STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — In her induction speech into the Fordham University Sports Hall of Fame, Staten Island native Courtney Collyer McManus told the large crowd that, \u201cI didn\u2019t find swimming, swimming found me. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo one in my family swam. My dad and older brothers played baseball, and ran track. I joined the track team … and loved it, but there was no summer track. When our family joined the local swim club, my parents suggested I try the swim team \u2014 and that\u2019s where it all began.\u201c<\/p>\n
That local swim club was Great Kills SC, where Collyer McManus is currently head coach today. She later swam for the Blue Arrow Swim Club at the College of Staten Island before becoming a standout at St. Joseph by-the-Sea.<\/p>\n
Her high school success in the pool and classroom paved the way for her entrance into Fordham in 2008, where she had a brilliant career, which included such accolades as being eight-time Atlantic 10 champion, winning the 200 butterfly all four years of competition, setting multiple school and conference records, and in 2012 receiving the Terence O\u2019Donnell Award for sportsmanship, dedication and self-discipline. <\/p>\n
\u201cSwimming has been such a constant in my life, and my time at Fordham means so much to me, so this honor is incredibly meaningful,\u201d said Collyer McManus, who grew up in Great Kills but has since relocated to Westerleigh with her husband Sean, her daughter Sadie with a second child on the way. \u201cI still coach and compete in Masters swimming\u2014although I\u2019m currently eight months pregnant and on a brief hiatus\u2014so the sport remains a huge part of who I am. To be recognized for my dedication and accomplishments is truly special. When I think about the other incredible athletes who are part of the Fordham Hall of Fame\u2014names like Vince Lombardi\u2014it\u2019s humbling and truly an honor to be included among them.” <\/p>\n
She was one of seven Rams to be inducted into the school\u2019s Hall that night.<\/p>\n
When asked what her most memorable moment in the pool at Fordham was, she noted that plenty stood out. <\/p>\n
\u201cBeyond the everyday memories with my teammates\u2014including my now-husband, Sean McManus\u2014my most memorable moments came at the Atlantic 10 Championship meets,\u201d she said. \u201cI loved swimming the 200 butterfly, and winning that event all four years is something I\u2019m extremely proud of. While those individual accomplishments meant a lot, nothing compares to relay wins with teammates. I was fortunate to be part of the winning 800 freestyle relay both my freshman and senior years. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs a freshman, I was swimming alongside women I admired so much, and it felt incredibly full-circle to finish my career by winning that same relay as a senior. I also can\u2019t overlook my sophomore year, when we won the Atlantic 10 Championship and became the first women\u2019s team in Fordham history to do so. Being part of that historic team is something I\u2019ll always cherish.\u201d<\/p>\n
She credits Jim Cooney, the late Great Kills Swim Club coach for much of her success.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was fortunate to have a summer league coach who believed in me before I even knew what I was capable of,\u201d she said. \u201cHe is the person who introduced me to swimming and recognized my talent. I currently coach the GKSC swim team with his daughter (Kelli Legate) and we are keeping his legacy alive, trying to inspire more athletes to pursue college swimming and diving.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Fordham University Hall of Fame was established in 1971 and is more than 400 members strong as it honors those individuals who have made significant contributions as a member of the Rams, whether as a player, coach, administrator, or alumnus.<\/p>\n
TD Five Boro Bike Tour is coming up <\/p>\n