Menchville Guidance Counselor Cynthia Marstellar was inducted into the JMU Athletic Hall of Fame on November 20, 1025.  According to the JMU Hall of Fame Website, Ms. Marstellar was the “CAA’s Outstanding Swimmer at the championship meet in both 1992 and 1993, giving her the distinction of being the only JMU student-athlete to earn the honor. She was also named the league’s Swimmer of the Year in 1993. At one time, she held eight JMU and seven CAA event records, including the JMU 100 fly mark that stood for 17 years.”

Q: Did it come as a surprise when you found out you had been selected?

A: Yes, the athletic director from JMU called and I thought he was possibly calling about one of my former students not about me, but then it turned out to be all about me. It turns out the person who nominated me, nominated me about 5 years ago so my family and I were very surprised and excited.

Q: What was your very first reaction when you heard the news?

A: Shocked! and also excitement. There was a lot of preparation I had to get done before the weekend of the Induction, but we were all looking forward to it.

Q: What did you have to do to get inducted into the Hall Of Fame at JMU?

A: Swimming is an individual sport, but it became a team sport to all my teammates who became my second family and we all wanted to preform our best for each other so that pushed me to do my best.

Q: Who was most inspiring to you?

A: The girls I swam with. My team.

Q: Do you think all your hard work paid off?

A: I don’t think I tackled every goal I wanted but I’m definitely satisfied.

Q: Would you want your children to carry on that legacy?

A: I was hoping they would want to go there, but I think they will each find their own path. I would like my girls to continue swimming at JMU though.