Holy Cross Crusader Nation Magazine - Fall 2014

CRUSaDER

T h e M a g a z i n e f o r F a n s AN D S u p p o r t e r s o f H o ly C r o s s At h l e t i c s

Coach Gilmore Eyes Return of

Football Fervor to Fitton Field

NATION Fall 2014

10 Things to Know About Our New Coaches Gina Righini’s

“goooaaalll” for Women’s Soccer and the Campus

Fall 2014 • Crusader Nation 1

AD’s Corner Dear Friends, On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and everyone associated with Holy Cross Athletics, I offer heartfelt thanks for the support and enthusiasm you have demonstrated for Crusader Athletics this past year. From the moment I arrived in Worcester, the great passion folks have for our programs and teams was very clear, and I hope to build on that passion moving forward.

Looking toward the 2014-2015 academic year, we have a lot to be excited about. In the fall, our football team returns 12 starters from last year’s squad, including Patriot League Rookie of the Year Peter Pujals ’17. I expect we will be a strong contender in the conference race. In other fall sports, men’s soccer will build upon last year’s Patriot League championship game appearance in their quest for a title, and the field hockey, women’s soccer and volleyball squads should all challenge for Patriot League Tournament berths with aspirations of winning league titles.

Following our teams will be easier than ever, thanks to our recently expanded media partnerships. Charter TV-3 will air four of our five home football games live throughout Central Massachusetts. The Patriot League Network will live-stream all home football games online, free of charge. The Patriot League Network will also air many of our other fall sport competitions so fans can follow favorite teams from wherever they are. We are beginning a new partnership with NeuLion, which will improve fans’ ticket buying experience and make it easier to attend games on campus.

On the coaching front, I am delighted to welcome new Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Judd Lattimore and his staff and new Head Men’s Ice Hockey Coach David Berard. Both Coach Lattimore and Coach Berard are highly accomplished coaches with outstanding leadership qualities. I expect them to bring renewed excitement to their programs and have many successful years on Mount St. James. We have also had a few new faces join our staff this spring and summer, and I hope that as a donor to the Crusader Athletics Fund, you will experience firsthand the improved opportunities for engagement that we anticipate will come from these efforts.

This is a great time to be a Crusader, and I’m confident that even better days are ahead. It is an honor to serve as your Athletics Director. My commitment to you is to strive for excellence in all areas and reflect the best of Holy Cross in everything that we do.

I look forward to seeing you on campus this fall.

Go ’Saders!

Nathan Pine Director of Athletics

2 Crusader Nation • Fall 2014

In This Issue 3 Football Preview

Coach Gilmore Eyes Return of Football Fervor

6 Paying it Forward

Craig Cerretani ‘79 talks mentoring

7 Student Spotlight

Gina Righini ‘15, Soccer

8 Crusader Athletics Fund Recap

2014 a Record Year, Thanks to You

12 Catching Up With...

Christine (Strawson) Gamari ’08, Volleyball

13 Calendar

Sports schedules

14 Photo Finish 16 Why I Give

Crusader Nation Produced by the Office of Advancement, Department of Athletics and the Office of College Marketing and Communications Contributing Editors Charles Bare, Joe Bertoletti, Joyce O’Connor Davidson, Heather Palmer, Richard Phelps Designer Michael Grinley P h o t o g r ap h e r s John Buckingham, Marianne Killackey, Gil Talbot, Dan Vaillancourt C r u s ade r Na t i o n Office of Advancement College of the Holy Cross One College Street Worcester, Mass. 01610 Phone: 508-793-2415 Email: crusaderathletics@holycross.edu Website: GoHolyCross.com

Football Preview Crusaders Poised to Kick Off New Era Excitement builds with scholarships, increased media and renewed rivalries

By Mark Sullivan

O

n the wall of Head Football Coach Tom Gilmore’s office is an aerial photo of Fitton Field bursting at the seams for the last game against Boston College in November 1986. If Coach Gilmore has his way, that level of football fervor will be returning to Holy Cross to stay.

When it was announced earlier this year that Holy Cross will renew its series with classic rival BC, football fans across New England cheered. Four years from now when the Crusaders once again take to the gridiron against the Eagles, Gilmore says, “I suspect the tickets will be hard to come by.”

