A Decade of Excellence in Athletics Competition 1979-88
1989-98
1999-2008
SPORT
RECORD
NCAA APPS.
RECORD
NCAA APPS.
RECORD
NCAA APPS.
Football
65-49-1 (.570)
4*
51-62-3 (.443)
3*
88-39 (.692)
10*
Men’s Basketball
190-114 (.625)
4
148-153 (.491)
3
189-100 (.654)
7
Women’s Basketball
166-149 (.527)
0
129-151 (.460)
1
187-98 (.656)
6
219-122-14 (.637)
4
190-162-33 (.493)
4
239-105-32 (.678)
8+
Women’s Soccer
Men’s Hockey
74-35-8 (.667)
4
87-66-12 (.564)
1
133-66-18 (.612)
6
Men’s Soccer
97-78-29 (.547)
1
75-66-21 (.527)
0
104-69-16 (.593)
8
811-547-52 (.594)
17
680-660-60 (.507)
12
940-477-66 (.656)
45
Total
*Denotes Bowl Appearances | +Denotes 2001 and 2008 National Championships
.656 .594 Combinded Team Win/Loss %
.507 Bowl Games & NCAA Appearances
CONTENTS
2-3 Academics
Academics
17
12
45
1979-88
1989-98
1999-2008
4-5 Community Service
Community Service
6-9 Development
Development
Welcome to the 2009 edition of the Boston College Athletics annual report. Dear Friends, I would like to start by saying thank you to the thousands of donors, alumni, fans, parents and supporters who have been so incredibly loyal to our program throughout the years. We are living in challenging times, and we understand the fact that many people have been adversely affected by our economy this past year. When you choose to invest in our student-athletes, you can do so with the confidence that your gift directly impacts their experience at the Heights. To ensure the day-to-day experiences remain fulfilling for our student-athletes, the Athletics Department has undergone cost containment measures that reduce our budget while minimizing the impact on our teams. We continue to strive to be better stewards of every dollar that is gifted to BC Athletics.
10-13 Conte Facelift
Conte Facelift
We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our student-athletes. In athletics competition, our student-athletes have just completed the most successful decade in BC Athletics history. Last year, our football team played in the ACC Championship Game for the second consecutive year, and our men’s basketball team has won more games than any ACC team except North Carolina and Duke since we joined the league in 2005. The chart on the left illustrates just how much success our teams have enjoyed in recent years. In the classroom, we learned last October that BC’s Graduation Success Rate of 96 for all student-athletes is among the top nine in the country among Division I institutions. In addition, the BC football team’s GSR score of 92 is tied with Duke as best in the Atlantic Coast Conference and fourth-best in all of Division I college football, and a school-record 18 teams achieved a perfect GSR score of 100. Nationally, the average GSR score was 78.
14-21 In the News
Our student-athletes continue to contribute mightily to community service projects and serve as an inspiration to many. We all, in fact, are inspired by the stories of our student-athletes, and we would like to share some of those with you throughout the pages of this annual report. They are, after all, at the heart of our program. I hope you enjoy this year’s annual report. We’re looking forward to seeing you at The Heights in the upcoming months. Sincerely,
Gene DeFilippo Director of Athletics
22-24 Individual Awards
In the News
Individual Awards 1
25 Mark Herzlich’s Story
Mark Herzlich’s Story
ACADEMICS Student-Athletes Shine in the Classroom BC leads ACC with 408 honor roll student-athletes Boston College had 408 studentathletes named to the 52nd annual Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll. The Eagles led all ACC schools with the most studentathletes on the honor roll, including 75 swimmers and 65 track and field athletes. Also named to the honor roll was the 2007-08 Eagle of the Year, Kasey Hill and seven members of the 2007-08 men’s national championship hockey team. The Honor Roll is comprised of those student-athletes who participated in a varsity-level sport and registered a grade point average of 3.00 or better for the full academic year.
Eagles Among Nation’s Elite in Graduation Success Rate Overall rate among nation’s top nine; football rated fourth-best in the country Boston College’s Graduation Success Rate of 96 for all student-athletes is among the top nine in the country among Division I (FBS) institutions, according to data released in October by the NCAA. In addition, the BC football team’s GSR score of 92 is tied with Duke as best in the Atlantic Coast Conference and fourth-best in all of Division I college football, and a school-record 18 Eagles teams achieved a perfect GSR score of 100. Nationally, the average GSR score was 78. “We are very proud of this remarkable accomplishment,” Director of Athletics Gene DeFilippo says. “We take the term `student-athlete’ very seriously at Boston College.” The BC teams that received a perfect 100 score were baseball, men’s cross country/track, men’s 2
fencing, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s skiing, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s rowing, women’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s sailing, women’s lacrosse, softball and volleyball. In football, Navy led all GSR scores with 95, followed by Notre Dame (94), Stanford (93), Boston College and Duke. The NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) was developed in response to college and university presidents who wanted graduation data that more accurately reflect the mobility among college students today. The GSR measures graduation rates at Division I institutions and includes students transferring into the institutions. The GSR also allows institutions to subtract student-athletes who leave their institutions prior to graduation as long as they would have been academically eligible to compete had they remained. The most recent data released measured student-athletes who entered school in 2001-02.
Teams Honored for Academic Progress Rate Eleven Boston College athletics teams were among 712 sports teams honored by the NCAA with public recognition awards for their latest multi-year Academic Progress Rate scores. The BC teams honored included men’s golf, men’s skiing, men’s indoor track, men’s outdoor track, women’s basketball, women’s field hockey, women’s skiing, women’s soccer, women’s tennis, women’s indoor track and women’s volleyball. These teams posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports.
Three Student-Athletes Receive ACC Postgraduate Scholarships Byron, Dirks, Hannigan earn Weaver-James-Corrigan Award In April, Boston College seniors Caroline Byron, Bob Dirks, and Emily Hannigan were three of 42 ACC student-athletes honored as postgraduate scholarship recipients. The Weaver-James-Corrigan awards are given to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate-level degree following graduation. Each recipient will receive $5,000 to use towards his or her graduate education. Byron, a four-year member of the swimming and diving team, was named to the All-ACC Academic team in 2007 and 2008. She is a three-time winner of the Athletics Director’s Award for Academic Achievement and earned the Mary
The public recognition awards are part of the broad Division I academic reform effort. The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes eligibility, retention, and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. High-performing teams receiving awards posted APR scores ranging from 965 to a perfect 1,000, said NCAA President Myles Brand. “Congratulations to these teams and their studentathletes for success in the classroom,” Brand said. “They are setting a great example for their peers and future student-athletes, as well.”
Pawlak Award for Special Recognition in 2008. Byron holds the school record in both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle and has a share of four different school relay records. She set the BC all-time dual meet scoring record in 2009. Byron graduated in May 2009 as a human development major in the Lynch School of Education. Dirks, a four-year starter on the field hockey team, is a four-time All-ACC Academic selection and two-time NFHCA All-Academic squad member. She has earned the Athletics Director’s Award for Academic Achievement three times. Dirks is a threetime All-America first-team selection, a four-time All-Northeast Region first-team selection and two-time ECAC All-Star. She holds the BC record for points in a career with 150 in four years. In May, she graduated from the Carroll School of Management with a degree in finance. 3
MEN’S GOLF MEN’S SKIING MEN’S INDOOR TRACK MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WOMEN’S FIELD HOCKEY WOMEN’S SKIING WOMEN’S SOCCER WOMEN’S TENNIS WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Hannigan, a four-year starter for the lacrosse team, is a three-time All-ACC Academic selection, a three-time recipient of the Athletics Director’s Award for Academic Achievement and IWLCA Academic Honor Roll in 2008 in her junior season. She graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences with a Communications Degree in May. The Weaver-James-Corrigan award is named in honor of the late Jim Weaver and Bob James as well as Gene Corrigan, all former ACC commissioners. Student-athletes receiving the award have performed with distinction in both the classroom and in their respective sports, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
COMMUNITY SERVICE Student-Athletes Chronicle SAAC Service Trip SAAC Members travel to Connecticut to help those less fortunate In January, several members of Boston College’s StudentAthlete Advisory Committee traveled to Connecticut to help those less fortunate, one of many community service outreach projects the Committee undertakes each year. The following are firsthand accounts of three BC student-athletes who participated in the service trip.
Day 1. By Carrie Amarante (sailing): sailing sailing): We arrived in Bridgeport late last night and after a tour and introduction to the church we are calling home for the next four days, we got some muchneeded rest. Today we arrived at the Habitat for Humanity warehouse at 8:15 and met our project managers, Rich and Kevin, and the other volunteers. We were dispatched to our worksite on Williams Street in Bridgeport, CT. Habitat is refurbishing a historic brownstone complex on Williams Street into eight individual condo units. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization which provides affordable housing to people in the community who demonstrate financial need and agree to donate 500 hours of service to the organization. Upon arriving at the worksite, we were divided into two teams, which worked separately to build a secondfloor porch, assemble four-story scaffolding, cut door frames, and ensure that the worksite was clean and safe. We were given a great amount of responsibility and learned a lot about the construction process. It was extremely rewarding to see our tangible accomplishments at the end of the day. Additionally, we had the chance to interact and work with some of the future homeowners who all have incredible stories.
Cristy Almendrales (field hockey) 4
Matt Price and Brock Bradford (men’s ice hockey) and friends Day 2. By Bob Dirks (field hockey) & Lauren Gillooly (sailing): sailing sailing): With heavy snow in the forecast, the conditions were not conducive to outdoor construction, so when we arrived at the warehouse, 1,300 envelopes were waiting to be stuffed. After an hour of assembly line work, the job was completed, and we were reassigned to various prep tasks inside the warehouse. The group was divided again into several smaller teams, which worked together to prime and paint window frames, construct balcony railings, clean a Habitat home, pick up supplies from the lumber yard, and tidy the warehouse. Habitat project managers and core volunteers were entertained by our music selections. We had dinner with BC alumni living in the area who generously cooked us a delicious meal and delivered it to the church where we are staying. When dinner was over, we played a question game that helped each of the volunteers get to know each other more intimately. Exhausted from a long day of hard work, we retreated to our air beds to watch some SNL re-runs.
Chelsea Regan, Brooke Knowlton, Cristen Callan, Alyssa Pember and Natalie Crutchfield (women’s soccer)
Day 3. By Lauren Gillooly (sailing): sailing sailing): Because Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization, we could not work today. Instead, we got together with some of the Habitat children and made pizzas and bowled in the church’s original 1929 duckpin bowling alley. Before the kids arrived a small group went with King’s Pantry to distribute food to homeless people. Kings Pantry was started by a woman who, on her way to and from work, always drove under a bridge where homeless people would congregate. She decided to take action, and every Sunday when all the soup kitchens are closed, she delivers soup to anyone in need under the bridge at noon. After helping King’s Pantry distribute soup to over 50 people, we went back to the church where we were staying and collected all of our leftovers, bagged them up, and drove back to the bridge and handed them out. People swarmed our van and were extremely grateful for the extra food and treats that we gave them. When we returned from the bridge, the Habitat kids began arriving and we put our pizzamaking skills to the test. While waiting for the pizzas to cook, we were entertained with a couple of rounds of catchphrase. After devouring 8 delicious pizzas, we ventured to the basement for duck pin bowling. We capped off another action-packed day with a relaxing dinner at P.F. Chang’s, which was a special treat after three days of hard work.
Alaina Beyar, Julia Bouchelle (women’s soccer) Day 4. By Lauren Gillooly (sailing): sailing sailing): Our final day of work began with lots of snow shoveling to make the work site safe for construction. Once the grounds were cleared, the group was divided and assigned various tasks which included completing the second-story porch which we started on day 1, painting, and window framing and installations among other things. Despite the snow and cold temperatures, it was a beautiful day and the group got a lot accomplished. We were joined today by some of Habitat for Humanity’s core volunteers, which consists of a group of retired men who show up every Monday to assist with construction. Their interesting stories and unconventional methods kept us entertained. Upon completion of the day’s work, we returned to the Golden Hill Church to pack and clean up for the trip back to school. All in all, it was a great trip and the experiences put the opportunities afforded to us as student-athletes at Boston College into perspective.
Congratulations to BC’s ACC “Six for Service” Award winners: LAUREN GILLOOLY SAILING
LAUREN FITZPATRICK LACROSSE
MARLOTTE VAN DEN BERGH FIELD HOCKEY
RYAN KIRACOFE TRACK & FIELD
KYLE MCCARTEN GOLF
DAVE HASEBROOCK BASEBALL
Ben Smith (men’s ice hockey) and friends
Mark Herzlich (football), Maura Mahoney (women’s lacrosse), Lauren Gillooly (sailing), Cristy Almendrales (field hockey), Kyle McCarten (men’s golf ) and friend 5
These awards are given by the ACC to six student-athletes who have given back to the community and the university.
DEVELOPMENT The Cost of a Scholarship = $52,439 In October, Boston College launched the Light the World Campaign, which will conclude in 2015. The campaign includes four initiatives:
1 2 3 4
RAISE $1.5 BILLION This includes many priorities for our student-athletes and the Athletics Department. Every gift you make to athletics counts toward this goal. DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS ENGAGED IN SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY Many athletics donors already support this initiative through volunteering for leadership in reunions, athletics friends groups or mentoring programs. REACH 40,000 ALUMNI WHO GIVE TO BC EVERY YEAR Your gift of any amount to the Flynn Fund between June 1 and May 31 annually helps fulfill this goal. CREATE A CHARITABLE LEGACY BY HAVING MORE MEMBERS OF THE BC COMMUNITY INCLUDE BC IN THEIR ESTATE PLANS This includes bequests designated to the Athletics Department.
Books $400
Fees $600
Meals $4,540
Every Gift Matters, Every Dollar Counts, Each and Every Year The past year has presented all of us with unprecedented financial challenges. While BC is not immune to these hurdles, we humbly thank all of the alumni, parents and friends who made the past 12 months one of the most successful fundraising campaigns in BC Athletics history. The $17M donated represents the third-highest total in our history and is 50 percent more than just four years ago. The 4,400 donors to the Flynn Fund prove that there is strength in numbers. We are proud to report that nearly 700 alumni, parents and friends have donated to BC Athletics for at least 10 consecutive years. We remain grateful to this special group of alumni, parents and friends for their consistent and continued support. The conclusion of this year has also brought a renewed commitment to our way of doing business. When you choose to invest in our student-athletes,
Housing $8,369
Tuition $38,530
you can do so with the confidence that your gift directly impacts their experience at the Heights. To ensure the day-to-day experiences remain fulfilling for our student-athletes, the Athletics Department has undergone cost containment measures that reduce our budget while minimizing the impact on our teams. We continue to strive to be better stewards of every dollar that is gifted to BC Athletics. Lastly, we remain committed to the importance of financial aid. The scholarships funded by fundraising are more impactful than ever as many families would not be able to afford the BC experience for their children were it not for the scholarships we offer. We continue to offer 272 full scholarships at a cost of nearly $14.5M. We want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have made these scholarship dollars available. To the right is a sampling of some of the 700 donors who have chosen to invest in our student-athletes for at least 10 consecutive years:
Your Gift to the Flynn Fund Matters! As a University, BC received more than $1.8M in gifts of less than $100 in 2008-09 6
Mark Arduino ’85
Donor Since: 1989
Did you know: Mark is a member of the BC Fund Executive Committee. “Next year I will be celebrating my 25th-year graduation reunion. As I look back I see tremendous growth in BC from an academic (stature) standpoint as well as athletics. BC has always held true to the core that academics come first and athletics second. It never cut corners and without a doubt sacrificed greater national prominence. Initially this was somewhat bothersome to me but with time I have very much come to appreciate the success formula that BC lives by. I’ve had so many friends, co-workers, etc tell me: ‘You know what, BC does it the right way.’ That’s all they say and you know exactly what they mean. “I look at the bold master plan Fr. Leahy has submitted and it puts me in awe of what the ‘next level’ of BC will become. I was highly impressed in the mid-80s at the campus and have seen consistent campus-wide facilities improvement over the years and it is inspiring to go back to campus and see the next generation footprint that is BC. Ultimately if one believes in the perpetual improvement process that BC has always maintained, it mandates an understanding of what it takes financially from the BC community. I personally feel compelled to be a consistent donor because it feels good to give back to an institution that gave me so much. Aside from my family and church, BC is the other ‘top-3’ support institution that I am committed to. It’s in the ‘lifelong pursuit’ category as it is for a handful of others that I’ve met along the way.”
