Bridget McKeever, an athlete who graduated from the Wallkill Senior High School and Mount Saint Mary College, was inducted into the latter’s Athlete Hall of Fame last Saturday, December 2 at 4 p.m. for her accomplishments on the college’s soccer team.

Bridget gravitated towards sports at five years old when she began playing soccer. She would go on to play varsity soccer and basketball at the Wallkill Senior High School teams and help both her teams win the Section IX championships.

“Predominantly, she’s been playing soccer since she was five years old,” said Joe McKeever, Bridget’s father. “In Wallkill High School, she played four years of basketball, three of which Wallkill won the Section IX championship for basketball.”

Between basketball and soccer, Bridget enjoyed the camaraderie she shared with teammates, the friends she made, and the two sports’ contrasting play styles.

“I enjoyed the vast difference between the two sports as far as fitness and game strategy of soccer and basketball. I think it helped me integrate skills from each sport into the other,” Bridget said. “I have made lifelong friendships from both sports and couldn’t feel more lucky to have formed those bonds.”

During her attendance at Mount Saint Mary College, Bridget played on the women’s soccer team from 2014 to 2017 as a defense and forward player. She accumulated numerous accolades while on the team, including the 2014 Skyline Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the 2017 Skyline Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and all-conference recognition for all four years.

“I think her standout moments were making all-conference team, I want to say she made it all four years of her college career. But probably her proudest has been on the all-academic team, both in high school and in college,” Joe said.

For Bridget, her proudest achievements were managing her studies and sports at the same time and gaining her coaches’ approvals.

“Being a collegiate athlete in general is a big accomplishment in balancing both academia and sports. I think that achievement has been understated in society,” she said. “My personal biggest moment was probably earning the respect of my coaches and coaches in the league regarding the way I hold myself and compete in games. Also winning defensive player of the year twice was pretty cool.”

Bridget’s legacy was further solidified last Saturday when she and five other athletes were inducted into Mount Saint Mary’s Athlete Hall of Fame, where nominees are permanently etched into the college’s sporting history.

“I am excited to take the time to be present in celebrating this moment of achievement,” Bridget said prior to the induction.

After graduating from Mount Saint Mary in 2018, Bridget attended Le Moyne College in Dewitt and obtained a physician assistant degree. She currently resides in Newburgh and balances her time between working as a physician assistant and playing in soccer leagues. Outside of work and sports, Bridget has also volunteered for her Catholic church and Beautiful People Sports, a nonprofit organization that provides adaptive sports to children and adults with disabilities, and soon she will embark on medical mission trips to help people in other countries who need care.

Becoming a PA has been the best career choice I could’ve made. Every day I go to work, I know this is what I was meant to do in my life,” Bridget said regarding her career. “The road to become a PA was mentally strenuous, but I felt being a collegiate athlete helped me multi-task, work hard, and have the mental fortitude to achieve my goals.”

“I’m very proud of her, not just for her sports but also her academic achievements and who she’s grown as a person. She’s a great contributor to the communities she volunteers time, whether it’s her in our Catholic church or it’s supporting an organization called Beautiful People,” Joe said.

Cindy Connoly ’18, Softball

Connoly’s softball prowess is reflected in her impressive list of accolades. She was named the Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year for three consecutive years (2015-2017) and secured the Most Outstanding Player title in the Skyline Conference Championship from 2016 to 2018. Connoly’s remarkable achievements include holding multiple school records, such as career wins, single-season strikeout record, and career RBIs.

Beyond her on-field accomplishments, Connoly excelled academically, earning recognition as the Scholar Athlete of the Year and Student Athlete of the Year. Currently serving as a registered nurse in the ICU at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Connoly attributes much of her success to the valuable skills she developed as a student-athlete at the Mount.

Reflecting on her time at the Mount, Connoly expresses gratitude for the memories made with teammates and the unwavering support of her family. Her proudest moment as a Knight was winning the Skyline Championship in 2016, marking a historic achievement for the softball program.