Hall of Fame
Laura Bender McGuinness, a two-sport athlete in field hockey and lacrosse, earned the Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer Scholar Athlete award in 2004. Bender McGuinness excelled both on and off the field, earning academic and athletic distinction on the regional and national level. As a senior in 2003, Bender McGuinness earned National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association (NFHCA) All-America second team honors and was named to the NEWMAC All-Conference team in field hockey and lacrosse, completing a career that included three-time NFHCA Field Hockey All-Region honors (2001-03), three-time NEWMAC Field Hockey All-Conference honors (2001-03) and two-time NEWMAC lacrosse All-Conference recognition (2002, 2004). The MVP of the Seven Sisters field hockey tournament in 2003, Bender McGuinness was a two-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference selection (2002-03) and a three-time NFHCA DIII National Academic Squad honoree (2001-03). Bender McGuinness was also named to the 25-Year All-NEWMAC Field Hockey team. Field hockey finished with a four-year record of 55-23, winning the NEWMAC championship in 2002 and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Lacrosse had a four-year mark of 32-28, winning the NEWMAC Championship in 2001.
When I learned I was being inducted into the Wellesley College Athletic Hall of Fame, I was incredibly honored... and then I found myself wondering how more than twenty years had gone by so quickly! As I started reflecting on my time at Wellesley, the memories came flooding back: the bus rides, preseason workouts, spring trips to Florida, team dinners, practices that pushed us to our limits, and the countless moments in between that made those four years so special. I realized my favorite memories now were exactly the same ones they had always been during those four years: my teammates, my coaches, and the experience of being part of something bigger than myself.
I remember forming friendships that have lasted a lifetime, coaches who challenged me to expect more from myself, and the privilege of being part of a team that always believed in one another. Some seasons brought more wins than we could count, while others were much more challenging. But our objectives never changed. We showed up for one another, worked hard, supported each other, and represented Wellesley with pride every time we stepped onto the field. Looking back, those experiences shaped me far more than any final score ever could.
I was certainly grateful for the individual recognition I received throughout my career, but what mattered most to me was contributing to a team. Some of my proudest memories came from watching others succeed, cheering for a teammate's incredible goal or save, lifting the spirits of someone who was injured, and eventually having the opportunity to serve as captain during my final two seasons of field hockey. That role taught me that leadership isn't about having all the answers or being the loudest voice. It's about earning trust and helping others be their best.
Wellesley athletics also gave me confidence. I arrived hoping to become a better athlete, but I left with so much more. Competing in two sports while balancing academics taught me discipline, resilience, and how to push beyond what I thought I was capable of. More importantly, it helped me discover strengths that have stayed with me throughout my career and personal life.
Today, I see these same lessons through a different lens. As I watch my own children play sports, I find myself caring less about wins and losses and more about the experience they're having. I hope they have coaches who challenge them, teammates who support them, the desire to work hard, and opportunities to grow -- just as I did at Wellesley. The lessons that have stayed with me aren't about records or awards. They're about character, teamwork, and learning to lead.
Being inducted into the Wellesley College Athletic Hall of Fame is an incredible honor, especially because it brings me back to a place and a community that helped shape who I am. I am grateful to my coaches, my teammates, my family, my friends and everyone who was part of that journey. More than twenty years later, I still carry those lessons with me every day, and I will always be proud to call myself a Wellesley student-athlete!
