Basketball banquets celebrate past success, look to bright future

A community is a group of people with common interests, looking to preserve past traditions, but to also expand its mark on other neighboring groups of people.

On April 16 and April 20, two communities with common interests celebrated with and awarded members of the Saint Joseph's University men's and women's basketball teams for their achievements from this past season. During both nights this idea of community and being a part of Saint Joseph's University was honored and celebrated by Hawks-young, old, enrolled, long-graduated, but Hawks all the same.

On Sunday night at the Hilton Hotel, Saint Joseph's University Men's Basketball Hall of Fame welcomed a new member, Marvin O'Connor,'02, for his exceptional performance at Saint Joseph's University. A transfer from Villanova University, O'Connor still ranks first at Hawk Hill in three-pointers made (231) and led the Hawks in scoring three straight seasons, totaling the third highest career point total, 1,678, over only three years.

"I owe a lot of credit to that other school that I attended first," said O'Connor, " because it was the worst time of my life and ultimately led me to come back home."

O'Connor also thanked Head Coach Phil Martelli for not just focusing on his performance in the game, but focusing on his education, his relationship with his family, and how he could give back to the community.

"I learned that the Hawk community will never stop helping people," said O'Connor.

Later in the evening, Martelli addressed those in attendance saying that both O'Connor and Terrell Meyers,'97, (Meyers introduced O'Connor and was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year) are not only proud of their success in basketball and Hall of Fame Induction, but that "they are here tonight and proud, because they both are graduates of Saint Joseph's University."

Other awards presented to members of the Saint Joseph's community that dedicated time and effort in supporting Hawk Hill were: The Michael J. Conway Memorial Award to former Hawk mascot Al Pastino, The William J. Bennett Memorial Award to Special Events Manager Beth Moran, and the The Patrick D. O'Pake Memorial Award for the team's "Unsung Hero" Brett Sullivan,'08, and student assistant Ryan Whalen,'08.

Edwin Lashley,'09, received the George Senesky Academic Award and both Arvydas Lidzius, '08, and Rob Ferguson, '08, received the William F. Maher Memorial Award for loyalty. Garrett Williamson, '10, was awarded the Robert F. O'Neill Award for the Most Improved Player on the team.

Joe Lunardi introduced all five seniors to the audience.

Before receiving the John P. Hilferty Memorial Award for Most Valuable Player, Pat Calathes, '08, shared with the audience his first conversation with Martelli that first day of practice his freshman year.

"Coach Martelli called me over and said, 'Pat, you should sue your high school basketball coach,'" said Calathes. "'You would make a lot of money, because he never taught you the game of basketball.'"

Calathes laughed and remarked that he knew it was going to be a challenge to play at St. Joe's, but he constantly worked hard with Assistant Coach Mark Bass, kept extending his role as an offensive threat, and was eventually named Big Five Co-Player of the Year and St. Joe's' Most Valuable Player.

Ferguson kept his senior speech short, much unlike his performance and impact on Hawk Hill. Ferguson ranks 26th on the all-time scoring list with 1,258 points and 34th overall in rebounding with 562. Most impressive, Ferguson holds the university's record for career games played (135), but what Lunardi pointed out was that Ferguson was present for 167 games, red-shirting his freshman year.

"That is a lot of laces to tie," said Lunardi.

For Lidzius, it wasn't just basketball that mattered the most to him.

"I am two weeks away from graduation," said Lidzius. "Did you hear that boys? I am two weeks from graduation, but I am going back to the library right after this to study for my policy exam."

Lidzius scored a career high 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting in the season opener against Fordham and he may have joked about his face mask, but tallied a career high five rebounds in 24 minutes at Xavier and scored six points. Like O'Connor, Calathes, and Martelli, Lidzius noted that this community he joined five years ago wasn't just about basketball or making it to the Elite Eight, it was about everything else that mattered: family, trust, friendships, and growing up.

These same ideas of community and redefining tradition were the theme of the women's basketball banquet, but for most of the night many of the award presenters and recipients talked about change.

Five seniors, three players and two managers will be graduating in May and leaving a team and a program that offered them a chance to play a game that they love, and develop court skills, friendships, and themselves.

The first awards presented recognized academic and community commitment. Timisha Gomez, '08, received the Rev. Emory Ross Award for Academic Excellence and Krista Hutchison, '08, won the Roosevelt Hunter Community Service Award and Chris DiJulia Inspiration Award. Laren Robinson, '11, who red-shirted this year because of hand injury, won the Patricia Ryan Unsung Hero Award. The Hawks also recognized Gardner and Toni Foley as Saint Joseph's Fan of the Year.

Stephanie McCaffrey presented Mary Kate McDade,'09, with the Loyalty and Leadership Award because "she is everything you want a Hawk to be," said McCaffrey. According to McCaffrey, McDade is an exceptional captain because she expects the most from herself and her teammates.

"It is a difficult job to be a point guard under Coach Griffin, a point guard herself," said McCaffrey. "It is a job that many do not envy."

Women's Basketball Head Coach Cindy Griffin introduced her current assistant coach, Sue Moran, as this years Hall of Fame Inductee. This past season, St. Joe's retired Moran's #10 jersey for exceptional performance as a player and her continued efforts as an assistant coach.