Shannon Smith ’00
Janice Collein ’00
Donor Since: 2000
Donor Since: 2000
Did you know: Shannon was a member of the women’s track and cross country program.
Did you know: Janice was a member of the Soccer team while at BC.
“I give to Boston College Athletics to ensure that all student-athletes have the same opportunities that were provided to me. Being an athlete can be an immensely challenging experience and I know firsthand, Boston College provides its student-athletes with excellent coaching, facilities and a supportive environment to help each student-athlete meet these challenges and realize tremendous athletic achievements, and accomplish any goal in life.”
Lou Totino ’54
“I give back because it was an honor and a privilege to have had such a memorable and positive student-athlete experience at BC that prepared me for the competitive and dynamic facets of life in the business world.”
Sahag Dakesian ’49
Did you know: Sahag was a charter member of Blue Chips, re-named the William J. Flynn Fund in 1998. “My devotion to BC started because I received scholarship money to be a manager of the football team in 1948. Giving back was instilled in me and our class was one of the most active after World War II. Most importantly, through my athletic experience, I came to value the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person. The Jesuits helped me to mature, think objectively and I have not and will never forget them or BC.”
Walter Lyon ’51
Donor Since: 1964
Donor Since: 1955
Donor Since: 1978
Did you know: Lou began teaching part-time in the BC MBA program in 1966 and continues teaching today in the Woods College of Advancing Studies.
Did you know: Walter maintains his Flynn Fund membership while living in Florida and is also a close follower of the BC football recruiting scene.
“Donating to the Flynn Fund is a means of expressing appreciation to BC for wonderful memories, for the enjoyment my family and I have experienced from BC Athletics events over the years and for providing financial support to student-athletes.”
“BC’s atmosphere, environment, tradition, principles and character with regard to the image that we attempt to project is so important. Our studentathletes maintain that image and represent our school all over the country.” 7
With every fundraising year there are also a number of specific gifts that contribute greatly to the goals achieved. The following are some examples of gifts that inspire us to believe our future remains bright and that our student-athletes will continue to achieve excellence:
Total Cash Received (2008) ACC Institutions $35 Million $30 Million $25 Million $20 Million $15 Million $10 Million
Miami
Wake Forrest
Boston College
Georgia Maryland Tech
Patricia Fried ’85 Moores and her husband Mark Moores are among a number of donors who have taken advantage of the University’s Financial Aid Challenge. The Moores’ generosity has established the Moores Family Scholarship and qualified their scholarship for a special $50,000 gift from an anonymous donor for meeting the challenge’s requirements. Their gift establishes Patti among the most generous female alumnae to BC Athletics. Together with their two boys, Mark and Patti reside in Rye Brook, New York. The first recipient of the Moores Fund is redshirt freshman football player Clyde Lee ’12. Bob ’71 and Peggy LeBlanc initially established the Robert J. LeBlanc Scholarship Fund in memory of Bob’s father in 1998. The Fund provides scholarship assistance to student-athletes in football from the North Shore area of Massachusetts. Bob and Peggy recently augmented their scholarship by committing to an additional $200,000 to take advantage of the University’s Financial Aid Challenge. Past recipients include former Eagles Brian St. Pierre ’02, Jim Unis 8
Duke
NC State Virginia Clemson North Tech Carolina
Florida State
Virginia
’06 and Jon Loyte ’08. This year’s recipient is James McCluskey ’10. Bob’s mother, affectionately known as ‘Mom’, is also a fan of BC Athletics and annually attends the Athletics scholarship luncheon to meet the LeBlanc Scholarship Fund recipient. Weather permitting, you might also find Mom at Bob’s tailgate and in Alumni Stadium cheering on our Eagles. A member of the class of 1986 and former football student-athlete, Ted Gaffney ’86 CGSOM ’88 understands the importance of scholarship, and from this he and his wife Theresa generously made an additional commitment in 2009 to the Gaffney Family Athletics Scholarship. Funds from this endowment assist a member of the football team with preference for those who have graduated from a Catholic High School. The Gaffneys have also gifted funds to support the construction of the Yawkey Athletics Center. In the fall of 2008, Ted served as the alumni speaker at the annual Athletics scholarship luncheon, and spoke about his experiences as a student-athlete at Boston College and how they helped to prepare him for his future endeavors.
Athletics Giving FY1999-2009
Kelly O’Connor, Maureen O’Connor, Rev. William P. Leahy, SJ, Dave O’Connor, Janie O’Connor.
John P. Curley ’13 Award The John P. Curley ’13 Award is presented to the outstanding volunteer who has committed both time and resources to advancing the efforts of Boston College, with particular emphasis on the Athletics Department. Award Winner
David P. O’Connor ‘86
A regular at countless athletics events, Dave is an informal ambassador for BC Athletics, spreading not just his enthusiasm as a fan, but his knowledge and insight into the larger value that athletic competition represents for Boston College. His support for BC Athletics started small, as he struggled to meet the Flynn Fund minimum for on-campus parking as a young alum. Over the years, as his career progressed (in part due to the support of other BC alums, which he is fond of pointing out) and as his interaction with BC increased, so did his support. His first major initiative was when he and some fellow classmates raised the necessary funds to name an Academic Affairs office in the new Yawkey Center after their late roommate, Stephen M. Lauble. Most recently, he has made a gift dedicated to the athletic fields on the new Brighton Campus (in honor of his mother), and endowed the Jim Unis Scholarship for BC student-athletes who can no longer compete because of health reasons but are committed to completing their educations.
Dave’s volunteer service, however, does not stop at athletics. As a member of the Light the World campaign committee, Dave serves as New York Regional Campaign co-chair. He is also a member of the Wall Street Council Executive Committee, a leader of the Wall Street Council’s annual golf outing, and a member of the Carroll School’s Center for Asset Management Advisory Board. Dave served as co-chair of his 20th Reunion Gift Committee and has been a member of the Shaw Society since 2004. In 2007, Dave joined Boston College’s Board of Trustees and currently serves on the Trustee Committee for University Advancement and the Investment & Endowment Committee. Dave is currently the president and senior managing partner of High Rise Capital Management, L.P. in New York City, and he received his M.S. in Real Estate from NYU. Dave and his wife Maureen live in Westfield, New Jersey, with their two daughters, Janie and Kelly.
1999
$3.9m
2000
$5m
2001
$5.9m
2002
$6.8m
2003
$7.3m
2004
$11.3m
2005
$12.4m
2006
$15.2m
2007
$18.9m
2008
$21m
2009
$17.4m
Past Recipients: • Thomas D ’52 and Regina K. McElroy P ’80
• Gregory P. Barber ’69 • Alfred W. Branca ’39
• John V. Murphy ’71
• Timothy J. Connors, Jr. ’76
• Charles P. ’66 and Elizabeth K. ’67 Smith
• John L. Harrington ’57, MBA ’66 • Gerald B. Healy, M.D. ’63
9
CONTE FORUM GETS AN EXTREME MAKEOVER
Since its opening in 1988, Silvio O. Conte Forum has undergone several updates to keep pace with the everevolving world of college athletics. Recently, this description has never been more precise. Immediately following the opening of the Yawkey Center in 2005, Boston College began extensive renovations and updates to a building that serves as the operations center for 31 Division I varsity athletics programs – Conte Forum.
Conte Video Boards and Control Room
High-definition Daktronics scoreboards on the east and west ends of Conte Forum, coupled with a complete overhaul of the video control room to support operating in high definition, will take fans of Boston College basketball and hockey to the next level of game entertainment in 2009-10.
The design, construction and remodeling spanned the course of three years and progressed through several phases, transforming and upgrading the building’s interior to the state-of-the-art facility that remains the heart of Boston College Athletics in its current form today. The graphics and descriptive text that appear on these pages intend to depict some of the many changes and highlights that have helped make Conte Forum a modern building that our student-athletes can call home, a productive place for our coaches, administrators and support staff to work and an intimate sporting venue for our fans to enjoy.
Media Suite Redesign and construction of the former football team meeting room transformed the ground-floor space into the Conte Forum Media Suite, one of the top media hospitality suites in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Built to accommodate print and electronic journalists as well as photographers and videographers, the area is sectioned in two spacious working areas – one pregame dining area and one postgame interview room. The Media Suite is conveniently located between the home and visiting team locker rooms for basketball and hockey, expediting postgame interviews and serving as a quiet, comfortable working space for media members covering Boston College Athletics.
Hockey Locker Room and Syron Family Players’ Lounge
Using the locker room of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild as a guide, Boston College renovated and realigned its men’s hockey locker room, changing area and lounge immediately following the team’s national championship season. New ceilings, lights and carpet, coupled with a slight expansion and of installation of 30 NHL-sized lockers took place during the summer months of 2008.
Student-Athlete Lounge
Power Gym
Weight Room
Boston College’s spacious and newly renovated student-athlete lounge features two flat-screen TVs, new impact photos, sectional seats and couches.
Recent renovations of Power Gym provide the Eagles with an even stronger and more appealing facility. Along with being repainted, Power Gym added a new storage closet, mounted cameras, banners, padding system and lights.
The updated weight training facility features customized training equipment, video and computerbased technology and a state-of-the-art sound system.
Sports Medicine Suite Renovated in the summer of 2008, Boston College’s Clough Family Sports Medicine Suite and training room combines the best rehabilitation and training facilities with on-site physician exam rooms.
Team Exhibits Located on the east concourse of the building, seven trophy cases were redesigned to display images and historical program information detailing the athletics accomplishments, academic success and individual achievement of BC Athletics. Bookended by the school’s remarkable success in hockey (displayed in the southeast case) and its rich basketball history (displayed in the northeast case), the Conte Forum Team Exhibits show BC Athletics in a modern context. The center trophy case, the featured element, pays an annual tribute to the top honor bestowed upon on a Boston College student-athlete – the male and female Eagle of the Year recipients.
Varsity Club Hall of Fame Wall
Boston College Varsity Club Hall of Fame inductees are permanently enshrined on the Wall of Fame located on the west concourse of Conte Forum. Updated and redesigned in the fall of 2007, the Wall of Fame honors more than 350 men and women whose exceptional performance on the fields of friendly strife and, in later years on other fields, merits special recognition from their alma mater.
IN THE NEWS From a new football coach to the longest game in NCAA Baseball Tournament history to another sailing national championship, the 2008-09 year provided many highlights. The following is a synopsis of some of the major news stories that occurred this past year.
Dirks and Bradford Named Eagles of the Year Bob Dirks, the most decorated field hockey player in school history, and Brock Bradford, the captain and leading scorer of the men’s hockey team, earned Eagle of the Year Awards at Boston College’s All-Sports Banquet on May 1. The Nathaniel J. Hasenfus ‘22 Eagle of the Year Award is given annually to one male and one female senior student-athlete who are outstanding citizens, leaders, scholars and athletes. It is the most prestigious honor that the Athletics Department bestows upon a student-athlete. Dirks, a Malden, Netherlands, native, earned AllAmerica first-team honors three times - in 2006, 2007 and 2008 - and twice captured All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition (2007 and 2008). She earned ACC Offensive Player of the Year honors as a junior. Dirks established Boston College career records for goals (62) and points (150). Bradford, who hails from Burnaby, British Columbia, was elected team captain of the 2008-09 Eagles following 14
a junior campaign in which he twice broke bones in his left arm. This season, he led the Eagles in scoring with 42 points - 25 goals and 17 assists - in 37 games. He earned All-Hockey East second-team accolades, captured All-New England first-team honors and garnered the Norman F. Dailey Award as the program’s Most Valuable Player. The Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Awards were also presented at the banquet. These awards are given to a male and female student-athlete from each class for excellence in both the classroom and on the playing field. The winners were Julie Bouchelle of women’s soccer and Montel Harris of football from the freshman class; Carolyn Swords of women’s basketball and Anthony Castonzo of football from the sophomore class; Molly Schaus of women’s hockey and Tony Sanchez of baseball from the junior class; and Maggie Taverna of women’s hockey and Alejandro Bedoya of men’s soccer from the senior class. Also honored were 367 BC student-athletes, who earned the Athletics Director’s Award for Academic Achievement. They must have an overall grade-point average of 3.0 to garner the honor.
STEPHEN HEPBURN MEN’S SOCCER
2009 Thank-A-Thon Reaches Record Numbers Sailing Successfully Defends Championship Title The Boston College sailing team won the 2009 ICSA/ APS Team Race National Championship, successfully defending the title won a year ago on Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, marking the third collegiate sailing national title the Eagles have won in school history. For three days, the top 14 schools in the nation - as determined by their performance in one of the seven Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association conferences to which they belong – raced for the championship title from the Treasure Island Sailing Center hosted by California Maritime Academy and the University of California, Berkeley. The event pits each college’s threeboat team against another’s in a round-robin series of matches and starts with the 14 teams divided into two groups. The top four finishers from Group 1 and 2 move on to the “elite eight” (a.k.a. the Gold Round), before the “final four” to determine the champion.
Student-athletes thank Flynn Fund donors Eighty-seven student-athletes took some time away from their studies to thank Flynn Fund donors during the annual spring Thank-A-Thon. In coordination with the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and the Flynn Fund, the studentathletes gathered in the media suite of Conte Forum to thank donors for their support of the Athletics Department. Over the course of the two-hour event, representatives from 15 teams reached nearly 1,300 donors who have made gifts to the Flynn Fund since the fall Thank-A-Thon in October 2008. Student-athletes were busier than ever working the phone lines, as they surpassed the 1,250 donor mark reached in the fall.
By the conclusion of the Gold Round only BC, St. Mary’s, Georgetown and Yale remained in contention for the title. And when the dust settled, the 13-4 record amassed by the BC Eagles had won them the title. 15
HIS STORY I felt we had one of the tightest knit teams in the Athletics Department - and granted I’m biased that was really the strength of our success. Even going through the years, I know my senior class we had 12 kids so, we were able to stay together making the transition from year to year easier for the younger kids and those who transferred in. We translated our friendships off the field onto the soccer field. The highlight was winning the ACC Championship my junior year. I was just so proud to be on that team. I have to give a lot a credit to everyone on the team for the heart they put into the season, including the coaches. I’ve known Coach (Ed) Kelly since I was 12 and I really do owe everything to him, he really saw something in me. I owe a lot to the coaching staff and the effort they put in. I expected BC to be fun but it was more than I thought. Great academics, great sports, great teammates and great support of the other student-athletes, seeing so many faces on campus - if I could do it again I would in a heartbeat.
CRISTINA ALMENDRALES FIELD HOCKEY
Alexis, Laurie, Doug Jr. and Doug Flutie
Flutie Honored with Bronze Statue HER STORY My experience at Boston College has been shaped and formed around my involvement with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and the support system that comes from being a student-athlete at BC. From the coaches to the administrators, to your own teammates, and other student-athletes, you form bonds with people that will always be there for you, whether it be related to academics, athletics, or community service. I’ll miss the day-to-day of being in Conte Forum, running into friends from my own team and from different teams, seeing my teammates who really have become like sisters to me. You really form strong friendships with other studentathletes and you have your own little family. To student-athletes coming to Boston College I would say to get as involved in the community as possible. Dedication to your sport comes with the role of playing Division I, but being involved with other extra-curricular activities and building on other aspects of your life helps you become a healthier athlete.
With his entire family, former Coach Jack Bicknell, teammates from 1984 and the entire 2008 BC football team on hand, legendary quarterback Doug Flutie was honored in November with the unveiling of a six-foot bronze statue at Gate D of Alumni Stadium.
“This statue is a fitting tribute to the man who made Boston College football a household name,” said BC Athletics Director Gene DeFilippo. “Doug played a huge role in the history of Boston College Athletics. We’re thrilled to honor him permanently outside Alumni Stadium.” The statue depicts Flutie about to release his famous “Hail Mary” pass at Miami in 1984. The Boston College Athletics Department commissioned renowned sculptor Harry Weber for the design and construction of the 16
statue. Weber has prominent sculptures at 10 different professional and amateur stadiums as well as the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. In 1984, Flutie became the first player in Boston College history to win college football’s grandest individual award - the Heisman Trophy. It capped an unbelievable 9-2 season that included the astounding victory over Miami, a victory over Houston in the Cotton Bowl and a No. 5 national ranking. He finished his career as BC’s all-time leading passer with 10,579 yards.
Herzlich Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year
BRITTANNY JOHNSON WO M E N ’ S B A S K E T B A L L
Team Plays in Championship Game for Second Straight Year Boston College junior linebacker Mark Herzlich was named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year as the Eagles advanced to the ACC Championship Game for the second consecutive year. Herzlich received his award at the ACC Coaches’ Luncheon in Tampa, a day before the Eagles took on Virginia Tech in the Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. The Eagles won the ACC’s Atlantic Division title for the second consecutive year. It marked the second consecutive year an Eagle was honored at the luncheon; in 2007, quarterback Matt Ryan received the ACC Player of the Year award.
HER STORY
Men’s Basketball Team Defeats North Carolina, Duke In March, the BC men’s basketball team shocked the college basketball world for the second time when it defeated sixth-ranked Duke, 80-74, in Conte Forum, the Eagles’ first win over the Blue Devils in 24 years. Earlier in the year, the Eagles handed No. 1 North Carolina, the eventual NCAA champion, its first loss of the season, 85-78, in Chapel Hill.
Some of the things I thought I would receive from Boston College had nothing to do with athletics. I have made friends here that I know will last. I realize how lucky I am to have been a student at Boston College. I was able to play on a team that advanced to the Sweet 16, we beat the No. 1 team in the tournament Ohio State - it’s an experience I’ll never forget. When I first came here, I wanted to play professional basketball, that was what I thought success was. But through the last four years, I realize how lucky I am to have an education from BC and how important it really is. It was not always easy but I have people around me who supported me and helped me when I needed it. My accomplishments are their success.
CAITLIN HILER WO M E N ’ S S O C C E R
Eagle Rowers Christen New Boathouse Baseball Team Makes History HER STORY I could not be happier that I decided to play soccer all four years. It’s been the best experience of my life. I enjoyed it more as time went on. I feel like it’s really shaped me as a person and, because of it, I think I’ll be a more well-rounded person. We were one of the few teams in the country to make it to the Sweet 16 three of our four years, so that really stands out. I think everything from weightlifting and practices structured us better as people. As a freshman, I had a senior (April Millado) as my roommate during preseason. She took care of me, she looked out for me. Being a senior this year, that’s something I kept in mind. I tried to reach out and be a leader and look out for the freshmen. Just the other day I went and cleaned out my locker and took down my name tag. It was an overwhelming feeling just walking out for the last time. But I do have a little sister coming in to play next year, so I have a good connection to stay with the team.
The Boston College baseball team advanced to its first NCAA Tournament since 1967 and it will be one nobody will soon forget. The Eagles went 1-2 in the Austin Regional, hosted by the University of Texas, but it was what occurred on May 30 that was so special. With a trip to the regional championship game on the line and facing the No. 1 national seed Texas, BC and the Longhorns played the longest game in NCAA history. It took 25 innings and seven hours and three minutes, but Texas won the game 3-2. Mike Belfiore, BC’s closer, threw 9.2 scoreless innings of relief and allowed just three hits while striking out 11 Longhorns. After returning to their hotel early Sunday morning, the Eagles then had to face Army at noon. Boston College threatened in the top of the ninth inning, but the Black Knights held on for the 4-3 win. BC won the first game of the regional in dramatic fashion against Texas State. Down 5-2 entering the ninth inning, the Eagles scored six times to take an 8-5 lead which was capped by a three-run homer from John Spatola. BC would eventually win the game, 8-7.
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The Boston College Harry Parker Boathouse officially opened for use in October, just in time for The Head of the Charles Regatta. A dedication ceremony was held to commemorate the partnership between BC women’s crew and Community Rowing that allowed for the construction of the new waterfront facility. The new boathouse, located on Nonantum Road along the Charles River between Boston and Newton, is a state-of-the art building featuring 30,000 square feet of space and a unique architectural design that brings the outdoors inside. The main common room has space for 60 indoor rowing machines and the building features a firstclass weight room, classrooms and is equipped for wireless capabilities. The building is also environmentally friendly with geo-thermal heating units and special drainage to keep runoff from the boathouse and surrounding parking areas from draining into the river. The building also functions as the headquarters for Community Rowing, which runs more than 1,000 programs, ranging from youths to adults, Learn to Row Programs to competitive masters rowing.
Eight Inducted Into Varsity Club Hall of Fame
recognition. Langone was a four-time Big East honoree - All-Rookie Team in 1991, All-Conference second team in 1998 and 1999, and All-Conference first team in 2000.
Eight standout former student-athletes were inducted into Boston College’s Varsity Club Hall of Fame in ceremonies this past October. The new inductees include:
Andrea Melton ‘96 (track and field): Andrea Melton distinguished herself as an elite track and field performer during her career at the Heights. She captured AllAmerica honors in the 100-meter hurdles in 1995 and earned Boston College’s prestigious “Eagle of the Year” honor in 1996. A native of South Orange, N.J., Melton holds six school records - two indoor records (55-meter hurdles and long jump), two outdoor records (100-meter hurdles and long jump) and two relay records (indoor distance medley relay and outdoor shuttle hurdle relay). During her career, Melton won five New England titles - twice in the 55-meter hurdles and three times in the 100-meter hurdles - and one ECAC crown (as a member of the distance medley relay team).
