Former teammate Katelyn Guerriere, two years younger, assumes the role.

Amanda's entry into school sports was that of a wide-eyed kid who wanted to try everything. Her father Bill was a high jumper and her mom, Dorothy was a hurdler so it only made sense that after trying all events in modified track she settled in to those two events. Her career ambitions were also set quite early, as she admitted that she wanted to be a teacher since the second grade. More on that later.

Modified team sports were fun to try as well. Soccer in the fall, basketball and volleyball in the winter. By 9th grade, however, it would be soccer and basketball through and through.

Before she could experience those team accomplishments, Amanda hit her high jump stride as a freshman, capturing the small-school NYS title with a jump of 5' 3". Coach Doug Quinney described her gold medal effort as a surprise but also noted she "had a bright future in the high jump" Indeed!

But back to soccer. In her three seasons on the hill, Amanda's teams won roughly 2/3 of all contests and that included one year having to play sectionals at the Class B level. The Lady Warriors never made it past the semifinal round but they certainly made an impression. Amanda was part of a killer defense, earning two honorable mentions and a 2nd team league all-star nod.

Meanwhile a buzz was also heard 'round Section IV during her sophomore year of 2001-02 but it came from the basketball court. Sidney's dominating presence there produced incredible results. They swept through the new Midstate Athletic Conference season unscathed and barely tested, Amanda was a rebounding machine off the bench and was part of a stifling defense instilled by the coaching staff the likes of which had never been seen before.

Perhaps the best game along the way was the low-scoring victory over also-unbeaten Mohawk in a state quarterfinal held at Liverpool HS. Several team members had rushed over from the Carrier Dome where they'd taken part in the Indoor State Meet. Amanda placed 5th that day before heading over to be part of the fun. The next weekend in the NYS Class Final Four, Sidney blasted their semifinal opponent before, for reasons still hard to figure, "just didn't have it" in the title game the next day, losing to Voorheesville. But what a winter dual-season for Amanda!

That spring, she improved to a best of 5'5" in the high jump but her repeat state meet best of 5'3" brought the silver medals. Then came the improvement for which she worked so hard. Junior year, her indoor best was 5'7" - good for 2nd at States. Later she won her second outdoor title. Finally, as a senior, Amanda met her goal of matching the 5' 8" mark set by 1992 Sidney grad (and 2004 HOFer) Bonnie Shoemaker. It happened as she dueled Long Island's Lauren Biscardi, who cleared one inch higher (Amanda just missed) and took gold. But in her final jump as a high school athlete, Amanda once again cleared the magic 5'8", this time good for the win! Her 3rd spring title in four years. As a bonus, she also placed 6th in the 100m hurdles. Two medal in the same NYS meet - quite a capper.

The excitement of these events took up a lot of room, but suffice it to say her next level - at SUNY Geneseo - Amanda was equally as diverse. She earned five Division III All-American honors in both winter and spring seasons at high jump AND played 4 seasons of basketball for the Blue Knights. Again her strength there was as a defender and rebounder. And if her season ended early enough, she had time to establish a qualifying height for high jump competition.

So that goal set in second grade to be a teach was another one met with energy and joy. Amanda is a pre-K teacher in the Silver Creek school district; she describes it to be "much like Sidney". She entered her fifth year this month and enjoys every minute of her time there.

Amanda, we welcome you into the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame!