Fordham University Student-Athletes Honored At 12th Annual Breakfast for Champions

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Bronx, N.Y. (February 8, 2015) – Over the past year, Fordham University has honored four different athletic teams for winning conference championships. Today, the Rams  recognized 348 student-athletes as champions for their academic prowess at the twelfth annual Breakfast for Champions in the McGinley Center Ballroom and Lounge.  The Rams in attendance were honored for compiling a 3.00 cumulative GPA or higher at an event sponsored by the Fordham Athletic Department with assistance from the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and the Office of Academic Advising.
 
The 348 in attendance represented over 65% of the student-athletes at Fordham.
 

Jessica Widmann, FCRH '15, Vice President of SAAC and a member of the women's soccer program, welcomed the crowd and introduced Monsignor Joseph Quinn, vice president for university mission and ministry, for the invocation. Prior to the breakfast, Monsignor Quinn celebrated a special Breakfast for Champions mass in the ballroom.
 
Following breakfast, David Roach, Director of Athletics, provided opening remarks, welcoming and honoring the student-athletes in attendance.
 
"We all realize how difficult it is to balance Division I athletics with a rigorous academic program," said Roach. "But you all do it so well, both in the classroom and on the fields, courts, in the pool and on the track."
 
After Deputy Director of Athletics Charlie Elwood recognized the top team performer for each varsity program, Widmann introduced the keynote speaker, Gina Greer, GSB '94, a member the 1994 Fordham University women's varsity lightweight four which was the first Fordham team to win a national championship, who is a partner at Deloitte & Touche and a professor at Fordham. Greer spoke of the importance of I in team, a concept that isn't usually brought up in the athletic world.
 
She spoke of a Friday afternoon when her coach told the team to expect a really hard practice the next morning and not to go out that night. Greer assured her coach that she was not going out but when she got back to her room there was some drinking going on and Greer got involved. The next morning was rough for Greer and the coach knew it, but the coach wouldn't say anything to Greer, instead, making her run some extra sprints up the steps of the Coffey Field bleachers.
 
"I learned that day how my teammates were driving me," said Greer. "And by my not showing up and giving one hundred percent, I wasn't doing my part in driving them to be their best."
 
Greer also spoke of the skills obtained from being a part of a team, skills that included  learning to read people, developing leadership and commitment, and bringing out the best in each other, all skills that will help the student-athletes throughout their career.
 
Jason Braase, a member of the Wounded Warrior Project^®, the recipient of the annual SAAC community service gift, then gave an impassioned, energetic and mesmerizing speech. He focused on his life's story, from the day he enrolled in the Army on September 7, 2001, to his experience in Iraq, where he was injured in an IED blast which caused massive damage to his right leg.
 
"Freedom is why I stand here before you today," began Braase. "To uphold our nation's freedom is why I rose my right hand and swore into the Army. And freedom is what the Wounded Warrior Project was able to give back to me when I came home broken and abused."
 

Braase mentioned the team work that occurred when he was injured with the rest of his company surrounding him with their weapons at the ready, protecting him and another injured soldier and of how he was crowd surfed from the ambulance to the surgery tent. "I remember the voice of every solider as I was being passed, telling me that 'you have done you job warrior, you're going home son, you're going to be fine'."
 
"After the blast, I was unconscious for five days," said Braase. "I woke up on the plane ride back to Walter Reed Hospital. When I got there I thought I would never ride a bike again, never swim, never properly walk down the aisle with my wife or run with my future children."
 
The next morning, Braase's wife, who had married him just days before he deployed to Iraq, arrived at the hospital carrying a Wounded Warrior Project^® backpack.
 
"On the backpack was a Wounded Warrior logo of one man being carried by another," said Braase. "I instantly looked at that logo and knew it would replace the one that was cut off my body just days prior. I didn't have a clue as to how much they would impact me at that point and neither did they."
 
At first he was told he may lose his leg but after 13 surgeries, Braase was physically back. But he still harbored many of the psychological pains associated with combat veterans. That's when the Wounded Warrior Project^®  again stepped in, providing him with the emotional support and connecting him with veterans like himself who can share their stories.
 
Through it all, Braase was sure he had made the right decision to join the Army and to fight for other people's freedoms. "I've been told thank you for my service over a hundred thousand times but never once has it gotten old. Because of all this, I stand here today and can say I have no regrets. I'd do it all over again. And on top of that I feel fortunate that I have scars to show you as the majority of my brothers don't."
 