The addition to the schedule of Boston College (in 2018 and 2020) and the University of Connecticut (in 2017) — both teams are in the

Wide receiver Kalif Raymond ‘16 (Lawrenceville, Ga.) breaks up field after making a catch.3

top tier of Division I football — has contributed to a feeling of eager anticipation among the Fitton faithful.

So too have the reintroduction of football scholarships, a new TV package that will double the number of Crusader games aired in Worcester, and the arrival of a talented young quarterback, Peter Pujals ‘17, Patriot League Rookie of the Year as a true freshman last fall.

“This is an exciting time for athletics at Holy Cross and for football in particular,” says Tom Patton ‘86, a second-team All-American defensive end for the Crusaders who has been a generous supporter of the team as an alumnus. “Holy Cross is not that far away from a winning season — and then winning a championship,” he predicts.

Coming off a tough 2013 season (1-4 Patriot League, 3-9 overall), Holy Cross has a young team that is rebuilding

and optimistic about its future. Gilmore, entering his 11th season as head coach of the Crusaders, likes their chances.

“I like the attitude, I like the work ethic, and I really believe we’re rebuilding the program in the right way,” Gilmore said. “We’re going to see really good results in the long run.”

The reintroduction of football scholarships by the Patriot League — in which Holy Cross competes against Bucknell, Fordham, Lehigh, Lafayette, Colgate and Georgetown — is a significant factor in the Crusaders’ grid renaissance.

“Holy Cross’ trajectory has changed with the addition of scholarships,” says Chuck Burton, who covers Patriot League football for the online College Sports Journal.

“I can see how Holy Cross fans are excited about the recruiting class coming in.

“Holy Cross’ trajectory has changed with the addition of scholarships,” Chuck Burton,College Sports Journal.

They got some big names.

Holy Cross is in the mix for players they weren’t before.”

Recruits to watch in the incoming freshman class, according to Rivals.com, include linebacker Nick McBeath (Columbus High/ Miami, Fla.), quarterback

Ramping up to 60 full scholarships over the four years enables Patriot League schools like Holy Cross, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Football Championship Subdivision (once known as Div. 1-AA), to schedule games against teams in the NCAA’s top-lev-

“I really believe we’re rebuilding the program in the right way.”

James McHale (Fordham Prep/Bronx, N.Y.) and cornerback Alim Muhammad (Mary Institute/St. Louis, Mo.).

el Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Div. 1), like Boston College and the University of Connecticut.

Holy Cross, with other Patriot League members, is entering year two of a four-year rollout that will bring the school to 60 football scholarships.

“We’ll be at 30 scholarships, next year we’ll be up to 45, and the year after, up to 60,” said Nathan Pine, Holy Cross’ athletics director.

When an FBS team like BC or UConn is being considered for bowl games, the level of competition comes into consideration. At 60 scholarships, Holy Cross becomes an opponent an FBS team will schedule, because a game against the Crusaders will count toward bowl eligibility.

For HC, this opportunity to play top-flight teams is a spur to get better fast — to compete against the best while building spirit on campus and in the community, and gaining national exposure for the Holy Cross name.

“If you’re going to field a football team, you should play to compete and to win,” said Patton. “If you’re building a program to compete at a high level, you’re setting a schedule to compete against and beat teams like UConn and Boston College.”

Scholarships at the same time enable Holy Cross to attract outstanding student-athletes who might not otherwise have chosen — or been able

4 Crusader Nation • Fall 2014

to afford — the school versus peer institutions.

Gilmore said some very talented players came to the school as freshmen this past year via scholarships, and the second class of scholarship recruits enters this fall.

“You can really see there’s a lot of talent,” he said.

“Eliminating the financial hurdle for some of these families was instrumental in getting them to come.”

Before scholarships, he said, “we traveled the country looking for top studentathletes, and they always had a lot of interest. But for many, the financial hurdle was too great to cover, and they wrote us off, in many cases for a much lesser school. Now that’s gone — [scholarships] changed things. We’re yielding some of those high-end kids that we might have lost.”

