By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shannon (Suddarth) Wisne's spectacular swimming career at Hayden Catholic High School and Notre Dame is well behind her, but sports are still a very important part of her life.
Former Hayden swimming and cross country star Shannon (Suddarth) Wisne was back at her alma mater Saturday to be inducted into the Hayden Hall of Fame. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"We have six children, 23 to 8 years old, and they keep me very busy,'' said Wisne, who was back at Hayden Saturday to be inducted into the Hayden Hall of Fame. "We had 13 games this just one weekend and actually my son (Brock) is going to be on ESPN+ during this (ceremony).''
"He plays D-I basketball for Northern Colorado and my daughter (Arielle) played for the Indiana Hoosiers. She played her fifth year last year and my son is a junior. I have another one in college and I have son who is highly-ranked in the state in basketball, a middle-schooler and then our baby is an 8-year-old.''
Basketball is the sport of choice for the offspring of Wisne and her husband, former Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jerry Wisne, but Shannon still remains heavily involved with swimming, the sport that made her a six-time state champion at Hayden and a nine-time All-American at Notre Dame.
"I've coached our local swim team for 15 years and I have (my children) swim on my swim team until they're going into high school, but they're all basketball, a little bit of golf,'' said Wisne, who also works as a substitute teacher. "Actually, some of them are good at swimming, but then basketball takes over.
"I think it's because my husband's really tall, he's 6-foot-9 and I'm tall, so my daughter's listed at 6-5, my son is 6-9 and my other son is 6-6. My other daughter is over 6 feet, so that's how basketball happened and (Jerry) wouldn't let them play football. No football and they just love ball sports.''
In addition to her record-setting swimming career at Hayden, Wisne was also an integral part of three state championship cross country teams and was the individual state runnerup in cross country and Saturday gave Wisne, who now lives in Denver, a somewhat rare opportunity to get back to Topeka.
"The Streckers (Rick and Kathy) made a huge impact on me,'' Wisne said. "It's a very big community, but most of all I loved Hayden because it had God in it and the church part. And for me, that's where I grew in my relationship with the Lord and that was the foundation of what Hayden did for me and it was just a beautiful experience.
"It was so wonderful here that there are some things in life that when you appreciate them in the moment you know it's really awesome and being here was amazing.''
Wisne was part of Hayden's five-member 2024 induction class along with Mark Burghart, the late Jessica Mae Carpenter, Judy Cucciniello and Jack McGivern.
Hall of Fame capsules:
Hayden Alumni Achievement
MARK BURGHART
Burghart began his career as a research analyst in the Kansas Legislative Research Department before becoming General Counsel for the Kansas Department of Revenue, where he served for seven years.
During that time, he was responsible for litigating state and use tax cases for local, multi-state, and international businesses. Mark played a key role in developing important tax incentive programs, such as the Job Expansion and Investment Credit Act and the Enterprise Zone Act, and won a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. He also chaired the Attorney's Section of the Federation of Tax Administrators from 1989-1990.
Burghart's professional career has been centered around helping those in need. He has coached student-athletes, served on the Hayden Catholic High School Board and is currently an usher at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, he is a member of the Church Restoration Committee and has contributed to various parish initiatives as a lifelong member of Sacred Heart-St. Joseph’s Parish.
Hayden Alumni Achievement
JESSICA MAE CARPENTER
The late Carpenter dedicated her life to education and was honored as the namesake of the Jessica Carpenter Elementary School in Pflugerville, Texas.
Born in Topeka, Jessica attended St. Matthew Catholic Grade School, Hayden Catholic High School and earned her degree in Elementary Education from Kansas State University in 2001.
Her 20-year teaching career spanned from St. Matthew Catholic grade school in Topeka to Brookhollow Elementary in Texas, where she was a Special Education Resource Teacher and a district leader. Carpenter's dedication to her students, even through her four-year battle with cancer, earned her the respect of her community. In 2011-2012, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year by the Pflugerville Independent School District (ISD) and was instrumental in bringing innovative teaching methods into the classroom. Her passion for helping students with special needs, her involvement in school activities, and her commitment to education left a lasting impact on countless lives.
In 2020, after her passing, the Pflugerville ISD Board of Trustees honored her legacy by naming a new elementary school after her, following an overwhelming community vote.
Hayden Student Athletic/Activity Achievement
SHANNON (SUDDARTH) WISNE
During her career at Hayden, Suddarth was a six-time state swimming champion and went on to become a nine-time All-American at the University of Notre Dame. During her time at Hayden, Suddarth dominated the 100-yard breaststroke, winning three consecutive state titles and setting state records, one of which stood for eight years.
In addition to her swimming achievements, Suddarth was an integral member of three state championship cross country teams and the individual state runnerup in cross country. At Notre Dame, she continued her success, earning first-team All-American honors in 1998 with an eighth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke at the NCAA Division I national championships. She set Big East records in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke, which remained unbroken for 11 years.
Shannon’s dedication to her faith, family and community, along with her excellence in athletics, has earned her a well-deserved place in Topeka’s rich history of outstanding athletes. She ranks 66th on the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Top 100 Topeka High School Athletes list.
Hayden Staff Achievement
JUDY CUCCINIELLO
Cuccieniello has been part of the Hayden Catholic family since 1992. As a long-standing member of the Hayden faculty, Cucciniello taught in the science department for 28 years, primarily College/AP Chemistry, where she encouraged many students to pursue careers in both chemistry and education.
Her impact extends beyond the classroom, as she has spent countless hours running after-school and evening study halls to provide additional support to all students in need. Over the past few years, Cucciniello transitioned to full-time special education, working closely with Hayden's counseling department to assist the student body on academic plans. Her deep commitment to helping students overcome challenges is personal, having overcome her own struggles with dyslexia and an auditory processing disorder.
She credits a dedicated nun from her early schooling with inspiring her own journey toward academic success, which eventually led to her earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Seton Hall University. In addition to her academic contributions, Mrs. Cucciniello is a pillar of the Catholic faith within Hayden. She participates actively in Hayden's faith initiatives, including School of Faith, and supports students and staff in their spiritual journeys. In 2022, Mrs. Cucciniello was recognized as the Kansas Association of Independent Schools Teacher of the Year for the Archdiocese in Kansas City.
Hayden Contributor
JACK McGIVERN
McGivern is the owner and operator of JF McGivern Inc. and was inducted into the Topeka Business Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding achievements in business and his commitment to the local community. Jack transformed a small, garage-based painting company into a thriving regional enterprise, specializing in commercial painting and growing it into a multimillion-dollar organization.
In addition to his business success, McGivern has been a lifelong supporter of Catholic education. He sent his 11 children to Catholic schools and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren continue this tradition. McGivern's dedication to Hayden Catholic High School spans over 50 years. His contributions include uniforms, equipment, vehicles, painting services and financial gifts.
McGivern has been an active member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish and is known for his willingness to help anyone in need, often without knowing the individuals personally.
