DuMond Tarnowski came to William Smith College as an accomplished and versatile athlete, but with the Heron field hockey and basketball teams, her skills and passion for sports soared. She won the Stephanie Christie ’82 Award, back-to-back Hazel Nettleship Hardy ’65 Awards, and the Marion Harrison Greene ’20 Award.
In field hockey, DuMond Tarnowski was a three-time All-American, scoring 33 goals and assisting on nine as a defender. The four-year starter’s career began with a bang as William Smith won the 1992 NCAA Division III National Championship with a 22-1 record. The following season, DuMond Tarnowski more than doubled her offensive production (7 pts in ’92, 17 pts in ’93) and led William Smith to the NCAA quarterfinals, garnering third team All-America honors. In 1994, she erupted for a career-high 14 goals as the Herons again reached the national quarterfinals, resulting in first team All-America praise. DuMond Tarnowski capped her field hockey career with her third straight All-America award behind a nine-goal, four-assist effort.
In basketball, DuMond Tarnowski was a complete player, dominating on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. She could change the flow of a game with an intimidating block of an opponent’s shot and fuel a scoring run at the other end of the floor with a dagger from beyond the arc, a dizzying display of post moves, or a precise pass to an open teammate.
The four-year starter ranks in the top 13 on William Smith’s career lists for blocked shots (1st, 210), free throw percentage (1st, .818), three-point shooting (4th, .344), free throws made (4th, 306), rebounds (7th, 632), points (8th, 1,216), threepointers made (8th, 88), assists (9th, 275), field goals made (10th, 411), and steals (13th, 210).
DuMond Tarnowski was named the conference and regional rookie of the year in 1993 after averaging 13.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocked shots and shooting 50.2 percent from the floor. A year later, she was voted the conference player of the year on the strength of 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. DuMond Tarnowski wrapped up her career with 11.4 points, a .417 three-point percentage, and a career-high 57 blocked shots as the Herons made the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season and reached the round of 16 for the first time in program history.
Originally from Sidney, N.Y., DuMond Tarnowski earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies from William Smith. She is currently a preschool assistant teacher and an independent distributor for Premier Designs Jewelry. DuMond Tarnowski was inducted into the Section IV Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Sidney High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
