Manhattanville Athletics Hall of Fame
Judy Murphy was one of the first athletic stars of Manhattanville College during the early to mid-1940s, playing four years on the varsity field hockey and women’s basketball teams in addition to three years on the women’s lacrosse team and even one year of varsity tennis.
Coming to Manhattanville having never played field hockey or lacrosse and having no expectation to play any sports, she was picked out of gym class to play on the College’s varsity field hockey team as a freshman and also picked up lacrosse soon after, quickly becoming one of (if not the) most well-regarded athlete on Manhattanville’s campus. Murphy was praised in her senior yearbook as “our star on the hockey field, the basketball court and the lacrosse team” and “a delight to the college.”
Manhattanville played games primarily against club teams and a few local colleges in the 1940s, and also was one of two college lacrosse teams to receive an invitation to participate in a New York State Tournament at which she received honorable mention recognition. After college, Murphy also played tennis at the national level, participating in multiple tournaments around the country.
In addition to her time spent with Manhattanville’s athletics teams, Murphy also volunteered for the Red Cross at Knickerbocker Hospital across the street from campus, was a four-year Class Council member and served as president of Manhattanville’s Athletic Association as a senior.
