NCAA gives Colgate A+ in student-athlete graduation rates
Colgate’s student-athletes scored high in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) most recent Graduation Success Rates. Tied for the top spot among Division I schools were Colgate, Alcorn State University, and the University of San Francisco. Colgate’s student-athlete graduation rate is at an all-time high of 99 percent, and 18 of the university’s 20 sports had 100 percent graduation for the four-year period tracked by the NCAA. The rankings show the percentage of student-athletes earning a degree within six years, based upon the four-class aggregate of first-year classes from 1998 to 2001.
    “This is a clear indication of the kind of students our coaches are recruiting, students who are able to make both their education and their sport a high priority,” Assistant Athletic Director-Compliance Coordinator Ann-Marie Guglieri told the Maroon News. “This is something we can be proud of,” she added.

Fall season wrap-up
A highly successful fall season vaulted Colgate into first place in the Patriot League President’s Cup race. The Raiders had a solid fall across the board, qualifying for the Patriot League Tournament in men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, and volleyball. Football and men’s soccer both earned Patriot League titles, and the volleyball team advanced to the championship match.


Tight end Nick Cvetic '11 (#46) blocks a Lafayette player as running back Nate Eachus '12 (#32) scores a touchdown against the Leopards. Eachus carried 34 times for 171 yards and two second-half touchdowns as Colgate rallied for a 21-13 win over Lafayette at Andy Kerr Stadium. (Photo by Andrew Daddio)

Football
The Raiders qualified for the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the eighth time in Colgate’s tradition-rich football history and for the sixth time under head coach Dick Biddle.
    Biddle guided the Raiders to a 9-3 record overall, and an undefeated record in the Patriot League. For his effort, he was named the Patriot League Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his 13-year tenure. He also passed the legendary Andy Kerr as the winningest football coach in school history with 104 victories.
    Running back Nate Eachus ’12 became the fifth Colgate player to earn Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors, and the first for the Raiders since his backfield mate, Jordan Scott ’09, received the honor in 2005.
    Colgate also led the way in both overall and first-team all-league selections. The Raiders had 12 players selected to the all-league team, including eight first-team honorees.
    First-team selections were Eachus and Scott at running back; offensive linemen Nick Hennessey ’09, Steve Jonas ’09, and Rich Rosabella ’09; wide receiver Pat Simonds ’10; and defensive backs Chris Ekpo ’09 and Wayne Moten ’10. On second team were quarterback Greg Sullivan ’11, defensive linemen Austin Douglas ’10 and Paul Mancuso ’10, and linebacker Greg Hadley ’10.
    The American Football Coaches Association named Hennessey, senior offensive tackle, to its All-America team. He led an offensive unit that finished fifth in rushing offense with 267.67 yards per game and 12th in total offense. Hennessey started 34 straight games for the Raiders. Also, he was named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation 2008 FCS All-America team.

Men’s soccer
For the first time in school history, the men’s soccer team earned back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division I Tournament. The Raiders won the Patriot League regular season title, before taking their second-straight tournament championship.
    Under head coach Erik Ronning ’97, the Raiders finished 12-6-3 overall and 5-1-1 in league play. Goalie David Cappuccio ’09 was named the league’s Goalie of the Year for the second time in his career. He finished his collegiate career with a school-record 23 shutouts.
    Joining Cappuccio on the all-league first team were Chris Ross ’10 and Glenn Volk ’09, while second-team selections were Steven Miller ’11, Alex Weekes ’10, Jeff Leach ’11, and Daniel Kerley ’09.
    Weekes, who was MVP of the Patriot League Tournament, was named first team on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America all–Mid-Atlantic Region team. Cappuccio and Volk were second team, and Ross was third team.
    Kerley was selected to the ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-America squad. He is the first-ever men’s soccer student-athlete to be named first-team Academic All-American. He was Colgate’s Male Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2007–2008.


