The University of Detroit Mercy will induct seven new members into its Hall of Fame on Jan. 28-29, 2017. The Class of 2017 includes one team, the 2004 Women's Soccer Team, standout student-athletes in Teresa Emery (Softball), Tony Kaseta (Baseball), Shireese Statin (Track & Field), Jack Szczepaniuk (Track & Field) and Mark Sommerfeld (Golf), along with former women's basketball coach and women's athletic coordinator Susan Kruszewski. As we count down to Hall of Fame weekend, DetroitTitans.com will feature each of the seven inductees.
DETROIT (1/17/17) – When it came to winning, perhaps nobody in the University of Detroit Mercy women's track and field history felt the joys of victory more than Shireese Watkins (Statin) '00. The sprinter not only won a number of individual titles, but also led the Titans to four championships in her prolific career. This month, Watkins will be rewarded with the highest honor Detroit Mercy can bestow upon a student-athlete as she enters the Titan Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the 2017 class.
"It is an honor and a privilege to be recognized as an inductee. I am honored and humbled to be recognized with such great athletes," said Watkins. "I am thankful for all of the love and support from friends, family, coaches and teammates. This would not be possible without any of them for nothing is accomplished alone. I was blessed to have a tremendous support system around me. People who helped me keep things in perspective, and for that I am grateful."
Watkins' achievements on the racetrack were extraordinary. She was honored twice as the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) Outdoor Outstanding Performer in 1999 and 2000, while also garnering Indoor Outstanding Performer accolades in 1999.
"Those awards should also have the name of my coaches and teammates on them, because we stand as one," said Watkins. "I am truly humble because without the help of my coaches and teammates, none of it would be possible. Coach Murray demanded excellence and pushed us all. He taught me things I never knew."
During her career, she was undefeated in league competition in the indoor 60-meter and 200-meter dashes, winning all eight races from 1997-2000. In the outdoor championships, she added two wins in the 100m (1999, 2000) and two more in the 200m (1999, 2000). She added four relay titles, three of which came in the 4x100m (1999-2001) and the final coming in the 4x400m (2000).
Watkins also owns the school record in the 60m, 100m and 200m, while also holding the top spot as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team in the Titan record books. She also ranks second in the 300-meter dash.
She is one of just three Horizon League runners to win the 60m and 200m four times and also holds the Horizon League 55-meter dash all-time mark, clocking a sprint of 7.14 seconds as a senior in 2000.
"Shireese is all you can hope for in a student-athlete," said Director of Track and Field
Guy Murray '89. "She was a fierce competitor that worked hard and didn't let injuries prevent her from performing at an extremely high level. She had the ability to find an extra notch and take herself to another level… When you have that, it's special."
With Watkins' help, the Titans won four conference championships: back-to-back MCC Indoor Championships in 1998 and 1999, and repeat outdoor titles in 1999 and 2000. Both outdoor championships are the only outdoor titles in women's program history.
"I will always remember the camaraderie of the team and how we all pushed each other and believed in one another," Watkins said. "There was always someone on every side of the track so you could always hear and see a teammate cheering you on. I really appreciated the feeling of community that the University instilled in us."
In 1998, she led the Titans to win the indoor championships, taking first in the 60 and 200-meters to help the University to a win by eight points over Milwaukee. In 1999, she won both events again as the Titans defended their team title in the indoor campaign. The squad would come close to an indoor three-peat, but settled for runner-up honors in 2000.
"During the '99 season, an injury popped up and the trainers didn't want her to run at the league meet," added Murray. "So I met with her and she marched back down to the training room and told them, 'I'm running.' She would not be denied. She won her events going away. That team wasn't favored to win the title and they made it clear that we were going to take it. Without Shireese, we don't pull that off."
Watkins also holds several rookie records that are still standing from her Newcomer of the Year season in 1997. During the indoor schedule, her rookie records in the 55-meter, 60-meter, 200-meter and 300-meter still remain, as do her outdoor rookie records in the 100-meter and 200-meter.
"I was a young coach back then and learned a lot from Shireese and that group of student-athletes," recalls Murray. "Looking back, you certainly relish how great they were. The Hall of Fame induction is great recognition for our program, but I am especially proud of Shireese and everything she's been able to accomplish."
Reflecting on her career, Watkins attributes much of her success to her family and the support system around her.
"There were so many people who played an integral part in my success and I can't begin to name them all," said Watkins. "I attribute my education and my success to both my parents. I am especially indebted to the efforts made by my mother. She is a huge part of who I am today. I am also grateful for the time and energy my high school coach Donald Stuckey put into me. I was so blessed to have several coaches, tutors, and mentors at Detroit Mercy who also attributed to my success."
"I will never forget the love and support I received from my teammates and coaches, and the lifelong friendships that were made," added Watkins.
"Being a girl from the inner city and coach Murray giving me an opportunity to attend a great University to now being inducted into the Titan Hall of Fame is a real blessing," Watkins continued. "I hope that my story will inspire other young athletes to work at being their best – for you never know where it may lead you!"
Hall of Fame weekend is set for Jan. 28-29 with the formal induction ceremony scheduled for Jan. 28. The 2017 Class will also be honored during halftime of the men's basketball game vs. Green Bay on Jan. 29.
"I'm excited to come back on campus to see all of the changes that have been made," added Watkins. "I'm also excited to see some faces I haven't seen in many years. I am overjoyed to share this moment with my husband and now eight-month-old daughter, and walk down memory lane with them."