Chris Hamblin ‘01 (men’s soccer): Chris Hamblin set the standard for future Boston College goalkeepers. The Bristol, England, native captured NSCAA All-America first-team honors in his senior season (2000). Hamblin registered 11 wins and a 0.84 goals against average. He also earned Big East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honors after posting a conference-record 0.44 goals against average in league matches. Hamblin matched his on-field distinction with his academic excellence. He gained the 2000-01 Big East/Aeropostale Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, while also earning CoSIDA District 1 Academic All-America accolades. He completed his playing career with 27 victories and a school-record 6,319 minutes played. Br. Joseph (Eddie) Iarrobino, OSB `53 (golf ): Edmund Iarrobino was a star golfer at Boston College from 1951-53. He served as team captain in his senior season. In his three years with the Eagles, Iarrobino posted a 16-2 record while facing all of the opposing team’s best players in either the number one or two position. His playing prowess contributed to the team’s two New England championships. Following his graduation, he became a member of the Benedictine order. He is now known as Brother Joseph Iarrobino, O.S.B. Steve Langone ‘00 (baseball): Steve Langone was a dominant pitcher and prolific hitter for the Eagles from 1997-2000. As a pitcher, he recorded 24 victories in four seasons, including eight in each of his last two years. As a senior, he finished with an 8-2 record and nation’s best 1.54 earned run average. He struck out 65 batters and walked just six in 76.0 innings that year. At the plate, the Reading, Mass., native completed his career with a .356 batting average and 117 RBIs in 154 games. As a senior, he captured ABCA/Rawlings All-America secondteam honors and NCBWA All-America third-team
Sarah Powell ‘01 (women’s soccer): Sarah Powell came to Boston College from nearby Natick, Mass., and wasted no time in making her mark. As a freshman back, Powell started in all 17 matches - and she never relinquished that role. Powell played in and started all 82 BC matches during her stellar career. She earned NSCAA AllNortheast Regional honors in each of her four years, including first-team recognition as a junior and senior. She capped her career by capturing All-America secondteam accolades and Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2000. Powell’s play helped BC earn an NCAA Tournament berth in 1999, the program’s first NCAA appearance since 1985.
Charlie Smith ‘66 (football): Charlie Smith was a standout tight end on head coach Jim Miller’s teams from 1963-65. He began his collegiate career playing mostly on the defensive side of the ball, before making the transition to tight end. The Owing Mills, Md., product made 18 receptions for 315 yards and one touchdown in his senior season. He served as 1965 team captain. Ron Stone ‘93 (football): Ron Stone ventured just down the street from West Roxbury High School to land with the Eagles. Known now as a brilliant offensive lineman, Stone redshirted his first season at BC, and then played his next two - 1990 and 1991 - at defensive tackle. He proved himself at that position, before head coach Tom Coughlin moved him to offensive tackle for the 1992 campaign. He excelled there as well and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. Stone enjoyed a 12-year NFL career, playing in 173 games (142 starts). Bill Toof ‘69 (skiing): Bill Toof, who now serves as Boston College football’s video coordinator, remains the premier skier in BC history. He won a schoolrecord 14 races while registering a school-record 810 career points. He led the BC skiers in scoring in each of his four seasons. Toof was a four-time All-Eastern Collegiate Ski Conference first-team honoree. He was the ECSC conference champion in 1967 and 1968. After graduating, Toof served as head skiing coach at BC from 1970-99, leading the Eagles to 16 conference titles.
Steve Langone, Andrea Melton, Chris Hamblin, Sarah Powell, banquet emcee Larry Rawson, Bill Toof, Br. Joseph (Eddie) Iarrobino, Charlie Smith, Ron Stone. 19
Women’s Cross Country Wins New England Championships Boston College’s five scoring runners all finished in the top 12 overall as the women’s cross country team won the New England Championship at Franklin Park on October 11. Senior Nichole Lister led BC as she finished in fourth with a time of 17:50. It was the Eagles’ first New England title since 2002. Boston College scored 38 points in the event while Brown came in second with a total of 141 points. Williams, Dartmouth, and Boston University rounded out the top five. BC’s 103-point margin of victory was the largest in the event since 1997 and its team score was the best since 2000.
Eagles Name Spaziani Head Football Coach In January, Boston College Director of Athletics Gene DeFilippo named Frank Spaziani head football coach at Boston College. “This is a very exciting day for our football program,” DeFilippo said. “When we began a search for a new head football coach, we wanted someone with outstanding coaching credentials and a proven record of leadership. We wanted someone who would continue our tradition of recruiting top quality student-athletes who fit with our academic mission, who will represent our University with class and leave Boston College with a degree. We wanted someone who could hit the ground running, to make this a great recruiting class and next year’s even better. We wanted someone who would be respected by our alumni, fans, staff, the news media, and most importantly, our student-athletes. And we wanted to find someone who really wanted to be at Boston College, more than anywhere else. We found the perfect person for that job right here on our staff. That person is Frank Spaziani.”
“I want to thank Father Leahy, Gene DeFilippo, the administration and everyone who supported me throughout this process,” Spaziani said. “I have been overwhelmed by the emails, letters and phone calls I have received, and it only enhances my belief that this is a wonderful place for a lot of reasons. The people are certainly a big part of it. I am fully committed to making this football program a source of pride for this University and everyone who cares about it.” The 2009 season will mark Spaziani’s 13th year on the BC coaching staff, having spent his first two seasons as the Eagles’ running backs coach and the past 10 as defensive coordinator. Under Spaziani’s guidance, the Eagles consistently have fielded one of the top defenses in college football. In 2008, the Eagles ranked in the top 10 in the nation in seven defensive categories, including interceptions (first, 26); turnovers gained (second, 36); total defense (fifth, 268.14 ypg.); red zone defense (sixth, 72%); first downs allowed (sixth, 14.71 pg.); rushing defense (seventh, 91.2 ypg.), and pass efficiency defense (98.81). In addition, junior linebacker Mark Herzlich was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year. 20
Women’s Cross Country Finishes Second at ACC Championships Seniors Mallory Champa and Nichole Lister both finished in the top 15 to lead the Boston College women’s cross country team to a second-place finish at the 2008 ACC Championships. The second-place finish was the best for the Eagles since joining the conference in 2005. Champa turned in a time of 21:13.4 and finished 12th overall to lead all BC runners. Lister placed 14th with a time of 21:21.2. Both women earned All-Conference Team honors for their performances. It marked the third straight season that Champa has been an AllACC runner.
Ritchie Wins Individual New England Championship
TIM FILANGIERI MEN’S HOCKEY
Senior Timothy Ritchie crossed the finish line at Franklin Park in 24:35, one second better than UMass Lowell’s Ruben Sanca, to win the individual New England Championship on October 11. Ritchie and Sanca’s one-second differential was the closest since 2005. Ritchie became the fourth individual to win the New England Championship for Boston College and the second in a row as Patrick Mellea won the race the previous season.
Field Hockey Raises more than $4,000 for Multiple Sclerosis Society Eagles support teammate in the fight against MS The Boston College field hockey team participated in the MS LifeLines Walk for Boston to raise money for the National MS Society. The Eagles were part of Murphy’s Law, a team comprised of senior forward Kathleen Murphy’s friends and family. As a whole, they raised more than $4,000 for MS research and treatment. Murphy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in April 2007, at the age of 20. She continues to attend BC and play field hockey at the Heights, but she has taken on the battle to raise awareness of MS and search for a cure. The members of Murphy’s Law included players from the field hockey and women’s soccer teams as well as former student-athletes. Former BC players included Julia Berkowitz and Brenna Leahy, Bob Dirks, Christy Almendrales, Michelle Tavener, Deb Spillane, a former member of the BC women’s ice hockey team, as well as Murphy’s family and friends from various facets of her life. The team walked three miles with thousands of others hoping to raise money and awareness for the disease. “This was an incredible opportunity for the team to demonstrate their support of Murph and continue their commitment with fundraising efforts in hope of finding a cure for MS,” said Head Coach Ainslee Lamb. 21
HIS STORY I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I was given to wear the maroon and gold. Being a part of the BC athletics program has allowed me to create friendships that will last a lifetime. My fondest memory is winning the national championship last year as junior, but that is not the best thing I will remember from my time here at BC. Over my four years, I have noticed that the athletics program has a certain uniqueness to it that I have not seen or heard about anywhere else. The program has the basis of teaching student-athletes to be built for one another. What I mean is that whether or not it is an athlete, a support staff member, or a coach, we all collectively go out of our way to help, support, and welcome one another because of the family like feeling that has been instilled within the BC athletics program.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS 2008-09 Men’s Basketball
Field Hockey
Tyrese Rice
Janna Anctil
All-ACC Second Team
All-ACC Academic Team
Women’s Basketball Mickel Picco All-ACC Honorable Mention
Carolyn Swords All-ACC, Second Team ACC All-Tournament, Second Team All-ACC Academic Team State Farm All-America Regional Finalist
Men’s Cross Country Baseball Robbie Anston All-ACC, Second Team
Mike Belfiore All-ACC, Second Team ABCA All-America, Second Team ABCA All-Northeast Region, First Team NCBWA District I Player of the Year NCAA Austin Regional All-Tournament Team
Pat Dean
David Emerson All-ACC Academic Team
Timothy Ritchie New England Champion All-ACC Academic Team
Women’s Cross Country Mallory Champa
ACC All-Tournament Team ABCA All-Northeast Region, Second Team
All-ACC Academic Team
Tony Sanchez
All-ACC Academic Team
All-ACC, First Team Louisville Slugger All-America, Third Team ABCA All-America, Third Team ABCA All-Northeast Region, First Team Finalist for the Johnny Bench Award Semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award
Jessica Driscoll Nichole Lister All-ACC Academic Team
B.J. Raji All-ACC, First Team AP All-America, Third Team
Cliff Ramsey
Lexy Ratering Arntz
All-ACC, First Team
NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad
Matt Tennant
Julia Berkowitz
2009 Rimington Trophy Watch List
NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad All-ACC Academic Team NFHCA Division I Northeast Region Second Team
Men’s Ice Hockey
Bob Dirks 2009 female Eagle of the Year All-ACC, First-Team All-ACC Tournament Team NFHCA Division I All-America, First Team NFHCA Division I Northeast Region, First Team NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad All-ACC Academic Team The Weaver-James-Corrigan Post-Graduate Award The NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship
Tara Fernandes
Anthony Aiello Hockey East All-Academic Team
Brock Bradford
Football Steve Aponavicius All-ACC Academic Team
Ron Brace
2009 male Eagle of the Year All-Hockey East, Second Team New England Division I All-Star Hockey East All-Academic Team
Brian Gibbons Hockey East All-Academic Team
NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad All-ACC Academic Team
All-ACC, Second Team
Chelsey Feole
All ACC, Second Team All-ACC Academic Team 2008 CFN All-Sophomore, First Team
Matt Price
Thomas Claiborne
Ben Smith
All-ACC Academic Team NFHCA Division I All-America, Second Team NFHCA Division I Northeast Region, First Team
Emily Kozniuk
Anthony Castonzo
2008 CFN All-Sophomore, Second Team
NFHCA Division I Northeast Region, First Team
Kelley Smith
Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship
Montel Harris
Kristine Stigas
All-ACC Academic Team 2008 CFN All-Freshman, Honorable Mention
John Spatola
Katherine Quagila
NCAA Austin Regional All-Tournament Team
All-ACC Academic Team NFHCA Division I Northeast Region Second Team
Mickey Wiswall All-ACC, Second Team ACC All-Tournament Team ABCA All-Northeast Region, Second Team NCAA Austin Regional All-Tournament Team
Mark Herzlich All-ACC, First Team ACC Defensive Player of the Year AP All-America, Third Team All-ACC Academic Team 2009 Lott Trophy Watch List
Ryan Purvis All-ACC, Second Team
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Hockey East All-Academic Team
Hockey East All-Academic Team
Hockey East All-Academic Team
Wes Davis
NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad All-ACC Academic Team
NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad
Alex Kremer
Women’s Ice Hockey Brie Baskin Hockey East All-Academic Team
Meghan Fardelman Hockey East Distinguished Scholar
Colleen Harris WHEA Sportsmanship Award Hockey East All-Academic Team
Kiera Kingston Hockey East All-Academic Team
Lacrosse
DAVID EMERSON
Emily Hannigan
M E N ’ S C R O S S C OU N T RY
IWLCA Division 1 Regional, Second Team The Weaver-James-Corrigan Post-Graduate Award
Kristin Igoe IWLCA Division 1 Regional, First Team All-ACC
Katie Monaghan IWLCA Division 1 Regional, First Team All-ACC
Margot Spatola IWLCA Division 1 Regional, First Team
Brian Kamilar ICSA Coed All-America, First Team All-NEISA Coed Skippers, First Team Coed Sailor of the Year
Leigh Kempton
Katelyn Kurth Hockey East All-Academic Team
ICSA Women’s All-America, Second Team NEISA All-Conference Second Team
Stephanie Olchowski
Martha Pitt
Hockey East Distinguished Scholar
ICSA Women’s All-America, Second Team NEISA All-Conference First Team
Kristin Regan
Adam Roberts
Hockey East All-Academic Team
ICSA Sportsman of the Year ICSA Coed All-America, First Team All-NEISA Coed Skippers, First Team NEISA Coed Sportsman of the Year
Mary Restuccia Mission All-Rookie Team
Molly Schaus
Tyler Sinks
New England Division I All-Star AHCA Second Team All-America WHEA All-Star, First Team Hockey East All-Academic Team
Kelli Stack
ICSA Coed All-America, First Team All-NEISA Coed Skippers, First Team
Andrew Schneider
New England Division I Women’s All-Star AHCA Second Team All-America Hockey East Player of the Year WHEA All-Star, First Team Hockey East All-Academic Team
Sailing
Maggie Taverna
Lily Beck
New England Division I All-Star WHEA All-Star, First Team Hockey East All-Academic Team
Allie Thunstrom WHEA All-Star, Second Team Hockey East All-Academic Team
Shannon Webster Hockey East All-Academic Team
Becky Zavisza Hockey East All-Academic Team
Carrie Amarante ICSA All-America Crews All-NEISA Coed Crews
NEISA All-Conference Crew
ICSA All-America Crews All-NEISA Coed Crews Coed Crew of the Year
Skiing Courtney Willson All-America, Second Team
Taylor Canfield ICSA Coed All-America, Second Team All-NEISA Coed Skippers, Second Team
Lauren Gillooly ICSA All-America Crews All-NEISA Coed Crews
Anne Haeger ICSA Women’s All-America, First Team NEISA Rookie of the Year
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HIS STORY I’m from Vermont and I didn’t know many other people from Vermont coming into Boston College. I ended up rooming with one of my teammates my freshman year and then with seven of the other main distance runners on the team for the next three years. I met a lot of guys on the team who have been my friends for four years, and together we’ve scheduled our lives around practice, going to meets, going to bed early in order to be rested for our runs. They’ve been the best friends that I could ask for, and I think the same experience goes for most teams at Boston College. When you spend three hours a day at practice, trying to get better and improve as a team it makes for a strong friendship in general and something that I’ll be really sad to let go of. The people I’ve been able to run with really have made Boston College special for me.
LAUREN GILLOOLY
Kelly Henderosn
SAILING
NEWISA All-New England, Second Team
Brooke Knowlton All-ACC Academic Team All-ACC Tournament Team NEWISA All-New England, First Team
Alyssa Pember All-ACC Freshman Team All-ACC Academic Team
Chelsea Regan NEWISA All-New England, Second Team
Caroline Walden All-ACC, Second Team All-ACC Academic Team NSCAA All-Northeast Regional, Third Team NEWISA All-New England, First Team
HER STORY Being a student-athlete at Boston College has been a life-changing experience. A large, and extremely meaningful, part of my four years here has been devoted to Sailing, which has a rigorous practice and competition schedule that spans two seasons. There is nothing more rewarding than being part of 40 individuals wtorking together to achieve a common goal. Last Spring our hard work paid off as we captured the National Championship for BC, which was an exciting accomplishment! Athletics has opened up other doors for me as well. have been fortunate to be involved with the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SACC) and this past year I served as Vice President. SAAC’S mission to give back to the community has been challenging and rewarding. This commitment has given me the opportunity to get to know the other athletes at Boston College and I have formed many lasting relationships. My life has been full and enriched as a result of being a member of the Boston College Sailing Team. I have gratitude for all that has been done for us by our school and our community to help us to succeed here. The support system at Boston College is unique.
Men’s Soccer Alejandro Bedoya NSCAA All-America, Second Team Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Award Semifinalist NSCAA All-South Atlantic Regional, First Team All-ACC, First Team
Women’s Track & Field
Chris Brown
Caitlin Bailey
Gretchen Andrus All-ACC Academic Team
NSCAA All-South Atlantic Regional, Third Team All-ACC first team
800m ACC Indoor Champion 800m ECAC Indoor Champion Most Outstanding Performer - ECAC Indoor Championship All-ACC Academic Team
Stephen Hepburn All-ACC Academic Team
Samantha Gawrych
Edvin Worley
All-ACC Academic Team
All-ACC Freshman Team
Mary Heitkamp All-ACC Academic Team
Women’s Soccer Julia Bouchelle
Women’s Swimming
All-ACC, Second Team All-ACC Freshman team All-ACC Academic Team NSCAA All-Northeast Regional, First Team NEWISA All-New England, First Team
Caroline Byron The Weaver-James-Corrigan Post-Graduate Award
Men’s Track & Field Tim Ritchie All-ACC Academic Team
Ian Thomas
Amy Caldwell
All-ACC Academic Team
Men’s Tennis
NEWISA All-New England, First Team
Hannah Cerrone
Akash Muppidi
NSCAA All-Northeast Regional, First Team
ITA Northeast Region Freshman of the Year
Jillian Mastroianni
Scott Wilkins
All-ACC, Second Team All-ACC Freshman Team New England Soccer News Player of the Year NSCAA All-Northeast Regional, First Team NSCAA Women’s Soccer All-America, Third Team NEWISA All-New England, Second Team
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ITA Northeast Region Coach of the Year
Volleyball Jordan Meredith All-ACC Academic Team
In May of 2009, Boston College senior linebacker Mark Herzlich disclosed that he has been diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a malignant tumor most often found in bone or soft tissue. Staring down this latest opponent with the same grit and determination that helped make him the 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Herzlich began an aggressive treatment and vowed to beat the cancer and return to the football field someday.
Turning Points By Mark Herzlich It was early evening in October of 2002, my freshman year in high school. I had finished dinner and my mother told me that my father wanted to see me in his office on the top floor of our split-level home. I made my way up the stairs through the living room and my brother’s bedroom. As I made my way up the final set of stairs I saw my father sitting behind his large mahogany desk, intently concentrating on a portfolio on his desktop. I entered the room and began towards the far side of the room in which an empty chair across from my father seemed the most suitable choice for a destination. I sat in the chair as my father continued to read his papers. I sat for a
little longer as I started to feel uncomfortable with the silence looming around us. I was now aware that this was no ordinary visit to see my father. There was seriousness about his behavior that I had rarely seen. He closed the folder, put it in the already opened drawer and took off his glasses as his eyes rose to meet my anxious stare. As he began to talk I leaned forward in my chair as if to be intently listening but all the while thoughts of punishment and what I had done wrong filled my brain. My thoughts snapped back into focus as he brought up my football game the day before. “Mark, I have been watching you play sports for close to ten years now. You are a gifted athlete and have always succeeded in what ever you have wanted on the playing field.” He paused briefly, “You know why you have had so much success?” I just stared at him and as I figured he would he answered his question, “It is not because of your physical ability that you have been able to go out and come back with trophies and medals, it is because of your love for the game.” I waited again for him to continue. “Your mother and I have watched you grow up and watched you love lacrosse and succeed at that, watched you love basketball with the same success and until recently I have watched you love football with the same passion and watched you succeed as well. I have been coming to your games this season and frankly have been disappointed. I know that you can be a great player and I know you have the talent to succeed. What I am disappointed with is your lack of pride in yourself and your lack of heart. You show no emotion on the field play with terrible effort, which tells me that you aren’t enjoying what you are doing and that you have lost your love for football.” My eyes fell to the floor, I turned hot and my mind started racing. What if I had lost my love and passion for football? Was I just out there to mess around? Should I even be playing? “I love you Mark and will always love you, but I refuse to continue to come to your games if this is the way you are going to treat it. I cannot stand to watch my son play with such an uncaring attitude.” Now my heart joined my eyes on the floor. My father way my biggest fan. He was my coach in basketball and lacrosse and earlier in football. He had been to every game that I had ever played in. We sat in silence for what seemed like an hour but in reality was only about 20 seconds. I looked up at him and asked one simple question. I asked him for one more chance and to come to my next game. He complied and I turned and walked out of his office. I retired to my bed and vowed to play with passion and pride that I had never played with before. I vowed to strive to be the best at everything that 25
Mark Herzlich and Billy Flutie I did from then on in sports and life. Never again did I want to sit in that chair and be told that I wasn’t trying to be my best. Seven and a half years later, I was the number one ranked linebacker in the nation. I was the reigning ACC defensive player of the year and the top ranked senior in the 2010 NFL draft. Most importantly, my father is my biggest fan. There are turning points in everyone’s life for good or for bad. Seven years ago I had a turning point that will forever change my life. Lying in my bed contemplating what I wanted and how I was going to get there I made that vow. I have kept to that promise to myself and have pushed myself to be the best. I have received all-academic team recognition from the ACC for the past two years and have been chosen to help lead a committee to represent all athletes at BC for the past two years as well. All of this has come as a result of my effort to better myself and strive to become great. My father never told me that he wouldn’t watch my games if I wasn’t on varsity, he didn’t say that he wouldn’t watch my games if I didn’t get a scholarship to college, he never told me that he wouldn’t be there if I didn’t become the best linebacker in the nation. He simply told me that he wouldn’t come watch me do something that I didn’t love to do. I love the fans who have shown support through the good and the bad. I love my teammates who are 100 of the greatest men that one could ever run across. I love my coaches who have guided me from not knowing how to line up, to dissecting offensive game plans. I love Boston College, I have made it my home. I have since told this story many times to friends to teammates to reporters and to aspiring athletes because of how meaningful the message was to me. I am who I am today as a result of my work ethic and love for what I do. As I reach another turning point in my life, my current battle with cancer. I have kept this same message in mind. I am proud of the person I am, I am proud of the people I have made my friends and I am proud of my family. This is another type of battle away from the football field but also can only be conquered with love and support.
CLARENCE MEGWA FOOTBALL
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HIS STORY These four years have meant a lot to me. I would never have thought I’d grow to be the man I am today. The coaching changes have made me stronger. My teammates – different faces, different names but the same guys. Mike McLaughlin is one of the guys who stood out to me, watching him work. We may not have the best athletes in the country, but with the work that we do on and off the field, obviously we win games. We can compete with any team in the country. The way BC blends academics and athletics is great. People always say academics first, athletics second, but here at BC it honestly is that way. All the guys know that. My mother always tells me that, too. She likes the fact that I play football here but her main thing is me getting my education. It really hit home when I got injured. Of all the schools that offered me a scholarship, BC is the best school if I was never to play football again. The education I got here is going to take me further in life than any other school that recruited me. The support I received when I got hurt was great. When I was in my coma, Coach Gallup was there day in and day out as was Fr. Tony Penna. I received so many emails, cards, flowers from fans. I never knew that so many people cared about just one player. I’m very appreciative of that.