It was announced tonight at Kingston City Council that Mary Jane Besselink will be joining her brother Gerry and our league founder Don “Pete” Petersen in the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame during the induction ceremonies to be held on Friday May 6 at Our Lady of Fatima Parish Hall. Mary Jane will be enshrined at the ceremony along with Barbara Allan (Builder – Golf), Betty Bush (Athlete – Curling); Joe Putos (Builder – Triathlon) and Corey Trudeau (Athlete – Track and Football). Here is what was said about Mary Jane during her introduction tonight at City Council by Doug Jeffries – “Born in Kingston, Mary Jane began her basketball career under the watchful eye of Kingston and District Sports Hall Of Fame member Don “Pete” Petersen at St. Patrick’s School on Patrick Street, and in the Knights of Columbus Basketball League, before continuing on to Regiopolis Notre Dame, where she was a multi-sport athlete, playing basketball, volleyball, and soccer, rowing and participating in track and field as a high jumper and relay runner. All of this love of competition, and commitment to her school sports program, earned Mary Jane the RND Junior Athlete Of The Year in grades 9 and 10, and Senior Athlete Of The Year in Grades 11, 12 and 13. Mary Jane played for team Ontario twice, winning a gold and silver medal, and being named to the All Star team for the tournament in 1988. In 1989 Mary Jane earned a full scholarship to the University of Hartford, where she became a four – year starter for the Hawks. She led the team in rebounds each of her four seasons, led the team in scoring twice and blocked shots once. More than 20 years after finishing her career at the University, Mary Jane is still listed in the top ten for the school in points, scoring average, field goals, field goals attempted, rebounds, rebound average, blocked shots, games started and average minutes per game.
Described as a tremendous athlete, a humble person off the court but a firey competitor on it, she was true “trail blazer” for other athletes following their dreams. Mary Jane has been recognized for her contributions to basketball with inductions into the St. Pat’s, Regiopolis Notre Dame, University of Hartford and the New England Basketball Halls of Fame. “
Congratulations Mary Jane! We are proud to know you, and proud of your association with our program. The Kingston Whig Standard also has a story about the inductees available on line now and in print tomorrow morning.
