Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Patriot League has exemplified the term student-athlete since expanding to be an all-sport conference in 1990-91.
The Patriot League offers championship competition for 23 sports, 11 for men and 13 for women. It has 10 full-league members, mostly throughout the northeast.
The league was founded in 1984 as a football conference, and began competition in 1986. The college has been a member of the conference since its initial formation, and remained a member as the league transitioned to all-sport in the nineties.
Today, full-league members include American University, Boston University, Bucknell University, Colgate University, College of the Holy Cross, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Loyola University Maryland, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Naval Academy.
Lafayette, in addition to Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, and Lehigh, is a charter member of the league, or a member since the league’s formation.
In addition to its status as a charter member of the league, Lafayette has been at the forefront of the league’s development since its formation. Lafayette professor Alan Childs served as the first executive director of the league, which at the time was called the Colonial League, from 1986-1989.
“The league’s goal originally was to be a strongly academically-centered league,”Childs said. “As such, the Patriot League is one of two in the country that is not run by an athletic commissioner. The league is headed by an Executive Director, but run by the presidents of the member universities. The only other league with this set-up is the Ivy League, a league the Patriot League used as an example during formation. This ensures that the academic perspective to collegiate athletics is considered.”
To commemorate each team that has been a member of the league since its all-sport formation in 1990, the league released 25th Anniversary teams in each sport, selecting the best players from the past 25 years. The teams were announced throughout August.
Lafayette boasted many athletes on teams from many different sports. The Leopards lead the women’s lacrosse 25th Anniversary Team, with six of its members coming from College Hill. The 25th Anniversary Field Hockey Team was also comprised of five Leopard field hockey players.
One alumni selected for the field hockey team, Jennifer Stone, is beginning her third year as head coach of the field hockey team at Lafayette this fall, after serving six years as an assistant. Stone played both field hockey and lacrosse from 2000-2003.
“It’s an extraordinary honor to be named to the PL 25th Anniversary Team,” Coach Stone said.“The Patriot League is, in my opinion, one of the top leagues in the country, constantly producing student-athletes with strong character, intellect, and athleticism. The Patriot League supports the wholesome growth and well being of student-athletes, and it’s humbling to be recognized. A congratulations are in order to all those chosen, across all sports.”
Besides naming 25th anniversary teams, Patriot League media coverage throughout the 2015-2016 seasons will focus on former student-athletes and stories involving the history of the league.
These are all the Lafayette College alumni named to 25th Anniversary Teams:
Adam Rosenberg ’04 (Baseball)
Brian Ehlers ’00 (Basketbal)
Stefan Ciosici ’00 (Basketball)
Tyler Ostrovsky ’11 (Golf)
Rob Robertson ’11 (Golf)
Mark Dutkewych ’95 (Soccer)
Andrew Rutherfurd ’94 (Swimming & Diving)
Eric Wiley ’10 (Tennis)
Jason McLaughlin ’94 (Football)
Andy Romans ’08 (Football)
B.J. Gallis ’96 (Football)
David Robinson ’97 (Cross Country)
Megan Smith ’96 (Cross Country)
Suzi Farrell ’91 (Field Hockey)
Deanna DiCroce ’12 (Field Hockey)
Megan Monahan ’02 (Field Hockey)
Jennifer Stone ’03 (Field Hockey)
Andrea Dagostino ’93 (Field Hockey)
Andrea Dagostino ’94 (Lacrosse)
Heather McClelland ’02 (Lacrosse)
StephanieTinney ’02 (Lacrosse)
Suzi Farrell ’92 (Lacrosse)
Loren Berkheimer ’00 (Lacrosse)
Liz Bagley ’92 (Lacrosse)
Jen Rothrock ’97 (Softball)
Christina Giambrone ’09 (Softball)
Alex Finio ’96 (Tennis)
Kristen Kalinowski ’08 (Track& Field)
Joelle Neilson ’12 (Track & Field)
Heidi Caruso ’93 (Soccer)