Xavier athletic director inducted into hall of fame

By Mary Moore
The Catholic Sun

Sr. Lynn Winsor, BVM, was inducted into the National Council for Secondary School Athletic Directors’ Hall of Fame in late April.

Sr. Lynn is vice principal for activities and athletic director at Xavier College Preparatory and is a certified master athletic administrator. A graduate of Xavier’s Class of 1961, she returned to the all-girls Catholic high school in 1974 and took over as athletic director in 1977. Under her direction, Xavier’s athletics program takes numerous state titles each year.

As head golf coach, Sr. Lynn has led Xavier’s golf team to state championships for 22 of the last 24 years — a national record. In 2004, the team was ranked first in the nation. One of Sr. Lynn’s many national and state awards was being named Arizona Interscholastic Association Girls’ High School Golf Coach of the Century in 2001.

That same year, Sr. Lynn was named the NCSSAD’s National High School Athletic Director of the Year. Other honors include the 2003 YWCA Tribute to Women Award in the sports leader category and earning the Nike Athletic Director of the Year Award in 1999. Sr. Lynn also has received the National Federation citation, the highest award in athletic administration.

Of her latest achievement in being inducted into the hall of fame, Sr. Lynn said she is honored to be one of very few, if any, Catholic school athletic directors to receive the honor.

“It’s a huge honor and I have so may people to thank, especially our principal, Sr. Joan, who has really supported me as I have gone into to so many national athletic organizations. It’s nice to receive honors no matter what it is,” she said. “It’s very exciting.”

Sr. Joan Fitzgerald, Xavier principal, said the coach is very deserving of the award.

“She’s put a wonderful program together here at Xavier and she has done wonderful things for girls’ sports at the state level and nationally.”