Bronx, N.Y. – A week after the NFL crowned its champion, Fordham University recognized over 300 student-athletes as champions. The Rams in attendance were honored for compiling a 3.25 cumulative GPA or higher at the 17th 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.
 
Following breakfast, David Roach, Director of Athletics, welcomed the crowd and acknowledged the athletic academic support staff, coaches and athletic administrators. He also urged the student-athletes to push past the 40 percent rule.
 
"The 40 percent rule is when your mind is telling you that you're done, that you're exhausted, but you're only actually 40 percent done," said Roach. "I urge you all to push past that 40 percent and achieve even bigger and better things."
 
After Deputy Athletic Director Charlie Elwood recognized the top team performer for each varsity program, Sean Finlay, FCRH '20, vice president of the Fordham Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Mary Ann Bilotti, FCRH '80, a former member of the Fordham women's basketball squad and currently Chief of Surgery - Podiatry, Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital.
 
The 13th leading scorer in Fordham women's basketball history with 1,164 points, Bilotti was a four-year starter for the Rams. As a junior, she started for the 27-7 Fordham squad that upset Long Beach State in the NCAA Tournament. She co-captained the squad as a senior, along with all-time leading scorer and Hall of Famer Ann Gregory-O'Connell.
 

Bilotti spoke of her background, academic athletic, and spiritual, all of which were shaped by her time on Rose Hill. She spoke of the people at Fordham who mentored her, especially Hall of Fame Athletic Trainer Jim "The Fox" Wilson, who encouraged her to attend podiatry school and return to Fordham to care for student-athletes, and Fr. William L. Reilly, S.J., who became her spiritual advisor when she would treat Jesuits at Loyola Hall.
 
"I remember Fr. Reilly asking me one day if I would like him to be my spiritual advisor," said Bilotti. "I really didn't know what a spiritual advisor was. But Father Reilly taught me to follow my instincts and introduced me to the Jesuit spiritual exercises about finding God in all things. He also asked me to read the daily scriptures and to try to put myself in the readings and at the end of the day, reflect back and see where I could have done better."
 
"Little by little, just like shooting basketball, this practice started to change my life," continued Bilotti. "I started to see things differently, started to be more peaceful. And when that little voice inside of me would talk to me I felt like I had better discernment."
 
Bilotti wrapped up her speech by reading a poem from Shel Silverstein, The Voice. "Shel Silverstein and I agree. Listen to that voice. What is that voice? Is it God? Is it intuition, or is it destiny?"
 
Following Bilotti's speech, Morgan Williams, FCRH '20, a member of the volleyball team and the school's SAAC A-10 representative, and Amanda Miller, FCRH '20, a women's soccer student-athlete who serves as the SAAC Community Relations Coordinator, presented a check for $3,000 to Ibrahim Diakite, Youth & Family Director of the Harlem YMCA. The donation included monies raised by SAAC through various fundraisers, including school-wide dodgeball tournaments and bake sales.
 
The Harlem YMCA is located in the heart of the historic, diverse, and culturally rich neighborhood of Harlem in Upper Manhattan. It offers state-of-the-art exercise equipment, a pool, programs for kids and teens, and a community committed to helping residents achieve their goals.
 
Fr. 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, and praised them for their choice of gift recipients as McShane is a member of the New York City YMCA Board of Directors. He summed up the day by highlighting the three traits exhibited by each student-athlete: talent, discipline, and character.
 
"You inspire us, you give us the Bread of Life," said McShane. "You give us cause for pride. I say before all of you today, you make all of us proud. I brag about you behind your back and to your face because you inspire us all".
 
Included in the 304 honorees were 38 student-athletes who were recognized as four-year Breakfast for Champions attendees.
 
Baseball
Jake Baker
Billy Godrick
Brian Weissert (five-year honoree)
 
Cheerleading
Gabrielle DiVerita
 
Football
Michael Ware
 
Rowing
Julia Comerford
Grace Little
Danae Ohresser-Joumard
Erika Selakowski
 
Men's Soccer
Bart Dziedzic
Nicholas Meyer
Joergen Oland
 
Women's Soccer
Morgan Busacca
Amanda Miller
Margaret Roughley
 
Men's Swimming
Sean Finlay
Christopher Sleutjes
 
Women's Swimming
Molly Dunn
Stephanie Kerkeles
Samantha McDonald
Chloe Mitchell
 
Men's Tennis
Steven Duka
Gabriel Mashaal
 
Women's Tennis
Maia Balce
 
Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
Andrew Byrne
Ryan Kutch
Jeremy Milite
Jordan Milite
Matthew Roma
Sean Sullivan
 
Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Mary Caucci
Kaia Corthell
Stephanie Simon
Sydney Snow
 
Volleyball
Olivia Fairchild
Morgan Williams
 
Water Polo
Joseph Agabs
Yuki Saito
 
Also recognized were the following that have the highest grade point average for their team:
Baseball – Billy Godrick
Men's Basketball – Peter Burquest
Women's Basketball – Zara Jillings
Cheerleading – Sarah DeRosa
Football – Ryan Greenhagen
Golf – Dante Lancellotti
Rowing – Erika Selakowski
Men's Soccer – Johannes Pieles
Women's Soccer – Juliana Mascelli
Softball – Kelly Bright
Squash – Griffin Fitzgerald
Men's Swimming & Diving – Christopher Sleutjes
Women's Swimming & Diving – Natalie Ortof
Men's Tennis – Fabian Mauritzson
Women's Tennis – Nicole Li
Men's Cross Country/Track – Benedict Reilly
Women's Cross Country/Track – Germaine Harbaugh
Volleyball – Makaela Tanaka
Water Polo – Bailey O'Mara