CATHY ELBERSON CLASS OF '81 YEAR OF INDUCTION: 2012 Almost everything you need to know comes from one of her favorite sayings: "I played the game, I played it smart, my energy and passion comes from the heart." Cathy Elberson played the games smartly and full of energy and passion. She lives her life the same way, refusing to be knocked down by an autoimmune disease which has curtailed some of her physical activities. Elberson is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. When a car accident threatened to derail her multi-sport career, she found an ally in someone who joins her as an inductee in the Steinert High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2012. "Jean Philpet helped me tremendously," Elberson said of the Hall of Fame coach. "I had a car accident and it tore my hand up to the bone. Broke my leg, too. She’d say, 'at 6 a.m., meet me at the pool (for recuperation activities).' I'll never forget that. She's a great woman." Elberson earned six varsity letters - three in soccer and three in softball - and ended her high school career with Player of the Year laurels after the strikeout expert guided the Spartans to a championship 20-4 season in the spring of 1981. A three-time all-county selection, Elberson also received all-state recognition and served as a team captain as a junior and a senior. She posted a record of 50-9 and set school records for strikeouts in a season and career. She played on four championship teams - two in each sport - and moved on to excel at Mercer County Community College. Inducted into the Trenton Softball Hall of Fame in 2004, Elberson had a successful run in the adult leagues, including playing in an all-men's fast-pitch softball league. Elberson has been an administrative analyst/accountant with the State of New Jersey for 27 years and she also umpired high school games for more than a decade. RETURN TO THE HALL OF FAME MEMBERS PAGE