UMass Boston athletic teams have not produced many championships or conference titles during the last few years. Good grades, however, are not in danger of becoming scarce any time soon.
Fifty-seven student-athletes were honored at a luncheon last Friday (April 11) in the Creative Room at the Clark Athletic Center for achieving a 3.0 Grade Point Average (B average) for the fall semester of 2002. Ed Suglia, the academic advisor for all UMB athletes, expressed the collective sentiment of every coach, trainer, and staff member in the room. “I’m proud of all of you.”
Chancellor Jo Ann Gora expressed her admiration and support for UMB athletics and athletes, and all that they stand for. “UMB has a good athletics program,” she said. “It places a high quality of athlete in the classroom. You are true student-athletes. I’m proud … for what you do on the field and for what you do in the classroom.”
Several teams were lauded for their recent success on the playing field. Gora pointed out the continued prominence of the UMB men’s and women’s tennis team. Also receiving adulations was the women’s ice hockey team, a squad that had club status this past season but moves up to varsity status for the 2003-04 season. The women’s ice hockey team enjoyed considerable success in its inaugural campaign. The fact that the team was comprised only of freshmen and sophomores promises a bright and competitive future.
Gora also congratulated Adam Waxman, first baseman and co-captain of the UMB baseball team. Waxman recently became the first UMB baseball player to knock in 100 RBI for a career.
Suglia returned to the podium to extend his and the Athletics Department’s gratitude to those individuals from other offices and departments that assist UMB student-athletes from Susan Gorham, director of Student Support Services to Judy Keyes, new director of Financial Aid. “Without their help, we couldn’t do the things that we do.”
Suglia then spoke about the changes that he has seen over the years since he was a student athlete in college. “The composition [of UMB teams] reflects the numerous changes that have taken place over the years in college athletics. When I was in college, we didn’t have black athletes or women athletes. Now we have student athletes that come from places like Roxbury and as far away as Africa.”
Bill Robinson of the Provost office capped off the speeches with the recognition of what it means to be a non-scholarship student-athlete playing collegiate athletics. “It takes a real focus, perseverance, and commitment to meet the multiple demands that student-athletes here at UMB face every day,” said Robinson. “You (student-athletes) embody the spirit of what NCAA III athletics are about.
Each student-athlete received a plaque and was recognized individually. One student-athlete, Michael Ciarletta of the men’s ice hockey team, was also told for the first time that he had been named to the 2002-03 ECAC All-Academic team. The ECAC is the conference to which the men’s ice hockey team belongs.