In the Raiders' third-consecutive win of the field hockey season, midfielder Laura Denenga '11 managed the ball as Bryant teammates were hot on her trail at Tyler's Field. Colgate shut out Bryant with a 5-0 victory. (Photo by Andrew Daddio)

Volleyball
For the second-straight season, the volleyball team advanced to the league’s championship game. The Raiders upset second-seed Army in the semifinals before losing to 11-time champion American University in the finals, 3-1.
    Katrina Zawojski ’09 and Casey Ritt ’11 were named first-team all-league, while Jackie Adlam ’09 was selected second team.

Field hockey
The Raiders made their second-straight appearance in the Patriot League Tournament, finishing the season with a 9-9 record. Lauren Carey ’09 and Maddie Watrobski ’09 earned all-league first-team honors, while Laura Denenga ’11, Laura Flisnik ’09, and Katelyn Nerbonne ’10 were second-team selections.


The men's basketball team practicing in Cotterell Court. (Photo by Andrew Daddio)

Women’s soccer
The women’s soccer team qualified for the Patriot League Tournament, but lost a heart-breaking 1-0 overtime game in the semifinals against eventual champion Navy.
    Midfielder Jillian Arnault ’10 was first-team all-league, while Danielle Wessler ’12, Josie Johnson ’09, Liz Polido ’10, Jessica Bitsack ’10, and Calista Victor ’11 were on the second team.

Women’s swimming
Erica Derlath ’12 was named Patriot League Women’s Swimmer of the Week in early December, for breaking the freshman and school records in the 1650 free as well as establishing the new freshman, school, and Patriot League records in the 400 IM at the Conoco Phillips U.S. Short Course Swimming Championships.


Brian Day '11 (#12) tallied his sixth goal of the year just 59 seconds into the final period, but Cornell still beat Colgate 4-1 in an ECAC Hockey men's clash at Starr Rink in November. (Photo by Andrew Daddio)

Rowdy Raiders build enthusiasm at games
Since the Rowdy Raiders, the sports fan group exclusively for Colgate students, kicked off in spring 2008, students have taken the ball and run with it. From student-designed T-shirts to banner contests and canned food drives, the more than 2,000-member fan group has ramped up school spirit.
    David Roach, director of the division of physical education, recreation, and athletics, and Senior Associate Athletic Director Vicky Chun ’91 have learned that it’s the student-driven initiatives that are most successful with increasing attendance and enthusiasm at Colgate sporting events. “As much as we like to think we’re cool and have these great ideas, it really isn’t [popular] unless it comes from them,” Chun joked.
    The group’s Raider Nation slogan and T-shirts were thought up by former men’s lacrosse player and then-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Devin Clifford ’07. These are the shirts that students receive when they sign up for the free club. By wearing Raider Nation T-shirts and swiping their identification cards at the Rowdy Raiders table at sponsored games, students rack up points to qualify for prizes. Attending one game gets them five points; if they wear their shirts, they get 10 points. They receive additional free apparel for lower points, but higher points make them eligible for grand prizes such as gift certificates to the Colgate Inn, Valero gas station, and Oliveri’s Pizzeria, as well as tickets to the ECAC men’s ice hockey championship.
    This year, students who earned 70 points before the men’s hockey game vs. Cornell were guaranteed a ticket without waiting in the line that can form as early as noon for the 7 o’clock game. It was for that game that the wildly popular “Tango in the Chenango” T-shirts were created. Again, students were the driving force. Paul Kasabian ’10 imagined the concept, and the picture of Raider dancing with Cornell’s bear mascot was drawn by linebacker Greg Hadley ’10. The shirts were handed out in Reid Athletic Center, and “We couldn’t give them out fast enough,” Chun said. To make the wait in line more pleasant, the faculty band Dangerboy entertained and free pizza was given out. “We try to make it a great experience for them,” Chun said.
    She added that the success of the Rowdy Raider–sponsored games has prompted them to look into getting non-scholarship sports involved.
    “The enthusiasm has been unbelievable,” Chun said. “In my years here, I really haven’t seen anything like it.”
    “It brings Colgate even closer than it already is,” added Hadley.


