SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Katelyn Guerriere '06

Obviously, a decorated track & field athlete inducted into any Hall of Fame will have a litany of times and distances to prove their place in history. And Katelyn Guerriere certainly does. However, as a 2006 write-up in the Tri-Town News verified, Katelyn's success had a lot to do with her being a multi-sport athlete. And that is why she's here.

The girl who enjoyed softball but was a much better runner than a hitter took her father's advice and tried track once she reached the modified level. She loved soccer in the fall, yet the winter sport of choice was unclear - basketball or volleyball? Well, after two years of playing hoops in 9th and 10th grade, she found her answer. "Getting beat up under the basket was not much fun," Katelyn said. "So when I started 'Project Lead the Way' with Miss (Coach Christine) Smith, she promised if I played volleyball I could still do indoor track and that on the volleyball court, I wouldn't get beat up".

So as a junior, Kate established herself as a vital team member as the Warriors reached the Class C semifinals in 2005, losing to eventual champion Delhi in four sets. But three of the four sets were played within 4 points, leaving an optimistic vibe for the next season. And sure enough, that 2005-06 season was golden! Sidney capped an unbeaten league season with a 4-set win over Afton as Kate had 15 kills, 5 aces, and 11 blocks. Moving up to Class B for sectionals, they defeated Chenango Valley in the semis where she recorded 14 kills. Then, just one day after she won three events in the Section IV Indoor Track Championships, Katelyn recovered well enough to notch 11 kills, 12 blocks, 13 digs and 3 service aces in a four-set Finals victory over Windsor! Sidney's record-setting season (22-2) ended a week later in tough intersectional competition.

The soccer pitch was also where Katelyn's speed could flourish. Sidney's teams always had decisive winning records and much of that had to do with the athleticism of the multi-sport standouts. Kate's modified seasons were mostly spent defending the goal; but oh, that speed could not be denied. Varsity coach Jody Gravelin moved Lauren Lamb to the goal and for 4 years, Kate became the "striker". Three seasons she was 1st team MAC, plus in 2003 the sophomore earned 4th team All-State honors. In four varsity seasons, Katelyn's teams were 54-20 (73%).

In track and field...well, quite simply, Katelyn was the most decorated Section IV track & field athletes of either gender. She graduated in 2006 in possession of SIX NYS championships, SIX school and league records for outdoors, plus TWO indoor and ONE outdoor Section IV records.

The breakdown of state titles goes like this (all outdoor unless otherwise noted): Sophomore season, 100m hurdles and long jump (18' 2 3/4" on her FIRST attempt); Junior season: 100m hurdles; Senior seasons: 55m hurdles (indoors), 100m hurdles and triple jump.

Two more comments on that magical senior spring. 1) Kate also set the league mark in winning the 400m hurdles but chose not to compete in States. And 2) in her final scholastic event, her best event, she finished second in the 100m hurdles in the Federation meet....by 1/100 of a second! Katelyn told a local reporter that it was her "favorite race ever". Can you imagine?

Making a college choice was a story to savor. After numerous visits and offers, there were two New York options. Cornell ("I visited during finals, the students looked depressed") and Buffalo ("My mom told them if they could move the campus where it was warm, I'd go there"). The final choice, with only a drive-by on a rainy day, was James Madison.

It was a terrific decision! Kate was able to continue in her four main specialty events at JMU. She competed at a regional and national level with success, and is still listed in the top ten for all four events (60m and 100m hurdles, triple and long jumps). More important, Katelyn earned her Bachelor's in Exercise Science. Then over the next two year, served as a volunteer assistant track coach as pursued her Master's in Exercise Physiology. And that's where she excels to this day. Now in the Boston area, Katelyn is a Research Physiologist working for the Department of the Army.

She's now our "baby"...the youngest member of the Sidney Alumni SHOF!