Fordham University Student-Athletes Honored at 14th Annual Breakfast for Champions

Bronx, N.Y. – One week after the NFL crowned a champion, Fordham University recognized 363 student-athletes as champions. The Rams in attendance were honored for compiling a 3.00 cumulative GPA or higher at the 14th Annual Breakfast for Champions in the McGinley Center. The event was sponsored by the Fordham Athletic Department with assistance from the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and the Office of Academic Advising.
 
The 363 in attendance represented over 69% of the student-athletes at Fordham.
 
After officiating a special mass for those being honored in the University Chapel, Father Jose-Luis Salazar, S.J., executive director of the University Mission and Ministry Office, got the ceremony started with the invocation.
 
Following breakfast, Dave Roach, Director of Athletics, welcomed the crowd and acknowledged the athletic academic support staff, coaches and athletic administrators. He also spoke of how special it was to honor the student-athletes in attendance who are true student-athletes.
 
After Deputy Athletic Director Charlie Elwood recognized the top team performer for each varsity program, Danielle Padovano, FCRH '16, GSB '17, introduced Joan Cronan, Athletic Director Emeritus of the University of Tennessee.  Cronan is the inaugural recipient of the NCAA President's Pat Summitt Award which recognizes an individual in the Association's membership for positively influencing college athletes and their experiences through the individual's career long commitment to advocating for college sports.
 
Cronan, who hired Roach as the women's swimming coach at Tennessee, served as the women's athletics director at the school for 29 years until 2012. During her tenure, Tennessee expanded women's varsity sports from seven to 11, and annual giving to support women's athletics increased to $2 million per year. Cronan prioritized academics with student-athletes, leading an initiative that stressed class attendance and engagement. As a result, female student-athletes earned an average 93 percent Graduation Success Rate during Cronan's tenure. Cronan, who has also authored a book titled Sports in Life with the Volume Turned Up, also started a community service component that emphasized civic responsibility as part of an athletics experience at the university.
 
"I think it's so important that you realize that you're not just playing a game, you're getting prepared for life," Cronan told the student-athletes. "And that's why I love sports."
 

When she would address student-athletes at Tennessee, Cronan told them four things. "I told them to remember who they were and who they represented; I told them that my favorite Bible verse was Luke 12:48 'To whom much is given, much is required'; I told them that the only place that success comes before work is in the dictionary; and I told them that it's not what you know, it's not who you know but it's who knows you."
 
Cronan spoke of her years with Tennessee Hall of Fame women's basketball coach Pat Summitt. "When people asked me what I thought made Pat Summitt such a great coach I would reply it was because she was a great teacher. I think the best coaches are great teachers."
 
Summitt was a large influence in Cronan's life and she spoke of the lessons learned from the legendary coach. "The first thing she taught me was courage. When she was diagnosed with this awful disease called Alzheimer's she demanded that we tell the truth about her disease. She then told me that 'I thought I was going to be remembered for winning basketball games but I hope I will be remembered for making a difference in this disease'."
 
Three weeks ago, Cronan was on hand when the Pat Summitt Clinic at the University of Tennessee Medical Center opened with the hope of finding a cure for the disease as well as helping the caretakers of those stricken with the disease.
 
Following her address, Cronan was presented a check for $2,000 for the Pat Summitt Foundation from volleyball student-athlete Emily Fronk, FCRH '18, men's tennis student-athlete Harris Durkovic, FCRH '18, and Padovano on behalf of Fordham SAAC.
 
Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University, wrapped up the ceremony by congratulating the student-athletes for their exploits, both on the playing fields and in the classroom.
 
McShane brought up a story of when he first arrived at Fordham and was walking across campus after a basketball game against St. John's. When he encountered students as he walked, he asked them who won and they responded "we did." McShane was confused as the students didn't appear to be players so he asked again and got the same response. It was then that he realized that the students felt as if they won through the exploits of the student-athletes.
 
"Your carry with you all the hopes and dreams of the Fordham community," said McShane. "We celebrate and share in your success and, just as important, you teach us to deal with failure with class and character. Thank you for everything you do for us."
 
Members of the football squad closed out the brunch with a rendition of the Fordham Fight Song.
 
Included in the 363 were 43 student-athletes who were recognized as four-year Breakfast for Champions attendees.
Luke Arlotto (Football)
Nicole Bates (Women's Soccer)
Turner Block (Women's Soccer)
Brianna Blunck (Women's Soccer)
Ariana Bottalico (Women's Track & Field)
Alex Bradian (Softball)
Kyuvane Brammer (Football)
Sydney Canessa (Softball)
Nicole Cruz (Cheerleading)
Allyson Doyle (Women's Soccer)
Jake Duckworth (Men's Track & Field)
Stephanie Ferri (Softball)
Megan Fitzgerald (Women's Soccer)
Kirk Haynes (Baseball)
Shannon Heaney (Women's Track & Field)
Andy Hickey (Men's Soccer)
Gregory Jelsma (Men's Swimming)
Josephine Jacob-Dolan (Women's Track & Field)
Matthew Kozuch (Baseball)
Hugh Lagrotteria (Golf)
Kalena Laurent (Women's Swimming)
Katerina Lisitsin (Women's Swimming)
Jason Lundy (Baseball)
Natalie Malicki (Women's Swimming)
Matt Massimino (Men's Basketball)
Shane McDonald (Baseball)
Ryan McGann (Men's Track & Field)
Hannah Missry (Women's Basketball)
Nicol Natale (Women's Soccer)
Maura O'Donnell (Rowing)
Kristen Ostach (Volleyball)
Danielle Padovano (Women's Basketball)
Lauren Quense (Softball)
Joe Pavlik (Football)
Jacquelyn Ramos (Rowing)
Nicholas Regan (Men's Track & Field)
Brianne Roche (Women's Track & Field)
Devin Rocks (Men's Track & Field)
Meaghan Roszyk (Women's Track & Field)
James Shinnick (Squash)
Robert Simkins (Men's Swimming)
Cristina Ulto (Women's Track & Field)
Amy Van Hoven (Softball)
 
Also recognized were the following that have the highest grade point average for their team:
Baseball – Matthew Kozuch
Men's Basketball – Christian Sengfelder
Women's Basketball – Danielle Burns
Cheerleading – Jillian Meyer
Football – Jonathan Dimon
Golf – Hugh Lagrotteria
Rowing – Catherine Napoli
Men's Soccer – Owen Lawrence
Women's Soccer – Clara Gastaldi
Softball – Maria Trivelpiece
Squash – Will Beatrez
Men's Swimming & Diving – Christopher Sleutjes
Women's Swimming & Diving – Nele Albers
Men's Tennis – Joseph Kavaloski
Women's Tennis – Carolina Sa
Men's Cross Country/Track – Richard Webber
Women's Cross Country/Track – Neve Devine
Volleyball – Emily Fronk
Water Polo – Joe Agabs