Owl News Spring 2015

FOR THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM

SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2015

an era that oozes instantgratification, you can onlyimagine the tension thatSouthern Connecticut State

University women’s track and fieldstudent-athletes Crystle Hill, Sarah

Hill, Georgette Nixon and Shatajah Wattely musthave endured at the 2015 NCAA Division IIIndoor Track and Field Championships in March.

The quartet that comprised the Owls’ 4x400relay team entered the national championship asthe top overall seed in that event. When Wattelycrossed the finish line first in her heat, the finalheat, SCSU had seemingly secured the first relaynational title in school history and 79th overallindividual crown.

However, due to a protest in one of theprevious heats, it wasn’t until nearly an hour laterthat the official decree was out – the Owls werenational champions.

It was an even more impressive feat consideringthat the quartet had really only been racingtogether for a few weeks. Teammate AdrianaCarrasco had also spent time during the winter as part of the 4x400 relay group. However, oncethe two Hills, Nixon and Wattely paired up to win a New England championship in the event a fewweeks before, the final four participating at the NCAA Championships was decided upon.

The range of vantage points for both relay members and coaches provided an interestingdynamic when assessing the emotional pendulum of the race.

“Going across the finish line was unreal,” Wattely said. “The last 100 meters of the race it waslike ‘okay, if I don’t haul right now, if I don’t get out, then this might not happen’. Then I did that andthe girl kept drifting and drifting and during that last straightaway. I’m like ‘oh my gosh we did this,this is happening’. When I crossed, I looked at the screen waiting, patiently waiting, waiting for theresults to come in and when it showed up I was like ‘oh my gosh Southern Connecticut, we did this.’”

A race that spanned just under four minutes - 3:44.91 to be exact – was the culmination of yearsof training and included support from head women’s track and field coach Melissa Stoll, head men’s

“Going across the finsh line was unreal.” – SHATAJAH WATTELY

Crystle Hill, Sarah Hill, Georgette Nixon andShatajah Wattely stand atop the podium afterwinning the national championship in the 4x400 relay.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

On the heels of a school record30 victories and a trip to theElite Eight, the SouthernConnecticut State University men’sbasketball team ensured thatmore accomplishments would beattained during the 2014-15season.

The Owls most recent campaigncame to a close on March 17 witha loss in the NCAA East Regionalfinal. SCSU finished the year witha 24-8 record and reached theSweet 16 for the second straightyear, a program first.

Along the way, the Owlsreached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings and wonthe Northeast-10 ConferenceSouthwest Division title for thesecond consecutive season.

After years of being anafterthought in the highlycompetitive NE-10, the Owls arenow clearly reestablished as notonly a conference contender, butalso a player on the regional and national stages.

“It was a wonderful year, it

Owls ReachSweet 16 for SecondStraight Year

Senior captain Luke Houston earnedAll-Conference honors as part of theOwls’ run to the Sweet 16.IN

“Oh my gosh Southern Connecticut,

we did this...”

SCSU OWL NEWS | SPRING 2015

PAGE 2

Former Southern Connecticut State University men'sgymnastics coach Abie Grossfeld has been selected to receivethe Frank Bare Award by the International Gymnastics Hall ofFame. He was formally recognized at the organization's annualinduction dinner in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (IGHOF) presentsthe Frank Bare Award to individuals who have madeexceptional contributions in promoting and growing the sport ofgymnastics throughout the United States.This award celebrates the legacy of itsnamesake, the long-time IGHOF chairmanof the board, who passed away in 2011.Mr. Bare was one of the most belovedleaders and admired statesmen in thehistory of gymnastics in the United States.While serving as the first executivedirector of the U.S. GymnasticsFederation, he guided the sport into itsgolden age of popularity. Mr. Bareconceived of and staged promotional tours and competitions,including the American Cup, that introduced much of the worldto such legendary stars as Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, OlgaKorbut, Cathy Rigby, Nikolai Andrianov, Kurt Thomas and dozens more.

Grossfeld was a three-time head coach of the United Statesmen's gymnastics team (1972, 1984 and 1988) and an assistantfor the men's squad in 1964 and the women's squad in 1968.Grossfeld served as head coach at SCSU from 1963-2004.

A member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, Grossfeldserved as head coach for the 1984 U.S. Olympic Men'sGymnastics Team that earned eight medals, including the U.S.men's only Olympic team gold medal. He was also the personalcoach of Peter Kormann, who became the first U.S. man to winan Olympic medal in 44 years with a bronze medal on floorexercise in 1976.

Grossfeld also served as head coach for the U.S. men'sgymnastics team at five World Championships and two PanAmerican Games, including the 1987 Pan Am Games when themen won the team gold medal. The U.S. national coach for men'sgymnastics from 1981-88, Grossfeld coached the first U.S. men'steam that defeated the USSR in 1982.

While at SCSU, Grossfeld was a three-time National Coachof the Year who led the men's gymnastics team to three NCAAchampionships (1973, 1975, 1976). He coached 29 individualNCAA champions, 126 All-Americans and four Nissen Awardwinners.

As an athlete, Grossfeld represented the USA internationallyfrom 1952-67. He competed in two Olympic Games (1956,1960), two World Championships (1958, 1962) and three PanAmerican Games (1955, 1959, 1963: the U.S. won the teamgold all three years).

At the University of Illinois, he won four NCAA titles and sevenBig Ten Championships, as well as the Big Ten Medal of Honor.Additional honors include: National Coach of the Year for USAGymnastics (1984) and the NCAA (1973, 1975 and 1976);USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (as an athlete, coach andcontributor); and the first and only American to achieve thestatus of FIG Master Coach (2000).

The Casey-O'Brien New Haven County Chapter of the National FootballFoundation/College Football Hall of Fame honored former SCSU footballplayer Dan Lauria with its Distinguished American Award at its annual awards dinner on April 10 at Fantasia in North Haven.

Lauria, a 1970 graduate of SCSU, played varsity football for the Owls from 1967-69. During his time with the team, SCSU won Eastern FootballConference titles in 1967 and 1968.

He went on to an acclaimed career as an actor in film, television and onstage after graduation. During the 2010-11 season, Lauria did over 275performances of Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green BayPackers, in the Broadway production of the play “Lombardi.” He is mostrecognized as the father in the highly acclaimed Emmy-winning ABC television show “The Wonder Years.”

Former Gymnastics Coach Receives Frank Bare Award

Abie Grossfeld

FormerSCSUfootballplayer Dan Lauria,then andnow.

Two former Owls joined the coaching staffs ofNational Football League clubs earlier this winter.Chris Palmer, top, was named to the staff of the

Buffalo Bills. A veteran with 23 years of NFL coachingexperience, including two seasons as head coach of theCleveland Browns, Palmer will serve as the SeniorOffensive Assistant.

Palmer has held numerous posts across professionaland college football during a distinguished career. Hewas the quarterbacks coach for the New York Giantsfrom 2007-09 and helped the club win Super Bowl XLIIover the New England Patriots. Palmer most recentlyserved as the offensive coordinator of the TennesseeTitans in 2011 and 2012. He led the Titans to the fourthhighest passing yardage total (3,923 net yards) infranchise history in 2011. Palmer has also been theoffensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars andHouston Texans. In total, Palmer has worked in a total of four professionalleagues (NFL, UFL, USFL, CFL) and has 15 years of experience in the collegeranks as well.

In addition, former Southern Connecticut State University football student-athlete and coach Tim Holt, bottom, has been named the assistant offensiveline coach with the Oakland Raiders. Holt previously served on the staffs of theChicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While with the Bears, Holt was the offensive line coach after three seasonswith Tampa Bay as an offensive assistant and later, assistant offensive linecoach. Holt's collegiate coaching experience includes stops at Stetson, Stonehill,American International, Cornell, Lehigh, and two stints at his alma mater, SCSU.

Actor Dan Lauria Honored withDistinguished American Award

Two Former Owls Appointed to NFL Coaching Staffs


Eleven student-athletes from SCSU were named to the Northeast-10Conference All-Academic Team – four during the fall and seven inthe winter – for sustained excellence academically and athleticallywithin their respective sport.

The fall student-athletes recognized were: Sarah Brochu (women’ssoccer), Sebastian Brems (men’s soccer), Markus Jacobsen (men’ssoccer) and Jack Mallis (football).

During the winter season, the Owls matched a conference-high withseven student-athletes honored: Luke Houston and Tylon Smith (men’sbasketball), Crystle Hill, Sarah Hill and Sarah Vaughan (women’sindoor track and field), Dean Bhatt (men’s indoor track and field) andKatherine Krajcik (women’s swimming and diving).Brochu and Brems both had decorated campaigns on the pitch this

winter, earning All-America honors for their play. Brochu helped theOwls claim the 2014 ECAC championship, while Brems and Jacobsenplayed pivotal roles in helping the men’s soccer team reach the secondround of the NCAA Tournament and finish the year with a No. 17nation ranking. Mallis was also previously honored by the NationalFootball Foundation as a Campbell Trophy semifinalist for his all-around efforts.Houston and Smith were both All-Conference performers and

captains who helped the Owls reach the Sweet 16. Bhatt earned All-New England honors in the 4x800 relay and the distance medleyrelay. Both Hills ran a leg of the national champion 4x400 relay, while Vaughan was an All-Region pick in the 5,000 meters. Krajcikregistered six top-13 finishes at the NE-10 Championship, including a pair of runner-up marks.

With the spring season still in full swing, ten SCSU student-athleteshave already been named All-Americans for their efforts athleticallywithin their respective sports this year.

• Men’s Soccer, Sebastian Brems• Women’s Soccer, Sarah Brochu• Men’s Indoor Track and Field

Yakabu Ibrahim, 60 hurdles • Michael Lee, long jump• Women’s Indoor Track and FieldMichelle Grecni, pole vault • Crystle Hill, 4x400 relaySarah Hill, 4x400 relay • Georgette Nixon, 4x400 relayShatajah Wattely, 4x400 relay, 400 meters

• Men’s Basketbal, Tylon Smith

Success in the classroom remained a staple for SCSU athleticprograms this fall.

Eleven of the Owls’ 19 programs achieved a team grade pointaverage of 3.0 or higher during the fall semester. The women’sbasketball and field hockey teams each posted a 3.35 team GPA tolead all programs, while the men’s cross country team’s 3.12 GPA wastops among men’s squads in the fall.

In addition, a total of 180 student-athletes were named to the Fall,2014 Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR

SELECTION TO THE

ACADEMIC ALL-

CONFERENCE TEAMS,

A STUDENT-ATHLETE

MUST HAVE MET

AND/OR EXCEEDED

THE FOLLOWING

MINIMUM

REQUIREMENTS:

PARTICIPATED IN

AT LEAST HALF OF

THE TEAM'S

COMPETITIONS

AND BE EITHER

A STARTER OR

SIGNIFICANT

CONTRIBUTOR

ACHIEVED A 3.30

CUMULATIVE GRADE

POINT AVERAGE

(ON A 4.0 SCALE)

COMPLETED AT LEAST

ONE ACADEMIC YEAR

AT HIS/HER CURRENT

INSTITUTION

THE NORTHEAST-10

ACADEMIC ALL-

CONFERENCE TEAMS

ARE CHOSEN BY

A VOTE OF A

COMMITTEE

OF ATHLETIC

ADMINISTRATORS

AND FACULTY

ATHLETIC

REPRESENTATIVES

(FAR).

1

2

3

SARAH BROCHU MICHELLE GRECNI

DEAN BHATT SEBASTIAN BREMS

CRYSTLE HILL SARAH HILL

LUKE HOUSTON YAKABU IBRAHIM

MARKUS JACOBSEN KATHERINE KRAJCIK

MICHAEL LEE JACK MALLIS

GEORGETTE NIXON TYLON SMITH

SARAH VAUGHAN SHATAJAH WATTELY

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H H H H H H H H H H

H H H H H H H H H H


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track and field coach John Wallin, and assistant coach Joe VanGilder, who works with both the men’s and the women’s teams.

“Watching the race, we were with Lincoln,” said Van Gilder,a SCSU alum and former member of the Owls’ track and fieldand football squads. “They’re a very good team. They’ve run3:40 or better the last few years. We were going back andforth with them for the first three legs. When Shatajah got thebaton, they were together…With 100 meters to go, she ranaway from her.

“To see her (Shatajah) run away, to see her face…therehave been pictures of her, she’s crying coming down thestraightaway because she knew thatshe had won. When the time cameup, we knew that we had won.Coach Wallin and I were huggingeach other in the stands.”

For Nixon, a first-time participantat the NCAA Championships, the result was eye-opening.

“When I was watching Shatajahwith the baton in her hand and shewas approaching the finish line, I saw the gap that we had and I already knew we we’re going towin. It was just a surreal feeling. We were jumping around on the side. Personally I’ve nevermade it to Nationals. This is my first time making it and then I’ma National Champion. It was so surreal I couldn’t believe it atfirst.”

Crystle Hill earned All-America honors in the 4x400 relaylast year, so she was familiar with the spotlight of a nationalstage. But there’s no substitute for the joy that comes with a national title.

“Individually for me this is kind of like the building blocks to my future,” she said. “Having this national title kind of made it realistic for me that I can actually compete on thisnational level.

“(Coach) Wallin always tells us we’re good enough to behere, we’re good enough, we’re good enough but we neverreally believed it until we were actually good enough. If wecan do it as a team, I honestly think we can do it individually.”

Stoll was quick to credit a collective effort in the buildup to an eventual national title.

“I’m really proud of everyone, not only just the girls on theteam but the coaching staff that has prepared them very well,”she said. “Not only affectively in handling competing at thehighest level coming in as the number one seed. But they’vedone a fantastic job of just setting up the training perfectly and to where they were able to run at their best. I definitelyowe a large gratitude and credit to Coach Wallin and CoachVan Gilder.

“The ladies have really come together this entire season andeven throughout the week when we were taking it one day at a time. They were really excited and they were really runninglike they were going to win a National Championship. Fromapproaching practice and even approaching the actual day,being in the bullpen and seeing all the other heats go in frontof them. There’s always an air of nervousness, but they handledthe environment, the pressure and they performed well.”

Senior Dan Elliott, below, of the men’s swimming and diving team has been selected as a recipient of the 2015 Henry Barnard Award from SCSU. Only four students are selected from the Southern campus, while just 12 are tabbed from across the Connecticut State University system.

He was honored at a dinner at the Aqua Turf in Southington on April 6.Elliot distinguished himself academically and athletically over the course

of his four years and persevered through adversity alongthe way.

He was named an Academic All-American by Capital Oneand the College Sports Information Directors of America asa junior in 2013-14.

In addition, he also claimed five Northeast-10 Conferencetitles as a junior in helping the Owls win the Northeast-10Conference team crown.

However, in the summer of 2014, while lifeguarding, Elliotbroke multiple vertebrae in his neck after being caught in a riptide. Aftersurgery and rehabilitation, he was able to return to a normal everydayschedule except in the pool, as the injury forced him to miss his entire seniorseason.

A team captain, Elliot finished his career as a six-time NE-10 individualchampion and was twice named to the Men’s Swimming and Diving All-Academic Team. As a junior, he was also tabbed as the NE-10 Men’s Swimmingand Diving Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award winner.

Elliot has also been active with numerous community outreach efforts,including Comcast Cares Day, Day of Service and both conference and statechampionship swim meet competitions.

An exercise science major who carries a 3.73 GPA, Elliot will pursue amaster’s degree in occupational therapy in the fall at Columbia University.

Senior Dan Elliot of the men’s swimming and diving team was one of four SCSUrecipients of the prestigious Barnard Award.

Elliott Earns Prestigious Barnard Award

Women’s Track and Field ChampionshipsCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

There’s no substitute for the joythat comes with a national title.

A stellar championship run continuedfor the SCSU men’s swimming anddiving team this winter.

The team claimed its 11th Northeast-10 Conference title in the past 12 yearsin the event held from Feb. 5-8 atHutchinson Natatorium. JuniorChristopher Curtin was selected as theMost Outstanding Swimmer for hisindividual efforts.

Men’s Swimming and Diving Program Continues Reign Of Dominance


really was,” said Owls’ coach Michael Donnelly.“Compared to last year, the expectations that we hadcoming into this season were extremely high. Last yearwas a magical year, so compared to last year it wascompletely different. We went through much moreadversity. We went through many more challengingtimes, but at the end of the year we really pulledtogether.”

Donnelly, the architect behind the Southernresurgence, has reinvigorated a program that won acombined total of four games in the two seasons prior tohis arrival. The last two seasons have seen 54 wins –against just 11 losses – another SCSU program recordfor a two-season stretch.

A key factor in the Owls’ successon the court, in the classroom and inthe community was their senior class– Jose Cruz, Luke Houston andTylon Smith. Together, the triomatched a program record with 85wins over their four years.

Smith capped his senior season byearning All-America, All-Region and First-Team All-Conference honors for his play on the court. He alsocollected Academic All-America honors from the CollegeSports Information Directors of America and CapitalOne for the second straight year. Smith also departs asthe school’s all-time assist leader and is top-10 all-time in points and rebounds.

Houston also earned All-Conference honors as asenior and eclipsed the 1,000 point mark early in thecampaign. Sophomore Michael Mallory was alsorecognized as an All-Conference honoree.

“I think it was a pretty good season,” Smith said. “For us to get where we were, back to the regionalchampionship, that’s a huge accomplishment. Not manyteams do that. You don’t see that very often. Obviously,it didn’t end the way that we wanted it to, but in thegrand scheme of things, the season was a huge success.

Equally as important during the campaign is the factthat the Owls have continued to sustain a foundation thatshould strengthen in the years ahead.

“Going forward with 10 guys returning, there’s goingto be a lot of motivation and hunger in the program toget back and to do better than we did this year,”Donnelly said. “The future is certainly bright here.”

The Southern Connecticut State University athleticdepartment continues to provide extensive informationthrough its social media platforms, in addition to its official athletics website, SouthernCTowls.com. Owls’ fans can follow their teams as games progress with Twitter updates. Check out the Owls’ Instagram account for an array of photos and graphics. The department’sYouTube page provides an array of student-athletefeatures, as well as game highlights and post-gameinterviews. In addition, regular updates are availablethrough the SCSU athletics Facebook page.

PAGE 5

Owls’ Reach Sweet 16CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Tylon Smith ProfileSee Page 6 Annual Golf Classic a Huge Success

Follow the Owls on Social Media

The 2015 SCSU Annual GolfTournament was held on May 19 at theLake of Isles North Course at FoxwoodsResort and Casino. The event was filledto capacity, as approximately 200participants, coaches and administratorsenjoyed a tremendous day ofcamaraderie.

This event provides an opportunity for alumni, fans and friends to support and encourage the academic and athleticgrowth of Southern’s student-athletes. All proceeds from the tournament are used for student scholarships andprogram enhancements for the AthleticsDepartment.

A key factor in the Owls’ success on the court,

in the classroom and in the community was their

senior class – Jose Cruz, Luke Houston and

Tylon Smith.

he laundry list ofaccomplishments creditedto Tylon Smith during hisfour years as a student-athlete at Southern

Connectiuct State Universityis nothing short of remarkable.

After all, it’s an extremely rareoccurrence to achieve status as an All-American based on athletic achievementand as an Academic All-American byvirtue of classroom success. Smith is a partof that elite group.

More importantly, his cumulative bodyof work – including a leadership role as atwo-year captain and ambassador as oneof the Owls’ most visible faces in themedia spotlight – speaks exactly to thetype of individual that head men’sbasketball coach Michael Donnelly isconstantly looking for to join his program.

“We knew that when we recruitedTylon, we hoped that he would have thetype of career that he had, but he’scertainly exceeded our expectations,”said the fifth-year Owls coach. “He’sgoing to go on and do great things offthe court. He’s got a bright future. From aprofessional standpoint, whatever careerpath he chooses, he’s going to besuccessful.

“He’s everything that we want in astudent-athlete and we’re really going tomiss him.”

Smith, a recreation and leisure major,will graduate this spring. He carries acumulative grade point average of 3.68entering his final semester.

With the finish line of the graduationstage in sight, Smith showed no signs ofslowing down. He earned a 3.92 GPAduring the fall semester, as Donnellypointed out.

This season on the basketball court wasalso his finest. One of the best all-aroundplayers in Division II, Smith averaged 18.7points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists pergame en route to All-America honors bytwo organizations, the NationalAssociation of Basketball Coaches and theBasketball Times. He was also selected toplay in the Reese’s Division II All-StarGame in Evansville, Ind.


PAGE 6

TTylon Smith Part of an Elite Group

“I know for a fact that I have never coached a better all-around player.” – COACH MICHAEL DONNELLY

Thanks in part to Smith’s efforts, theOwls reached the Sweet 16 for thesecond consecutive year and also won theNortheast-10 Conference SouthwestDivision title for the second year in a row.A four-year starter at point guard, Smith,along with classmates Luke Houston andJose Cruz, matched a program record forvictories in a career (85).

He was also selected as an AcademicAll-American by Capital One and theCollege Sports Information Directors ofAmerica for the second straight year.

“The hard work that I’ve put in throughthe years really paid off,” Smith said.“Ever since I was a kid in elementaryschool, my parents have prided thateducation is foremost before athletics. To be named both an Academic All-American and an All-American (forbasketball), it’s just a honor to them. They instilled in me that academics comesfirst. It’s more important than athletics, but for me to succeed in both, it’s really a blessing.”

Smith will graduate ranked among theprogram’s all-time leader in points andrebounds and set a new school record forcareer assists.

However, beyond the statistics andgrade point averages, it’s the intangiblesthat have helped set Smith apart.

“I know for a fact that I have nevercoached a better all-around player,”Donnelly said. “To be an All-American onthe court and an All-American off thecourt with what he’s been able to do inthe classroom, he’s just a great exampleof the type of kids that we want here.”

In addition to crediting his parents,Smith was also quick to acknowledgemany others who helped him along theway at SCSU.

“For all of these accomplishments thatI’ve had, I wouldn’t have done it withoutthe teammates that I’ve had for the pastfour years,” he said. “And I sure wouldn’thave done it without the two coaches thatI’ve had (Coach Donnelly and assistantcoach Mike Makubika). I put in my hardwork, but it’s just the grand sum ofeverything combined.”

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Owl News Spring 2015