Special events/announcements
Women’s lacrosse coach Daly returns
Binghamton women’s lacrosse coach Stephanie Allen is welcoming back Allison Daley as head assistant lacrosse coach and recruiting coordinator.
Daley, who coached alongside Allen for three years (2013-2016), returns to Binghamton after spending a year on the staff at Delaware. In 2016, she helped Binghamton set a program record for the lowest goals against average. She also helped recruit and coach the 2016 America East Rookie of the year and coached 11 all-conference players in three seasons.
Sports medicine facility gets upgrade
On Oct. 14, 2015, the Binghamton University Athletic Department received a record $1 million gift from Dr. Bai Lee, a prominent local physician and member of the Binghamton University Foundation Board of Directors. At the time, it was announced that the gift was to support facility enhancements in facilities such as the Student Athlete Success Center, Strength and Conditioning and Sports Medicine.
This past week, the final touches were put on one of the projects – a Grimm CryoTherm unit in the Sports Medicine facility in the Events Center.
The Grimm CryoTherm tanks are temperature controlled medical devices with documented beneficial results. These two tanks are versatile and efficient for treating multiple student- athletes at one time. We will have the capacity to treat 8 to 10 student-athletes in each tank at once. The tanks can offer both hot and cold waist-high immersion.
Department launches “Fair Play” initiative
The Binghamton University Athletics Department, in partnership with Life Is Washable, Inc., is launching the ‘Fair Play’ program this month. Throughout the 2017-18 academic year, Binghamton athletics teams will host monthly workshops, interactive activities and special events with children and young adults with special needs from Southern Tier communities.
In its inaugural year select student-athletes will undergo training to become ‘Fair Play’ program assistants, workshop facilitators and administrative volunteers. The program will kick off in July with the men’s and women’s basketball teams hosting the first series of events.
2017 Hall of Fame class announced
The Binghamton Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2017 has been selected and it features one team and three individuals whose careers spanned three decades.
Set to be enshrined in the 22nd Annual Induction Dinner and Ceremony on December 2 are former softball player Mollie Lehman (1997-00), baseball player Brendon Hitchcock (2004-07), wrestler Josh Patterson (2006-10) and the 1983 women’s cross country team.
Wrestling to host reigning NCAA champion Penn State
The Binghamton University wrestling team will kick off its 2017-18 season with a bang when the Bearcats host reigning NCAA champion, Penn State, on November 17. The showcase match, presented by Hinman, Howard & Kattell and NBT Bank, will be held at 7 p.m. in the Events Center. This is the first time in history that Binghamton has hosted a defending national champion in any sport.
“The idea of wrestling Penn State originated about a year ago,” head coach Matt Dernlan said. “They were in a position where they needed a home match and given my connections with the coaching staff, they reached out to me. Obviously we jumped at this opportunity, with the agreement they would come to us this year. It’s great for us to get the chance to expose the community to our deep wrestling roots.”
Wrestling welcomes new assistant coach
The Binghamton wrestling team has added a new member to its coaching staff for the 2017-18 season. Head coach Matt Dernlan has announced the hiring of Andrew Pariano, who previously coached at Northwestern University. Pariano will replace former assistant coach, Jasen Borshoff, who previously coached on the Bearcats staff for seven years.
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Drew to our staff,” Dernlan said. “He has proven over the course of his career to be one of the best wrestling minds in the country. His ability to develop National Champions and All-Americans at premier academic institutions, works in perfect tandem with the bar we have set for ourselves at Binghamton University. The work begins today and we’re excited to attack the path that lies ahead of us.”
Men’s tennis coach Zieziula named to committee post
Binghamton men’s tennis coach Nick Zieziula has been selected to work on the ITA Northeast Regional Committee, the association announced recently. Zieziula is one of five coaches on the panel, which oversees regional selections for the ITA Regional tournament and regional rankings as well as assists with other ITA business.
“The ITA is really doing some great work of late to grow the game of tennis and promote some of the terrific work that college tennis coaches are doing with their programs on and off court,” Zieziula said. “I appreciate the opportunity to work with the Committee and the ITA to continue to grow and improve college tennis.”
Zieziula enters his third full year at the helm of the Bearcats’ tennis program this fall. Last season, BU tied for third in the competitive Mid-American Conference and placed two student-athletes on the all-conference team and three more on the ITA All-Academic Team.
This spring, Zieziula also was elected to the Board of Directors for the American Civic Association in Binghamton.
Department hosts annual Welcome Back BBQ for student-athletes
The Binghamton Athletic Department officially launched the 2017-18 academic year with its annual Welcome Back BBQ for its student-athletes on Tuesday night at the Events Center. It marked the sixth consecutive year the event has been held.
Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger and Athletic Director Patrick Elliott were among those who greeted the student-athletes and wished them the best for the upcoming year.
“I want to tell you how proud I am of you,” Stenger said. “Because I know how challenging it is to do what you do. To be an excellent student and an excellent athlete here is very hard but you have that perseverance and you make Binghamton University look great.”
“Thank you for representing Binghamton University in the way that you do,” Elliott said. “It’s going to be a tremendous year and when you walk out of this building each day, I want you to feel good about the things you are accomplishing.”
Also speaking were SAAC President and softball senior Carrie Maniccia and men’s lacrosse senior Joe Grossi of the Student-Athlete Leadership Institute.
“It’s really nice to have everyone back,” Mannicia said. “All of the Bearcats here are one big family. A lot of people are catching up tonight after being away all summer.”
The 2017-18 academic year has already gotten off to a good start. The women’s soccer team won both their matches last week and are off to a 2-0 start. The men’s soccer team and volleyball squad launch their seasons on Friday.
Men’s lacrosse adds former Syracuse standout to coaching staff
The Binghamton lacrosse team has added a new member to its coaching staff for the 2017-18 season. Head Coach Kevin McKeown has announced the hiring of Paolo Ciferri, who previously played lacrosse at Syracuse University.
“We are extremely excited to have Coach Ciferri join our staff” said McKeown. “He has been around the game both as a player and a coach for his entire life. His passion and energy for lacrosse will enhance our program moving forward into the 2018 season and beyond. As someone who grew up playing at Ithaca High School, his connections with the local lacrosse community will be invaluable.”
Ciferri comes to Binghamton after a notable lacrosse career at Division I powerhouse, Syracuse University. Being named a team captain during his senior season, he appeared in 16 games and recorded 14 ground balls. He was a member of the 2015 and 2016 ACC Championship team and the 2013 Big East Championship team. In addition, his 2013 team advanced to the NCAA Lacrosse National Championship eventually falling to the Duke Blue Devils.
The native of Ithaca, New York, has been involved with lacrosse in the upstate New York area for the past four years. He has spent time working as the Executive Coordinator at the Launchpad Lacrosse Tournament where he ran operations at the site of the tournament. He also served as a coach for Sweetlax Lacrosse from 2014-2015, helping coach multiple teams and provide one-on-one and group instruction. In 2016, Ciferri interned with Summit Lacrosse Ventures to help run operations at the Lake Placid Summit Classic.
Second annual alumni giving challenge set
Binghamton University will launch its second annual Athletics Alumni Giving Challenge from Sept. 9-30. The goal of the challenge is to have former Binghamton University varsity athlete alumni stay connected, as well as have a chance to give back and compete to win additional prizes for their programs.
The top three Binghamton athletic programs that have the highest participation rate receive prizes. A formula that takes into account the number of donors of a specific team and the total number of student-athlete alumni for that program will be used to determine the participation rate.
The sport with the highest percentage of athletics alumni making a gift will receive $5,000. Second place will win $2,000, and new this year: the most improved team (the team with the largest athletics alumni giving percentage increase from last year) will receive $1,000. The winners will be announced at Homecoming on October 7.
In last year’s inaugural Athletics Alumni Giving Challenge, there were 630 gifts received, including 230 young alumni donors.
Last year, Men’s lacrosse claimed the $5,000 first place prize with over 41.72% of their alumni donating. In second place with a 27.04% participation rate was the golf program, while the wrestling program had a 23.35% participation rate and placed third.
To participate in the second annual Athletics Alumni Giving Challenge, go to the web.
Women’s soccer hits 10-year anniversary playing at Sports Complex
The Bearcats Sports Complex opened in fall 2007 for men’s and women’s soccer and later in the spring, men’s and women’s lacrosse. The lighted, turf stadium has been host to numerous significant games over that 10-year span.
The women’s soccer team christened the complex on Sept. 18, 2007 when they hosted Syracuse. The men’s soccer team played its inaugural game there 11 days later when they welcomed Cornell.
Dennis Kalina promoted to deputy AD
Binghamton Director of Athletics Patrick Elliott has announced that sixth-year senior associate AD Dennis Kalina has been promoted to Deputy Director of Athletics. Kalina, in his 23rd year of collegiate athletics administration, will continue to oversee Binghamton’s external operations and sit on the senior management cabinet.
“As we move toward enhancing our revenue opportunities through fundraising and marketing, Dennis will play a critical role in further developing those platforms,” Elliott said.
Kalina, a native of Portage, Ind., came to Binghamton in 2012. Previously, he served in key leadership positions at Gonzaga University, Bradley University, Northwestern State University and Indiana University. He is a 1995 graduate of Indiana, and also earned his master’s degree from IU one year later.