Among the freshmen this past year was quarterback Peter Pujals (Loyola Academy/Wilmette, Ill.), who took the reins of the Crusader offense when two quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart were injured. He went on to become the first player to win the Patriot League Rookie of the Week award five consecutive times. In his first start, at Dartmouth, he became the first player in HC history to pass for 275 yards and run for 125 in the same game. Pujals finished the season completing 211 of 332 passes (63.6 percent) for 2,261 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushing for 469 yards and eight scores.

“He brought a lot of excitement last year and he’s why people are picking the Crusaders to improve this year,” said College Sports Journal’s Burton. Said Gilmore: “Peter

made a lot of plays with his feet as well as with his arm. He’s truly a dual threat quarterback, very exciting to watch.” Patton said: “A kid like Peter is a unique asset.

You can build your offense around him.”

Local fans this season will have more opportunities to tune in to the action. Charter TV-3 in Worcester will televise four of Holy Cross’ five home games, against Morgan State on Sept. 6, Fordham on Sept. 27, Lehigh on Nov. 8 and Bucknell on Nov. 15. Meantime, all the Crusaders’ games will be streamed for free online through the Patriot League Network.

“The lessons football teaches are invaluable — whatever players end up doing in life.”

Football, says Head Coach Tom Gilmore, is worth doing — and worth doing well.

“I don’t think there’s anything like football to get people together. Homecoming in the fall, on a crisp fall afternoon, is embedded in our culture. It’s something that people rally behind. It’s a great American tradition.”

He said the skills football teaches, such as teamwork and leadership, are “great

“We have expanded our partnership with TV-3 to engage the local Worcester community and hopefully gain a little following around our football program in addition to the outlets that we have with the Patriot League Network,” said Pine. “It gives us a better footprint locally and hopefully a chance to engage the community and get them to come out and support our team.”

The renewal of the Boston College rivalry adds to the excitement. Holy Cross met Boston College in football 82 times between 1896 and 1986, with BC holding an all-time edge, 47-32-3. The BC-Holy Cross rivalry was a highlight of the New England football season every year until the series came to an end in 1986.

Now the schools have announced they will renew the competition with games in 2018 and 2020 at Alumni Stadium on the BC campus.

qualities, no matter what you’re doing in life — whether running a business, or coaching a sport, or working with a team of engineers. Athletes in general and football players in particular learn to deal with adversity.

“I tell our guys, winning a college football game will be the hardest thing you’ll ever do,” he continued, with a laugh. “Overcoming hurdles, dealing with setbacks — might be a play, might be a game — you have to

bounce right back. Developing that mental toughness is so important in order to be successful. Some of these major corporations that come back year after year, recruiting our football players for their internships and full-time jobs, that’s what I think they see.

“I’ve got three kids in medical school right now. We’ve had numerous attorneys over the years. The majority of our guys go into business.

They’re working in the finance world, some in accounting. We’ve had a pipeline with GE Capital.

We have technology: Oracle’s been a big company.”

He mentioned the mentorship program that pairs underclassmen on the team with alumni in various professions. “Our freshmen are assigned a mentor soon after our career night,” he said. “We get a half-dozen alums who come in and tell the team their story. It’s very inspiring and gives our kids a lot of hope: ‘This guy started from very humble beginnings and look at him now.’

“In most cases the mentors are also former Holy Cross football players, so they have that bond. The consistent thing is Holy Cross.

There’s a great respect for the character traits developed through playing football here.”

By Mark Sullivan

Patton recalled his own games against the Eagles.

Fall 2014 • Crusader Nation 5

“We played those guys tough every year. We may not have beaten a fourth-ranked team when Doug Flutie was quarterback, but we played them tough.”

The addition of BC and UConn to the Holy Cross schedule “makes so much sense in so many ways,” said Gilmore. “You want to schedule games like that from a Holy Cross standpoint, because it indicates the direction we’re going with our program. It gives us regional and national exposure, and it’s a great marketing tool for our program and ultimately for the College.

“We have a unique product here at Holy Cross,” Gilmore said.

“We are the Division I college athletics program in central Massachusetts. We’re a great academic institution. If you have a young family, what better place is there to expose them to college student-athletes who do it the right way?

“Kids at Holy Cross truly are scholars and athletes. Some have the potential to play at the professional level. But our guys are more likely to become orthopedic surgeons and attorneys and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

They’re great role models. It’s a great family atmosphere. Even if you’re only a casual sports fan, we’re putting a good product on the field.”

