Sept. 18, 2015
Just seconds after Kellie Thompson Shiley broke North Carolina’s all-time scoring record with her 212th career goal, Beth Hewitt raced over to congratulate and hug her teammate, mentor and friend.
Thompson Shiley’s reaction was not what Hewitt expected. Still, at the same time, Thompson Shiley’s response reflected her desire to be the best but stay hungry and humble.
“She was mad (from receiving praise), because she was like, ‘Anyone can do this,'” said Hewitt, now Vanderbilt’s associate head coach. “She was that type of person that it was never that great. She wanted to outwork every single person, but didn’t feel like she was better than anyone else… She had such a drive to be the best person.”
Thirteen years later, Hewitt still remembers Thompson Shiley as “probably the most competitive person I’ve ever met.” The three-time All-American had a remarkable career, leading the Tar Heels to the Final Four in 2002 and finishing her career with a then-school record 222 goals, to go along with program records for goals in a game (8) and goals in a season (62).
“She didn’t take no for an answer,” said Hewitt, who was two years younger than Thompson Shiley. “Being an underclassmen I had no choice other than staying after practice every single day, whether I wanted to do one-on-ones with or not. I had no other option. She had such a drive to be the best person.”
In July 2012, Thompson Shiley died tragically at the age of 31 after complications from giving birth to twin daughters. She left behind her husband, a 2-year-old son and twin infant daughters.
“This rocked the whole lacrosse community,” Vanderbilt head coach Cathy Swezey said. “It rocked it because it was the loss of a great player and a great person. And, also, as a parent, the hit you knew that family was taking and these children who wouldn’t know their mom. That hit people hard, too. I know that hit me hard as a mother.”
Friends, family and the lacrosse community rallied together to figure out a way to honor Thompson Shiley and help her husband and three children. The result was the creation of the Kellie Thompson Shiley 5K & Family Fun Run. All of the proceeds benefit Thompson Shiley’s children.
This Sunday, the third annual Kellie Thompson Shiley 5K & Family Fun Run will be held in Chester, Md., and the Vanderbilt lacrosse team will be volunteering at the 5K. The Commodores will be in the area, playing George Mason on Saturday in a scrimmage.
“She gave so much to so many people,” said Hewitt, who is on the committee for the 5K. “It is a chance for everybody to come together and celebrate her.”
Thompson Shiley’s connection to the Vanderbilt lacrosse program doesn’t end with Hewitt. Former Vanderbilt All-American Megan Lewis went to high school with Thompson Shiley in Annapolis. Lewis will be at the 5K, along with former Commodore Liz Brisland (Drennan), who lives in Annapolis and was friends with Thompson Shiley.
And Swezey first met Thompson Shiley more than 15 years ago when she tried to recruit her to Vanderbilt. When Hewitt came to Swezey with the idea of the team helping at the 5K, Swezey jumped at the chance.
“A premise for our program is a family-first attitude,” Swezey said. “I just always promote, with our team, your family comes first no matter what. We’re going to be your second family but your blood is your first. So when this came up, and Beth brought it up, I was pretty psyched we had a chance to do something like this. I think it is important we give back.”