"I thank you for supporting this organization as they have become my new unit," continued Braase. "I also beg you that if you know any warriors who have come home different, welcome them home and tell them about the Wounded Warrior Project."
 
Braase closed his remarks by letting the student-athletes know of a new Wounded Warrior Program^® initiative which helps college student organize on-campus fundraisers for the charity.
 
Following Braase's address, Widmann announced the presentation of the annual SAAC community service gift. This year the gift was presented by Mike Hay, FCRH '16, a member of the water polo squad, and Brianna O'Neil, GSB '16, a member of the volleyball team, to the Wounded Warrior Project^®.
 

Joseph M. McShane, S.J., President of Fordham University, was called forward for final comments. He first spoke of Braase, comparing him to the St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Like Braase, St. Ignatius was a soldier who suffered a serious leg injury in battle. And like Braase, St. Ignatius had to undergo numerous procedures on his leg, even having it rebroken and reset when it was determined that was the only way to save it so he would once again be able to dance with the pretty women.
 
The Fordham leader highlighted the connection between Pope Francis and sports, noting that Pope Francis is a tremendous fan of sports, especially a soccer team from his native Argentina.  "When Pope Francis was meeting with some athletes he remarked that sports plays an important role in the life of the human family. He spoke of how sports both inspire and unite, which you do here at Fordham. You inspire through your commitment, your sheer genius in sports and with the exceptional gifts you all have. You unite every time you take the field or the court or jump in the pool. And I want to thank you for uniting us, for giving us examples to follow, but most of all for living like Fordham men and women should live, like men and women for others."
 
McShane finished the event with one last challenge, challenging the student-athletes to sing the Fordham Fight Song. Led by the 46 football student-athletes, a group that sang the song following each of the eleven wins last fall, the student-athletes belted out the tune.
 
Included in the 348 student-athletes honored were  student-athletes who were recognized as four-year Breakfast for Champions attendees.
Nicole Arrato (Rowing)
Brett Biestek (Football)
Julian Brooks (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Maria Lorena Canicatti (Women's Soccer)
Spencer Chappell (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Gabriela Cinkova (Volleyball)
Savannah Coe (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Michele Daubman (Softball)
Tecla DiFrancesco (Rowing)
Danielle Drummond (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Taryn Durant (Women's Basketball)
Jordan Gajdos (Baseball)
Bella Genkina (Women's Tennis)
Nick Glogau (Football)
Daniel Green (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Sarah Glockenmeier (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Roman Herman (Football)
Melissa Higgins (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Lisa Hipp (Volleyball)
Stephen Hodge (Football)
Mischa Koran (Men's Tennis)
Kevin Kosciuk (Men's Swimming & Diving)
Alex Leo (Football)
Dan Light (Football)
Kayla Lombardo (Softball)
Peter Maetzold (Football)
Adal Malkiewicz (Football)
Kate McDonnell (Women's Soccer)
Victoria McGovern (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Maureen McKeena (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Michael McNamara (Men's Soccer)
Patrick Militti (Men's Swimming & Diving)
Liz Milner (Women's Basketball)
Serena Moroukian (Softball)
Miranda Morton (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Nihad Musovic (Men's Basketball)
Ryan Polo (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Lindsey Ritchie (Volleyball)
Austin Ruiz (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Theresa Santoro (Women's Swimming & Diving)
Caitlin Sershon (Rowing)
Will Slattery (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Kevin Soares (Football)
Kristen Stuart (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
Maria Swift (Women's Soccer)
Brianna Turgeon (Softball)
Jessica Widmann (Women's Soccer)
 
Also recognized were the following that have the highest grade point average for their team:
Baseball – Ryan McNally
Men's Basketball – Nihad Musovic
Women's Basketball – Danielle Padovano
Cheerleading – Emily Tiberio
Football – Jack Treanor
Golf – Hugh Lagrotteria
Rowing – Nicole Arrato
Men's Soccer – Tommy Granot
Women's Soccer – Bryce Debolt
Softball – Michele Daubman
Squash – James Shinnick
Men's Swimming – Joseph Mercurio
Women's Swimming – Hailey Cox
Men's Tennis – Pedro Alonso Abajo
Women's Tennis – Bella Genkina
Men's Cross Country/Track – Michael Turi
Women's Cross Country/Track – Leah Ganey
Volleyball – Brennan Delsing
Water Polo – Robert Wurtz