Now more than ever, Coach Gilmore says, Holy Cross football is something to cheer about.

“We have quality young men who are out there working extremely hard,” he said. “We fully expect to not only be competitive in every game, but to go out there prepared to win, week in and week out. This year, even though we’re a young team, we’re going to be a very exciting team to watch, and I know we’re building a great foundation for an exciting future.”

Mark Sullivan is a freelance writer from Ashland, Mass.

6 Crusader Nation • Fall 2014

Paying it Forward Each year the Holy Cross Gridiron Leadership Council recognizes outstanding contributions to the Football Program through the presentation of the Jackie Mo’ Award. This year’s recipient is Craig Cerretani ’79, longtime mentor to students and generous donor to the Crusader Athletics Fund.

“Mentoring is rooted in the Jesuit way, ‘men and women for others,’” said Cerretani, area senior vice president of Longfellow Benefits/Arthur J. Gallagher. “I learned early on when former Basketball Coach George Blaney ’61 introduced me to Dick Connolly ’61, a giant in the Boston investment community. I could not believe the time, effort and sage advice that Dick provided me and to this day he remains a good friend.”

Larry Doyle ’83 approached Cerretani seven years ago with the idea for a formal mentoring program for the football team that would make a concrete difference in players’ lives. “The results have been sensational and it is a true differentiator when recruiting students against other Patriot League and Ivy League schools.” Cerretani said: “We are watching a younger generation of players doing the same for the next

generation. It is such a powerful affirmation of the Jesuit ideal of ‘men and women for others.’”

While Cerretani is actively involved with the football and baseball mentoring programs, he has helped other Crusaders as well. He was worked with more than 50 students, many of whom he maintains relationships with to this day.“From the outset, we instill the Holy Cross ethos of giving back. In fact, I make sure each student knows there is a ‘cost’ involved in working with me.

The ‘cost’ is three-fold: 1) Keep me updated on what transpires as a result of introductions I make; 2) When you get situated, let me know; 3) You must promise to ‘pay it forward’ and keep HC mentoring going, meeting with the next generation of Crusaders!”

Cerretani, a longtime donor to the College, said: “I feel it is my responsibility as a scholarship athlete to give back.

When the Crusader Athletics Fund was formed my wife, Deborah, and I decided to direct our giving to athletics, contributing to football and baseball, two sports we both care about. Further, wherever I am in life, I owe to the great things I learned at Holy Cross.”

Craig Cerretani ‘79 has mentored many Crusaders.

Student spotlight Gina Righini ’15

Captain, Women’s Soccer Gina Righini ’15 (Salem, N.H.) is a captain of the women’s soccer team and is on the Executive Board of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Her hard work has not only paid off on the soccer pitch, but also in the Holy Cross community, as she was a co-director of the 2014 Date Auction and was a student ambassador for the Crusader Athletics Fund’s Purple Pride Challenge. Righini, a political science major, has the most career points of any current member of the women’s soccer team. She talked with Crusader Nation about her work on and off the field.

Q What’s it been like for you to be part of the women’s soccer team?

A Being part of the team has been an

important part of my college experience and it has had a tremendous impact on my personal growth. Fostering a close-knit, family atmosphere, the soccer team created an easy transition for me from high school to college; essentially, going from my family at home to my new college family. From this close culture, I’ve been inspired, assisted and pushed to achieve my goals both on and off the field. My teammates of all ages — the graduates who are now helping me think about my post-college career path and the younger players who continue to push my athletic energy — have taught me invaluable life lessons about being on a team, working for a team, and representing a team.

Q Why did you join the Student-

Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and what are some things the group does for the Holy Cross Community?

A The values of the organization,

the character of student-athletes that represent SAAC, and its commitment

to community service are all key things that interested me in the organization.

I joined as a member my first year and gained more responsibility my second year by being on the Executive Board. While SAAC extends a hand to any charitable event that is happening on campus, we also have our own staple events, such as putting together Thanksgiving baskets for Worcester’s underserved and homeless, collecting gifts under our “Giving Tree,” setting up Benching for Breast Cancer, promoting the Crusader Athletics Fund, and hosting our largest event, the Date Auction.

Q The Date Auction was a huge

success this year. What is the goal of the event?

