SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Paula Foote Breese 03

Versatility and team play were definitely two of the many traits of the athletically gifted Paula Foote. There wasn't a sport she couldn't (or didn't) play, Lassie League softball, youth soccer and basketball laid the foundation of her athletic prowess.

By the modified years, softball in 7th grade turned into track in 8th - and beyond - thanks to a Doug Quinney recruitment job. That meant Winter & Spring Track. Soccer and basketball were givens based on her dynamic approach to both sports.

Paula was a three-sport teammate of fellow 2020/2021 inductee Caitlin Graham Polanszek. She ended up eclipsing Caitlin's single season soccer scoring record to the tune of 26 goals in the fall of 2002 and she was a perennial MAC All-Star. In fact Paula noted her best memories of soccer actually involve Caitlin, saying "the headers off of (her) corner kicks were some of my favorites". Basketball was on par with soccer as far as her ability and team-first mentality. Paula was a playmaker yet could slide over to a shooting guard slot whenever it was needed. Her heads-up defense proved a key component for the 2001-02 team that ran 26 straight wins into the state finals. With four years on the varsity "PJ" surpassed the 1000 point mark as a senior.

Don't write off track as an afterthought, Paula was as much a factor as in her other sports. In 2001, she was part of a school record that still stands in the outdoor 400 meter relay (50.23). Sprints and relays were her main events, almost sure to score points for the Warriors.

Graduation came in 2003 but not before Paula earned the Mary Morrison Sportsmanship Award. In making her college decision, she took advantage of advice from 1992 Sidney graduate and SHOF '03 member Pam DuMond Tarnowski before deciding to attend and play basketball for William Smith.

It was a rough start when an ACL injury kept Paula off the court during her freshman season. Fortunately, she healed by the next season. She put four productive campaigns together. The Herons were Liberty League regular season champs three times and tournament champs twice. They made it to the Sweet 16 of the D-III National Tournament two times and the 2nd round once. All told, with Paula Foote in the lineup, William Smith logged an impressive 44-12 league mark (78.6%) and 84-29 record in overall games (74.3%). A three-year starter, Paula amassed 900 career points, 329 career rebounds, and 204 career assists. She was a two-time All-Liberty League selection.

Finishing in 2007, she stayed on and earned her Master's in 2008. That summer Paula was hired by the Geneva City School District where she still teaches today. At first she was an elementary teacher, but now is a STEAM teacher.

Paula Foote Breese - welcome to the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame!