Sports
Lifelong Township Resident Inducted Into Temple Athletic Hall of Fame
Toni Byard-Jenkins, a graduate of Highland High School, was inducted into the university's Hall of Fame in October for her accomplishments as a field hockey and softball player.
When Toni Byard-Jenkins got the call from that she would be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, she was speechless.
“Words cannot describe it. It is an awesome, awesome, awesome honor,” said Byard-Jenkins, a lifelong Gloucester Township resident who played both field hockey and softball at Temple.
While at Temple, Byard-Jenkins earned All-American honors in field hockey in 1991 and 1992 and was named a finalist for both the prestigious Honda Broderick Award and the NCAA Woman of the Year. She was also named the 1989 Atlantic 10 Conference’s Rookie of the Year and an All-Tournment Team honoree.
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On the school's field hockey career charts, Byard-Jenkins ranks fifth in points scored (102 points) and fifth in goals scored (46). As a junior in 1991, she scored a career-high five goals against Hofstra. Temple advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times during her tenure.
On the softball field, Byard-Jenkins earned Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team honors in 1993 as an infielder.
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After graduating, she briefly played field hockey at the Olympic level.
Before her days at Temple, Byard-Jenkins attended , where she graduated in 1989. At Highland, she played field hockey, basketball and softball. Athletics were a family tradition—her mother, Gloria Byard, was her high school hockey coach and also an inductee into the Rowan University Hall of Fame in 1987 for her accomplishments in field hockey and lacrosse.
“My mother has been my biggest champion. She was and is my role model and my coach,” said Byard-Jenkins.
Byard-Jenkins is the mother to three boys, ages 13, 10 and 6. Her sons are continuing the athletic tradition and play on the youth football team. Her husband, Kevin Jenkins, coaches the 70-pound team. Byard-Jenkins is also on the board of and plays in a local women’s softball league.
“Gloucester Township is a great place to raise a family. There are so many opportunities for children to play sports and get involved in many activities,” said Byard-Jenkins.
Byard-Jenkins was inducted into the Hall of Fame along with four other former Temple student-athletes during Temple's homecoming game on Oct. 15 at Lincoln Financial Field.