A The Date Auction is a unique

event that brings together all teams on campus in an effort to raise money for a charitable cause. I was the co-director this year and the event was a great success. With an extremely hardworking SAAC group and awesome, cooperative dates from each varsity team, we put together an auction that attracted more than 400 students and raised

$3,000 for a food pantry in Worcester in just two hours. The event says a lot about the special character of athletes at Holy Cross and our desire to give back to the community — endeavoring to live out our mission to be “men and women for and with others.”

Q What was your role in the Purple Pride Challenge?

A I was an ambassador for the

Purple Pride Challenge. My role was to rally student-athletes to give back to the Crusader Athletics Fund. My goal was to ask every athlete to donate $10. My ultimate objective was to try to get 100 percent participation from each team (meaning that every athlete contributed) and while we didn’t reach this goal for every single team on campus, most teams had at least 80 percent participation. Student-athletes want to see Holy Cross Athletics thrive and compete with the best around, now and in the years to come, and we’re willing to contribute to make that happen.

By Jim Sarkisian, assistant director of Athletics Media Relations Fall 2014 • Crusader Nation 7

A REcord YEar FY 10

FY 11

FY 12

$986,841

$678,994

$743,097

$696,102

(by year)

$1,114,610

Dollars Donated

T

he Crusader Athletics Fund (CAF) celebrated another record-breaking year.

During the 2013-14 academic year, CAF raised $1.1 million in support from 3,070 donors, a 20 percent increase in the number of donors and a 13 percent increase in dollars over the previous year. CAF provides additional resources for coaching, enhanced recruitment, equipment upgrades and team competition travel, among other things.

FY 13

FY 14

Number of Donors

3,070

2,648

2,262

2,432

(by year)

2,311

Your participation and your gifts make a world of difference for our student-athletes

“I am very pleased with the success CAF achieved this year, and I would like to congratulate everyone on this impressive accomplishment,” Director of Athletics Nathan Pine said. “Together, we set a new record in support of our student-athletes, showing that alumni, family members and friends are highly invested in the success of our programs. I would like to thank everyone who supported CAF this year as it has a direct and transformational impact on our student-athletes’ experience, and on our success in the classroom and on the field.” It was the first time since the Fund’s inception in 2007 that CAF has broken the $1 million mark.

Eight sports broke specific dollar records (baseball, crew, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving and volleyball) and five sports broke donor records (baseball, crew, lacrosse, swimming & diving, and track & field).

For information on how you can support our sports, visit GoHolyCross.com/CAF

FY 10

FY 11

8 Crusader Nation • Fall 2014

FY 12

FY 13

FY 14

for

Fundraising 2014 Goal

Dollars Baseball Basketball Crew Football Field Hockey Golf Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swim & Dive Tennis Track & Field Volleyball All-sports Other

Totals

Actual

$85,000 $108,982

Actual

$55,000 $61,543

Actual

Donors

$55,000

$98,847

$220,000 Actual $183,217 Actual

$7,500 $8,867

$15,000 Actu. $10,337 Actual

$80,000 $73,986

Actual

$150,000 $172,447

Actual

$70,000 $76,833

Actual

$4,000

$6,453

Actual

$21,000 $24,317

Actual

$9,300 $8,373

Actual

$40,000 $39,374

Actual

$6,000 $6,750

Actual

$178,000 $228,330

Actual Actual

$4,200

2014 Goal

Baseball Basketball Crew Football Field Hockey Golf Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Softball Swim & Dive Tennis Track & Field Volleyball All-sports

175

Actual

125 140

Actual

200

Actual Actual

325

Actual

49

200 230

Actual Actual

90 40

173

319

375

75

Actual Actual

207

162

327

200

Actual

50 46

Actual

115 131

Actual Actual Actual Actual

35

50 180

287

45 45 800 1,088

$5,952

$1,000,000 $1,114,610

Totals

Actual

2,500

3,070

Fall 2014 • Crusader Nation 9

A REcord YEar for Fundraising 40%

How Donors Gifts are Spent

26%

equipment team travel

recruiting team training

7%

coaching

7%

20%

Changes to the Crusader Athletics Fund for 2015 This year you will see a couple of changes to designations within the Crusader Athletics Fund. The “All-Sports Fund” name has been changed to the “Athletics Director’s Fund for Athletics Excellence.” This change gives the AD the ability to direct the generous gifts of alumni, family and friends to areas of greatest need.

