Good afternoon and Happy Friday …
Wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the happenings around St. John’s Athletics – putting some numbers and facts behind the amazing 340-plus student-athletes competing in 17 intercollegiate sports in the highly-focused BIG EAST Conference and our 80 competitive athletes in dance and cheer. The pressure to perform is on every single day and our young men and women do it consistently at the highest levels in which we are all in awe and proud of. In fact, nearly 100 of that cohort can now call themselves St. John’s graduates after ceremonies last week on campus! Our staff and our coaches are all committed to providing the necessary tools and resources in order to achieve those successes. As we say around here on a daily basis – we EXPECT TO WIN.
You, too, have a lot to hold your head high up about as a loyal and dedicated supporter/alum/friend/staff member of this University dedicated to a global education in the world’s leading metropolitan area and stage. Our athletics family simply does our best to shine a light on all of the University’s great achievements in education and giving back in the Vincentian spirit.
Personally, as a member of both the NACDA I-AAA Executive Committee and the NCAA Competition Oversight Committee, I’ve continued to keep our athletics department and University at the forefront of leadership in this ever-evolving state of college athletics. NIL, Conference Realignment, Collectives, Multi-Media TV Contracts, Transfer Portal rules and governance are all at the center of my attention each and every day. And are always evolving with NCAA guidelines and state laws.
I want to thank you for your interest in these areas and have you know that we are a continued resource to help you navigate how to best support our programs thru the Red White Club and our student-athletes NIL efforts thru Storm Marketing, LLC. Our St. John’s UNLIMITED program continues to be a leader in intercollegiate athletics’ NIL efforts – and are recognized throughout the industry. In fact, I’ll be speaking at the national NACDA convention next week in Orlando and again the following week at the CALS Event in Newark, NJ. Also this weekend, we have one of our female student-athletes and three of our staff members at the 2nd Annual NIL Summit in Atlanta, Ga., representing St. John’s and learning and sharing best practices in student-athlete marketing and branding in the space.
Needless to say, tt’s an incredibly interesting and challenging time. We can’t do it alone … we need your continued support. And we need to greatly upgrade our athletics facilities and our day-to-day living of our student-athletes to compete in the BIG EAST and for championships. It’s that basic and necessary – so please, let our staff help you find ways to reach our vision and achieve our competitive goals.
One final note, next week we celebrate our Senior Deputy Athletic Director Kathy Meehan and her incredible career at St. John’s. And when I say career … I mean a lifetime pursuit to support St. John’s and inspire thousands of young people who have walked on this campus. There are no words other than to say thank you to Kathy and her husband, Lou, and for all of us to ensure her that we will carry the torch forward to more great days for St. John’s ahead. Kathy is a legendary pillar of this University and we will all miss her every single day!
Please take a moment to relive our achievements in the St. John’s Athletics school year:
2022-23 Notable Achievements
Thank you and have a blessed weekend!
Go Johnnies!
Mike
Wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the happenings around St. John’s Athletics – putting some numbers and facts behind the amazing 340-plus student-athletes competing in 17 intercollegiate sports in the highly-focused BIG EAST Conference and our 80 competitive athletes in dance and cheer. The pressure to perform is on every single day and our young men and women do it consistently at the highest levels in which we are all in awe and proud of. In fact, nearly 100 of that cohort can now call themselves St. John’s graduates after ceremonies last week on campus! Our staff and our coaches are all committed to providing the necessary tools and resources in order to achieve those successes. As we say around here on a daily basis – we EXPECT TO WIN.
You, too, have a lot to hold your head high up about as a loyal and dedicated supporter/alum/friend/staff member of this University dedicated to a global education in the world’s leading metropolitan area and stage. Our athletics family simply does our best to shine a light on all of the University’s great achievements in education and giving back in the Vincentian spirit.
Personally, as a member of both the NACDA I-AAA Executive Committee and the NCAA Competition Oversight Committee, I’ve continued to keep our athletics department and University at the forefront of leadership in this ever-evolving state of college athletics. NIL, Conference Realignment, Collectives, Multi-Media TV Contracts, Transfer Portal rules and governance are all at the center of my attention each and every day. And are always evolving with NCAA guidelines and state laws.
I want to thank you for your interest in these areas and have you know that we are a continued resource to help you navigate how to best support our programs thru the Red White Club and our student-athletes NIL efforts thru Storm Marketing, LLC. Our St. John’s UNLIMITED program continues to be a leader in intercollegiate athletics’ NIL efforts – and are recognized throughout the industry. In fact, I’ll be speaking at the national NACDA convention next week in Orlando and again the following week at the CALS Event in Newark, NJ. Also this weekend, we have one of our female student-athletes and three of our staff members at the 2nd Annual NIL Summit in Atlanta, Ga., representing St. John’s and learning and sharing best practices in student-athlete marketing and branding in the space.
