Kristi Echelberry was a player Coach Ed DiGregorio could count on to produce throughout her career. Echelberry, who was a forward on the women’s basketball team from 1991-95, averaged at least 12.4 points and 7.8 rebounds in each of her last three years with the program.
For her career, Echelberry scored a total of 1,281 points and grabbed 762 rebounds. Her point total ranks 10th in school history while her rebounds ranks fifth. In 108 games, she appeared in the starting lineup 77 times. She averaged 11.9 points per game and 7.1 rebounds a contest providing a constant consistent force for the Penguins.
She scored in double figures on 70 occasions, grabbed double digits in rebounds 28 times and finished with 22 double-doubles. She made 473-of-935 field-goal attempts (50.6 percent) and from the free-throw line was 323-of-433 (74.6 percent). Her percentage from the line is the fourth best in school history while her percentage from the field ranks fifth.
Echelberry also finished with 141 assists, 136 steals and 56 blocked shots.
As a senior in 1994-95 she was a first-team Mid-Continent Conference selection. Playing in 27 contest and starting 24, she scored 347 points (12.9 per game) and grabbed 215 rebounds (8.0 per game). She scored in double figures 21 times and posted six double-doubles.
Against Buffalo on March 6, she set a school record with 15 free-throws made on a school-best 18 free-throw attempts.
The Penguins finished the year 17-11 overall and 14-4 in the Mid-Con tying for the league title. YSU lost in the tournament championship game to Western Illinois.
Following that year, she was named YSU’s The Vindicator Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
As a junior in 1993-94, she scored 310 points (12.4 average) and grabbed 219 rebounds (7.8 average). She scored in double figures on 14 occasions, grabbed double digits in rebounds 10 times and had seven double-doubles. She had a personal career-high 20 rebounds against Sam Houston State.
As a sophomore in 1992-93, she scored 353 points (12.6 average) and grabbed 219 rebounds (7.8 average). She scored in double figures 17 times, had double figures in rebounds on nine occasions and had eight double-doubles.
As a freshman in 1991-92 she scored 271 points (9.7 average) and grabbed 128 rebounds (4.6 average). She scored in double figures 11 times and had a double-double. Near the end of her first year, she scored a career-high 30 points against Lock Haven.
While at Youngstown State she earned a bachelor’s degree in Education and went on to earn a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Cincinnati in 2000.
She is currently a teacher at Milford High School just outside of Cincinnati. She taught Physical Education for nine years before switching to the health classroom this year.
A native of Mantua, Ohio, she was a standout at Crestwood High School. She was a first-team all-state selection and was the class president as a senior.
Kristi McKenney and her husband Thomas have two children, Jack and Kaylie.
