Winter_Magazine2015_BOOK

14-15 / 72

13
st. lawrence university magazine | winter 2015
12
SPORTS
outs made leadership gifts and worked
closely with Head Coach Chris Downs
and Andy Whittier ’91, principal gifts
officer and director of athletic develop-
ment, to encourage other basketball
alumni to give.
“From the outset, we encouraged con-
tributions from as many generations of
SLU basketball players as possible,” Pat
explains. “This was an opportunity for
our alumni to be part of something that
will benefit current and future genera-
tions of Saints basketball. The positive
responses enabled us to make the locker
room a reality.”
As they talked with more alumni
about the locker room, Mo noticed that
the group’s efforts were going to pay off
in more ways than new space.
“So many alumni stepped forward
not only to give, but also to get more
involved with the program,” he says.
“I hope this new locker room will
provide a great home for our team,
a wonderful recruiting tool for our
program, and a new connection for
past and present players.” n
A Team Effort Our Newest Hall of Fame Inductees
Men’s Basketball Gets Its Own Locker Room
By Meg Bernier ’07, M’09
Above: From left, Patrick Delmonico ’06,
J.D. Delmonico ’03, Head Men’s Basketball
Coach Chris Downs and Morgan “Mo”
Cassara ’97 took part in the dedication
of men’s basketball’s new locker room in
November. The three alumni spearheaded
the drive to raise funds for the project.
The men were not the only St. Lawrence
basketball team to see a new locker room
dedicated last fall; the women also enjoyed
ceremonies for a new facility. From left,
Head Women’s Coach Dan Roiger, Direc-
tor of Athletics Margie Strait M’73, lead
donor Preston Carlisle ’52 and President
William L. Fox ’75 take in the new sur-
roundings. For more on this facility, see the
Fall 2014 St. Lawrence, page 11.
everal St. Lawrence men’s
basketball players, alumni
and friends made their way to
Canton in early November for
an important moment in the program’s
history: the dedication of the team’s first
locker room.
For years, the team had seasonal use of
a room that it shared with other teams.
Now, players can enjoy a space that’s all
theirs and has video capability, stereo,
lighting, carpeting and a work area
equipped with Wi-Fi, thanks to past
players and friends.
“What excites me most about the
locker room is the sense of community
it will help create for the team,” says
men’s basketball alumnus Joseph “J.D.”
Delmonico ’03. “It is a comfortable area
for the players to bond in and will help
build positive team chemistry. These are
bonds that last a lifetime.”
Delmonico and his wife, Mary
Amidon Delmonico ’03, along with his
brother Pat ’06 and Morgan “Mo” Cas-
sara ’97, are big reasons why this locker
room exists. The former Saints stand-
S
Inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame during Homecoming Weekend in October were:
Blaine Harris ’85
Basketball
Scott Frame ’77
Swimming
Victoria Pierce ’91
Lacrosse
Herb Bleck ’78, baseball and football, was unable to attend the ceremony. For more on these outstanding Laurentian
athletes and their accomplishments, go to .
Kirk Dixon ’86
Track and field
Tim Smith ’88
Football & Lacrosse
Leah Walbourn Warner ’98
Tennis
women’s basketball team
2001-02 national runner-up
Men’s Squash ranked 1st in nation,
Liberty League champion.
Men’s Soccer Liberty League regular-
season and tournament champions,
NCAA tournament berth.
Volleyball 24-13, second in Liberty
League; two honorable mention
All-Americas (2nd and 3rd in
program history).
Football 8-2 (best since 1982),
2nd in Liberty League. Quarterback
Mike Lefflbine Liberty League co-Offensive
Player of the Year, first Saint to win the award.
Women’s Cross Country 3rd in nation;
also Liberty League, New York State Collegiate
Track Conference and NCAA Atlantic Regional
champion. Four All-Americas; Mike Howard ’87
named NCAA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
Men’s Cross Country 10th in nation;
also Liberty League, NYSCTC and
NCAA Atlantic Regional champion.
John Newman ’94 named NCAA Atlantic
Region Coach of the Year.
Saints cheers for these
achievements in fall 2014. Standing O
For more, go to .