The strength and conditioning and sports medicine designations have been rolled into the Athletics Director’s Fund for Athletics Excellence.

Heather Palmer Director, Crusader Athletics Fund 508-793-2415 crusaderathletics@holycross.edu GoHolyCross.com/CAF

10 Crusader Nation • Fall 2014

To see a list of the alumni, family members and friends who supported the Crusader Athletics Fund, visit GoHolyCross.com/HonorRoll

• 10 things to know about our New coaches • David Berard: Ice Hockey On June 23, David Berard was named the sixth head coach of men’s hockey in the history of the program. Berard has over 20 years of collegiate hockey experience, including 16 seasons at his alma mater, Providence College. He also served as the interim head coach at the University of Connecticut for the majority of the 2012-2013 season. Here are 10 things you might want to know about Coach Berard.

1. He is ambidextrous.

2. Berard was a goalie on the hockey team and a marketing major at Providence College.

3. He is the youngest of five children.

4. Work ethic, hockey sense, compete level and skill are what he looks for in a recruit.

5. Style of play is aggressive and relentless.

6. Wants to learn how to play piano.

7. Fred Lynn is his favorite sports figure.

8. The 1980 U.S. Hockey team winning the gold medal is his favorite sports moment.

9. Loves United States Presidential history.

10. His wife, Lynne, was a Northeast Regional All-American field hockey player at Providence College.

Judd Lattimore: Lacrosse On May 24, Judd Lattimore was named the 15th head men’s lacrosse coach in the history of the program. Lattimore spent the previous two seasons as the top assistant coach at the University of Pennsylvania.

1. Judd helped lead four different schools to NCAA Tournament appearances at the Division I level, in addition to coaching in two NCAA Division II championship games.

2. He graduated from the University of North Carolina.

3. Selfless, intelligent, mentally and physically tough are athletic attributes he looks for in recruits.

4. Judd is a huge basketball fan.

5. Judd’s wife, Bonnie, was a kicker on her high school football team; she has more varsity letters than anyone in her high school’s history.

6. Judd is the third of four kids. His brother, Todd, is a Broadway performer.

7. His greatest sports hero is his brother, Tim, who played lacrosse at Hobart.

8. He is an avid surfer.

9. His father, Tim, was one of 12 kids and was the mayor of the town where Judd grew up.

10. He likes to play a fun brand of lacrosse that is player driven and will be exciting for fans to watch.

Fall 2014 • Crusader Nation 11

CATCHING UP WITH...

Christine (Strawson) Gamari ’08

C

hristine (Strawson) Gamari ’08, a biology/premed major, was a model student-athlete during her years at Holy Cross. On the volleyball court she had a stellar career, graduating as the College’s all-time record holder for career kills. A two-time team captain, Gamari was the first Crusader volleyball player to earn All-Patriot League honors three times. She was as outstanding in the classroom — earning accolades that no other Crusader volleyball player has before or since, including twice being named Patriot League Scholar Athlete of the Year and three times winning a spot on the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District I team. Gamari’s remarkable career resulted in her being named Crusader of the Year, the only volleyball player ever to receive the most prestigious student-athlete award presented by the Varsity Club.

Gamari returned to her hometown of Torrington, Conn., and is a middle school science teacher and the volleyball coach at Torrington High

School. She was recently inducted into the Torrington Athletic Hall of Fame.

Gamari and her husband, Eric, have a 17-month old daughter, Maya. Eric is also a teacher and is the boys’ basketball coach at Torrington.

Gamari took what she learned on the Hill as a student-athlete and applied it to her everyday life. “I learned that if you want to succeed you need to put the time and effort in,” said Gamari. “I may not have been the smartest student in the class, or the best volleyball player on the court, but what I lacked in ability I tried to make up for with hard work, determination and a fierce competitive spirit. If I could walk off the court or walk out of an exam knowing I gave it everything I had, then I would have to be satisfied with the result. I still use all of these lessons today as I try to be the best mom, wife, teacher and coach I can possibly be, and I try to pass those lessons along to my own students and student-athletes.”

