News
Crouse, Sisson Welcomed Into Athletics Hall of Fame
The Roberts Wesleyan University Athletics Hall of Fame welcomed two new members on Sunday evening.
Shawna Williams Crouse, who starred for the women's basketball team for two seasons, and former men's basketball coach and athletic director Dr. Kenneth Sisson were honored at the Reggies athletic awards ceremony.
The Roberts Wesleyan University Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes student-athletes, coaches and contributors who have achieved tremendous success and or have made significant contributions to the Raiders and Redhawks Athletic Department and beyond.
Here is more information on the newest inductees:
Shawna Williams Crouse (2000)
Crouse arrived at Roberts in 1998 after stellar careers at Greece Athena High School and Monroe Community College.
Crouse averaged 13.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game during her two seasons at Roberts. She scored more than 750 points over her two seasons and was named the American Mideast Conference Player of the Year in 2000. She also led Roberts to its first Chase Tournament championship and was named first-team All-American by the National Christian College Athletic Association and an NAIA third-team All-American.
"Shawna was a game-changer for the women's basketball program," former head coach Chris Williams said. "On the court, she excelled with a silky-smooth mid-range game. She was a ferocious rebounder and her play catapulted Roberts into area prominence, especially in the Chase Tournament. She also changed local recruiting by attending Roberts after a stellar career at Monroe Community College, she inspired other local student–athletes to attend Roberts and excel."
After graduating from Roberts, Crouse earned her Master's in Literacy Education from Nazareth. Crouse has worked for the Marcus Whitman Central School District for 16 years and is currently the Reading Intervention Specialist.
She lives in the Finger Lakes Region with her husband, Larry, and two children.
Dr. Kenneth Sisson
Sisson, who has been honored posthumously, arrived at Roberts in 1984 after 19 successful years at East Stroudsburg State in Pennsylvania and a coaching career that had spanned 34 years. Sisson earned his undergraduate and Master's degrees from Ithaca College and received a Doctorate of Education from the University of West Virginia.
During his time at Roberts, Sisson left a mark on our institution. He took over a men's basketball program that had gone 5-75 the past three seasons and quickly fashioned back-to-back 20-win campaigns.
He oversaw the building of the Life Fitness Center (now Voller Athletic Center) and secured Julius Erving to provide the dedication remarks for the building and was instrumental in having NBA star Patrick Ewing film a public service announcement on drug free athletics in the arena.
Sisson retired as basketball coach in 1995 after receiving numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Award from the NCCAA in 1992 and being recognized as the Rochester Area College Athletics (RACA) Coach of the Year in 1994.
"I know my father had many fond memories of Roberts," his daughter, Kerry Palumbo, said. "I have to say the number one favorite thing for him was the people he got to work with, on and off the court. He also enjoyed his work in the planning of the Voller Life Fitness Center."
Sisson, who passed away in 2018, was represented at the ceremony by his wife, Jerry, daughter, Kerry, and son, Kenneth Jr.