Union High School Athletics

UC basketball legend Kristin Kirchner honored with Olympic banner

1/24/2023 1:49:00 PM

Jim Lambert

When Pam Holmes was an eighth grader back in 1976 at St. Bernard's School in Plainfield, she spent a lot of time reading the sports pages and attending basketball games at Union Catholic.

And each time she looked through the newspaper or sat in the stands, her eyes would always lock in on one name, one player - the legendary Kristin Kirchner, who at the time was a junior at Union Catholic and was one the best high school basketball players in the country.   

"I got the paper every day during the basketball season and looked for her (Kirchner) name, and I'd go to as many games of as I could to see her play,'' said Holmes. "I followed everything she did. I idolized her. I loved the intensity and passion she played with, and the great leader and teammate that she was. I told everyone that I was going to go to Union Catholic and play with Kris Kirchner. That was my dream.''

Holmes fulfilled her dream when she started for Union Catholic as a freshman, playing alongside Kirchner in the 1976-77 season as the two formed a bond that would last a lifetime.

The connection between Holmes and Kirchner became so strong that 47 years after they first played together at UC, Holmes drove from her home in Springdale, Maryland this past weekend  to Union Catholic to be part of a special ceremony on Saturday when Kirchner was honored posthumously with  the unveiling of a banner commemorating Kirchner's selection to the 1980 U.S. Olympic basketball team was unveiled. 

During her days at UC, Kirchner, a towering and dominating 6-4 center, was the first female 1,000-point scorer in school history, she led UC to its first Union County title in 1977, and she was named First-Team All State and was a Parade All-American. In addition to making the U.S. Olympic Team in 1980, Kirchner, who was inducted into the UC Hall of Fame in 1994, played on the U.S. Pan American team that won the gold medal in 1979, and she was an All-American at both Maryland and Rutgers.

Several of Kirchner's family and friends and numerous UC basketball alums were in attendance at the ceremony, which took place at halftime of the girls varsity basketball game vs. Scotch Plains-Fanwood, and many of them wore a replica of Kirchner's No. 23 high school jersey, including Holmes.
 
Holmes spoke to the large and energetic crowd during the ceremony..    

"I had to be here for Kris,'' said Holmes,'' who played college ball at Seton Hall. "Kris presented with the ball when I scored my 1,000 point as a senior in 1980, and that meant so much to me.. "Kris meant so much to me as a teammate, and a friend. She pushed me to be a better player and taught me how to be a leader. She inspired me on and off the court. This is a very special day in Union Catholic history, and I'm honored to be a part of it.''   

Kathy Matthews, who coached Kirchner at UC in 1977 and retired last year after 46 years and 750 career victories, the third most in NJ girls basketball history.   

"The resume that Kris put together at Union Catholic was just unbelievable,said Mathews. ''Kris was so committed to helping the young players we had on the team, like Pam, so that we could make some noise. Everyone saw the points and stats she put up and how dominate Kris was, but the impact she had on her teammates was a big part of what made her so great. She made everyone on the team better, and that's a quality that's very hard to teach a superstar. She was the ultimate teammate.''

Matthews said seeing so many of her former players beings back so many great memories.
 
"This ceremony, this day is all about tradition,'' said Matthews. "To see all the players that were part of the group that really got the Union Catholic girls basketball tradition started and the great value system that we instilled in all our players,'' said Matthews.   

Keith Kirchner, the brother of Kris, said it was a very uplifting and emotional day for him and his family. 

"This is a very inspiring day, and I am so grateful to Union Catholic for honoring my sister,'' said Kirchner. "We have a lot of great memories from watching Kris in this gym, and today is another great memory that we will never forget.''  

Current UC had girls basketball coach Jackie Dyer, another UC basketball alum (Class of 2001) who played for Matthews, said the ceremony made her players feel a connection to the great tradition at UC, and how special it is to be wearing a Union Catholic uniform. 

"I know what Union Catholic has always meant to me and that's a big reason why I came back, because I've always loved it here so much,'' said Dyer, whose team pulled out a thrilling 66-61 victory over SPF to add to the exciting day at UC. "I think hearing everyone talk at halftime about what a great teammate Kris was, and the great tradition of basketball here made the girls on the team realize just how special it is and how important it is to play at Union Catholic, and that it's a blessing to play for this program and play on this court.''