Gamari brings passion and enthusiasm

to her professional career. “Building strong, positive relationships with my students and student-athletes is very important to me,” said Gamari. “I push them to work hard, often beyond their comfort zone, to see what they can achieve. I love the look of pride and accomplishment on their faces when they do something that they never thought they could do.”

Gamari returns for the alumnae game each year and follows the team on GoHolyCross.com. She said, “I love returning because for a couple of hours I am back playing competitive volleyball.

I think it is important to come back to show the current players that HCVB is and always will be an important part of their lives. We are, and always will be, a continuously growing family.”

Being named Crusader of the Year meant a lot to Gamari. “Standing up at the Hall of Fame dinner and giving a speech on behalf of all the senior student-athletes is by far one of my most memorable experiences on the Hill,” said Gamari. “I am still so humbled by that recognition. My husband, a lifelong Celtics fan, is pretty proud that I share an award with Tommy Heinsohn ’56.”

What Gamari misses most about Holy Cross is being around her teammates, however she has been able to keep in touch with a lot of them. “One of my former roommates/teammates, Katie Fitzpatrick ’08, was my maid of honor, and several former teammates were in attendance at my wedding. What I love the most is that whenever we see each other, no matter how long it has been since we last spoke, it is like no time has passed at all. I think that this is a testament to the strong relationships that we built while on the Hill, playing for HCVB.”

Gamari is a middle school science teacher and the volleyball coach in Torrington, Conn.

12 Crusader Nation • Fall 2014

By James Wrobel, assistant director of Athletics Media Relations

Calendar Fall 2014 Home Events and Notable Dates August

15 DEADLINE: RENEW FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS

visit GoHolyCross.com or call 508-793-2573.

25 Women’s Soccer vs. Long Island 1 p.m.

29 Men’s Soccer vs. Hartford 7 p.m.

September

Women’s Soccer vs. Maine 7 p.m.

Football vs. Morgan St. 1 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Albany 2 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Hartford 7 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Quinnipiac 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Fairfield 7 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Georgetown 12 p.m.

Football vs. Central Connecticut 1 p.m.

14 Women’s Soccer vs. N. Dakota St 1 p.m.

Field Hockey vs. Sacred Heart 5 p.m.

16 LAST DAY TO RENEW BASKETBALL AND HOCKEY SEASON TICKETS

visit GoHolyCross.com or call 508-793-2573.

17 Men’s Soccer vs. Quinnipiac 7 p.m.

20 Women’s Soccer vs. Loyola (Md.) 1 p.m.

23 Men’s Soccer vs. Dartmouth 7 p.m.

24 Field Hockey vs. Siena 6 p.m.

26 Volleyball vs. Colgate 7 p.m.

27 Men’s Soccer vs. Loyola 1 p.m.

Football vs. Fordham 1 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Loyola 1 p.m.

5 6 7 9 10 11 13

Football vs. Fordham

Home Venues unless otherwise noted

1 p.m.

Basketball: Hart Center Field Hockey: Hart Field Football: Fitton Field Hockey: Hart Center Soccer: Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium Volleyball: Field House

October

1 Women’s Soccer vs. Boston U. 7 p.m.

2 Field Hockey vs. Bryant 6 p.m.

3 Volleyball vs. Loyola 7 p.m.

4 Field Hockey vs. Lafayette 11 a.m.

Volleyball vs. American 4 p.m.

8 Men’s Soccer vs. Boston U. 7 p.m.

10 Men’s Hockey vs. Merrimack 7 p.m.

11 Field Hockey vs. Bucknell 12 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Colgate 3 p.m.

17 Men’s Hockey vs. AIC 7 p.m.

18 Volleyball vs. Army 4 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Colgate 7 p.m.

Men’s Hockey vs. AIC TBD

22 Field Hockey vs. Brown 7 p.m.

24 Volleyball vs. Bucknell 7 p.m.

25 Women’s Soccer vs. Bucknell 12 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Lehigh 4 p.m.

26 Field Hockey vs. Vermont 1 p.m.

29 Volleyball vs. Bryant 7 p.m.

31 Men’s Hockey vs. Sacred Heart 7 p.m.

November

1 Field Hockey vs. American 11 a.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. Bucknell 1:30 p.m.

Women’s Soccer vs. Lehigh 5 p.m.