Outside hitter Maureen Colligan '12 (#8) goes for a spike in the second match of the Colgate Invitational against Syracuse at Cotterell Court. Colgate closed out the season with a 15-14 record and 9-5 mark in Patriot League play. (Photo by Andrew Daddio)

Conte named Silver Puck Award winner
David Conte ’71 received the 44th Silver Puck Award in December. The executive vice president/director of scouting for the New Jersey Devils received the award from Head Men’s Ice Hockey Coach Don Vaughan and Silver Puck Club president Gerald Quill ’60. The award is given to those who have gone above and beyond for the Colgate men’s hockey program.
    At the banquet, Conte delivered an inspirational keynote speech on the values of Colgate, what it takes to succeed in the collegiate game and at higher levels, what it means to be a member of a team, and to never have any regrets.
    In the 1960s and early ’70s, Conte was a standout for the Raiders. His Colgate rookie record of 56 points in the 1968–69 season still stands today, and his point total is the second highest among former Raiders who played in fewer than 100 contests.
    Following his collegiate career, Conte played professionally in Europe for five seasons. After spending five years as a scout for the Washington Capitals, Conte began his 24-year association with the Devils’ organization as a full-time scout.



Check out www.gocolgateraiders.com for game schedules, rosters, statistics, online ticket ordering, and news and video features. For scores, call the Raider Sportsline: 315-228-7900. Ticket office: 315-228-7600.



Ask Raider

Hilary Meyer ’99, who happens to be the youngest woman inductee, asks: Who was the first woman to be inducted into Colgate’s Athletics Hall of Honor?
All-American diver Gail Majdalany Heaslip ’79 was the first woman inducted into the Hall of Honor, in 1984. And to date, the earliest class represented by a woman is 1976: Sandra Baur Bixby, inducted in 1995, served as captain of Colgate’s first-ever women’s varsity teams in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse.

Tom McGarrity ’79 tries to stump Raider by asking: What future NFL Hall of Famer got knocked out of the game with broken ribs by Bruce Nardella ’79 and Danny Mastrella ’80 in the 1978 Colgate 20-14 victory over Villanova?
That would be Howie Long, who went on to play for a different Raiders team — Oakland!

Did you know?
If you haven’t seen the 1977 cult hockey classic Slap Shot, starring Paul Newman as aging hockey coach Reggie Dunlop, it’s time to Netflix it! Starr Rink and its locker room was one of several arenas used in the film.

Do you have a Colgate sports trivia topic suggestion or question for Raider? Send an e-mail to scene@mail.colgate.edu and put Ask Raider in the subject line.

Raider Nation
Fan spotlights with Vicky Chun '91, senior associate athletic director

Harold Ramis P'12
From: Chicago, Ill.
Occupation: Actor, writer, producer
Game: Football vs. Lafayette 11/1/2008 (Colgate defeated #22 Lafayette, 21-13)

What brought you to the game?
It's Parents' Weekend, so we've come to see our son, Julian.

What do you think of the game?
I was very impressed by that first drive in the second half after the fumble.

Is this your first Colgate sporting event?
Yes. Julian just started in September, so this is the first time we've been back. We'll probably check out the hockey game today, too.

Do you have a funny quote?
Oh boy, that's a lot of pressure; I have a comedy movie coming out next June: The Year One with Jack Black.

Stephanie Hipp '09
Hometown: Orange, Conn.
Game: Women's soccer vs. Navy 11/1/08 (Women's soccer made its 16th appearance at the Patriot League Championship Tournament in Coach Kathy Brawn's tenure at Colgate)

What brought you to the game?
I wanted to see the seniors' last game.

Who is your favorite player?
Josie Johnson '09 — she's in my classes.

What other Raider sports do you follow?
I follow all of them.

What was the most memorable Colgate event that you've witnessed?
The Bucknell basketball game last year.

Logan Keala '11
Hometown: Kaneohe, Hawaii
Game: Men's soccer vs. Holy Cross 11/16/08
(Patriot League Championship Game, Colgate
defeated Holy Cross 2-1)

What brought you to the game?
I'm here because they're playing for the Patriot League Championship game and we WON!

Do you come to a lot of games?
Yes. I'm a varsity volleyball player and all the student-athletes go to each other's games to show support.

Who is your favorite player?
Glenn Volk '09.

How was your game experience?
It was great! A lot of people came and then it started hailing… It's a little
different from Hawaii.