Needless to say, tt’s an incredibly interesting and challenging time. We can’t do it alone … we need your continued support. And we need to greatly upgrade our athletics facilities and our day-to-day living of our student-athletes to compete in the BIG EAST and for championships. It’s that basic and necessary – so please, let our staff help you find ways to reach our vision and achieve our competitive goals.
One final note, next week we celebrate our Senior Deputy Athletic Director Kathy Meehan and her incredible career at St. John’s. And when I say career … I mean a lifetime pursuit to support St. John’s and inspire thousands of young people who have walked on this campus. There are no words other than to say thank you to Kathy and her husband, Lou, and for all of us to ensure her that we will carry the torch forward to more great days for St. John’s ahead. Kathy is a legendary pillar of this University and we will all miss her every single day!
Please take a moment to relive our achievements in the St. John’s Athletics school year:
- 3.55 average Cumulative GPA for all student-athletes
- 90% of student-athletes achieved a 3.0 Term GPA
- 59% of student-athletes achieved a 3.5 Term GPA
- 41 student-athletes achieved a perfect 4.0 for the spring semester
- 84 student-athletes inducted into Chi Alpa Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society for the 2022-2023 academic year.
- 2 outgoing members of the President’s Society completed their degrees (Melanie Dolgonos -Women's Fencing & Evan Naumann-Band)
- 4 student-athletes were inducted into the President's Society this past spring semester. Ariana Robinson (Volleyball) Eleonora Tosi (Volleyball), Hannah Mearns (Softball), and Angelica Kusnowo (Women's Golf)
- 36 student-athletes earned the Dr. Michael Pisano Award for 7 consecutive semesters above a 3.0 term GPA
- 4 student-athletes were named Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholar Athletes for 2022-2023
- 3,418 community service hours were completed by our student-athletes during the 2022-2023 academic year
2022-23 Notable Achievements
- The St. John’s women’s basketball team enjoyed a banner year that culminated with the program’s 11th trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Red Storm won 23 games, including a thrilling victory over Purdue in the NCAA Tournament under the direction of BIG EAST Coach of the Year Joe Tartamella. Following the year, we announced a new six-year extension for the program’s all-time winningest coach. The team will travel to Rome and Athens this summer.
- The Red Storm men’s tennis program captured its second BIG EAST title in the last four years and earned a bid to the 2023 NCAA Championships – losing to eventual Sweet 16 participants Stanford in the opening round. Diogo Marques earned the BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player award and head coach Dillon Pottish was named the Coach of the Year in the BIG EAST.
- The fencing team earning a national 7th place finish – the 30th straight year St. John’s has earned a 7th place or better finish in the country.
- Senior Jan Jurkiewicz won the first individual national title by a St. John’s fencer since 2019, winning the men’s foil competition. Fares Ferjani was the national runner up in saber competition for the second consecutive year.
- The St. John’s women’s soccer team advanced to the BIG EAST semifinals after a thrilling victory in penalty kicks over UConn on October 30th at Belson Stadium.
- St. John’s dance and cheer teams finished second place in the game day and hip hop categories, respectively, at the UDA and UCA National Championships in Orlando, Florida in January.
- The Red Storm women’s volleyball team won 20 matches and advanced to the second round of the NIVC Tournament after sweeping Binghamton in the opening round. It marked the 11th 20-win season in program history.
- Tatyana McKenzie was named the Most Outstanding Performer and the High Point Performer at BIG EAST Indoor Track & Field Championships. It was the third straight year a St. John’s student-athlete won both awards. Then in NCAA Championships competition freshman discus thrower Jamora Alves has advanced to final rounds and will compete for the title next Saturday in Austin, Tex.
- The St. John’s men’s golf team finished second at the BIG EAST Golf Championship which was the school’s highest team finish at the event since 2014. Senior Jack Simon led the charge finishing as the BIG EAST medalist and competed as an individual in the NCAA Regionals – a first for a St. John’s golfer since 2014. All of this under first-year head coach Phil Wildermuth.
- In late March, St. John’s announced the hiring of Naismith Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino as the head coach of the men’s basketball program with 834 career wins, 23 NCAA Tournament appearances, seven Final Four appearances, and two national championships. A re-tooled roster, featuring All-BIG EAST center Joel Soriano and the nation’s second leading scorer Jordan Dingle have fans (near and far) excited for 2023-24!
Thank you and have a blessed weekend!
Go Johnnies!
Mike