8 Men’s Soccer vs. Lehigh 7 p.m.

Football vs. Lehigh 12:30 p.m.

14 Volleyball vs. Navy 7 p.m.

15 Football vs. Bucknell 12:30 p.m.

Volleyball vs. Lafayette 3 p.m.

16 Men’s Basketball vs. Harvard

TD Bank Garden, Boston, MA 5:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball vs. Manhattan 7 p.m.

19 Men’s Basketball vs. Brown TBD 25 Men’s Hockey vs. Bentley 7 p.m.

30 Men’s Hockey vs. Brown TBD

Fall 2014 • Crusader Nation 13

Photo Finish Awards Presentation (May 22) Eight Crusaders were among a group of Holy Cross seniors selected as Academic Award winners for 2013-14. Among those recipients were ice hockey teammates Derek Kump (left) and Jeffrey Reppucci (right) pictured with Rev. Philip Boroughs, S.J.

Commencement (May 23)

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2 14 Crusader Nation • Fall 2014

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1. Jeffrey Reppucci delivered the Valedictory address at the College’s 168th Commencement.

2. David Dudzinski with Head Men’s Basketball Coach Milan Brown. 3.

Women’s basketball team manager Matt Murawski, Alex Smith, Head Women’s Basketball Coach Bill Gibbons, Kelly Hamner, Christine Ganser and Brisje Malone gather one last time. 4. Gary Acquah, football, smiles after receiving his diploma.

5. Amanda Waldron, tennis, Mary McAuliffe, track, with roommate Jaclyn Vignati await the start of the Baccalaureate Mass.

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Crusader Athletics Fund Hosts Donor Receptions (May 31/June 7)

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1. Head Football Coach Tim Gilmore with Daryl Brown ‘09. 2. George ’84 and Jackie Paletta P16. 3. Mike Kennedy ‘84 introduces himself to Director of Athletics Nathan Pine. 4. Gina McCaffrey ‘84 and Dawn Collins ‘84. 5. Kara Kelly Kelty’ 89 and Ann-Marie O’Brien ‘89 reminisce about their days at the Hart Center pool. 6. Ray Murphy ‘54 asks Nathan Pine a question, while his wife, Peggy Murphy, David Lynch ‘69 and Tisch Lynch listen.

7. Dana Jorgensen ‘09 and roommate Dianna Curry ‘09 with Head Swimming and Diving Coach Barry Parenteau.

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7 Fall 2014 • Crusader Nation 15

Office of Advancement

College of the Holy Cross One College Street Worcester, Massachusetts 01610

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage

PAID

Worcester, MA Permit No. 760

Why I Give Will Bowers ’15

(Raleigh, N.C.) Men’s Soccer “As a student-athlete, I am grateful for the enhanced experiences provided through the Crusader Athletics Fund. Support from alumni, relatives of current and former players, and friends and fans of our teams, builds a strong family around our sports that I believe is unique to Holy Cross. I contributed to CAF to get in the habit of giving, to help establish our programs on a national level, and to do my part to strengthen the experience and family that is Crusader Nation.”

Mark Connolly ’87 & Becky Connolly ’88

(Wilmington, Mass.) Track & Field “Training and competing in track and field were as much a part of our experience at Holy Cross as academics. We learned from the process and effort, we challenged ourselves through the competition.

Through these shared challenges we built deep and lasting friendships with our teammates. We support the Crusader Athletics Fund and track and field in particular so that the men and women who come after us will have even better facilities, coaching and resources to learn, grow and compete.”

Meg Moran ’08

(Boston, Mass.) Women’s Tennis “Tennis was central to my four years on Mount St. James. Lessons learned such as perseverance in the face of adversity, self-reliance, as well as teamwork and sportsmanship are skills that are useful in all aspects of life. I know my athletic experience wouldn’t have been what it was without the generosity of former players and alumni. I give back to enhance the experiences of Holy Cross student-athletes, all those who currently don the purple and white, and all those who will in the future.”

Find Us

Phone: 508-793-2415 Email: crusaderathletics@holycross.edu GoHolyCross.com Stay in touch with Crusader Athletics via social media

16 Crusader Nation • Fall 2014