Colleluori Classic Wrap-up, Comments from Participants

By Chris Goldberg - Phillylacrosse.com

The Hofstra lacrosse tam was decked out in lime green shorts, sticks, helmets, numbers and, of course, laces, in honor of Nick Colleluori. And in their final game Saturday in the 2nd Annual Nick Colleluori Classic at Ridley High School, the Pride made Nick proud. After a sub-par effort four hours earlier against Loyola, Hofstra handily defeated national power Maryland in one of the marquee night games of the 12-hour tournament to benefit blood cancer research.

The event, of course, was special to Hofstra because it was being played at the home field where Nick won three state championships as a member of the Ridley Raiders. Colleluori then went to Hofstra and was a popular member of the lacrosse team before being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Colleluori passed away on November 28, 2006 at the age of 21, but his dream of helping raise awareness and finding a cure for blood cancer spawned the HEADstrong Foundation.

Saturday, the event attracted an estimated 10,000 people and will raise more than $200,000 for blood cancer research. The foundation has adopted the lime green color to signify Nick's fight. Last season the sales of lime green laces helped raise over $25,000; for Hofstra, the color means even more.

"Nick means so much to this team and we went out there truly inspired by him and what he had brought to this program," said Pride junior long-stick midfielder Joe Caven, a Pennsbury graduate. "We definitely tried to go out there and lay it all on the line. Although he is not here, he is truly remembered. The lime green doesn't go far away even when we're off the field. A lot of guys wear lime green shorts around campus and we definitely live through him, still."

Last year the Pride all wore jerseys with No. 27, Nick's playing number. This year their jerseys all said C-O-L-L-E-L-U-O-R-I on the back. "We just want him to be with us," Caven said. "What he meant to the program we'll never forget. It's a little token to keep him in our minds and make sure we're doing he right thing."

Hofstra coach Seth Tierney, who has been credited for his heavy support for the Classic even though he never got to coach Nick, was emotional after the final game. "Today, I asked for one thing: a 'Nick Colleluori effort.' We did not get it in the middle game (against Loyola). I got it in the last game.

"And that's what it was all about. It had nothing to do about winning or losing. It was for Nick and to play like he played every time he stepped on this field. And we challenged the guys. We got our feelings hurt a little in the second game and then we came back and played relentless."

Tierney said Hofstra's program has been shaped by Nick Colleluori. "Nick had a huge impact on our program," he said. "I never got to coach him, but I met him five or six times and he inspired him. I was taken aback by everything and everybody's feelings towards him."

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Comments from Coaches

The 2nd annual Nick Colleluori Classic not only has become of the more popular and successful fund-raising events for cancer, it also attracted 13 colleges in one of the largest Fall Ball tournaments of the season. Little emphasis was placed on the scores of Saturday's games, but coaches did find plenty of positives as they close the fall season and begin to look at the coming spring campaign.

Penn's Brian Voelker: "We got everybody in and I thought we did some good things and some things that weren't so great. Some of the young guys played well in the Bellarmine game and then again in the Penn State game. Hofstra kind of got after us in the first half. It was great to play three different games and to see how we can improve."

Voelker will be armed with many key returnees, including last year's freshmen sensations, Al Kohart and Corey Winkof. Voelker said his Quakers have hopes of competing for the Ivy League title this spring.

"I think we all have big plans at this time of year," Voelker said. "We think we're good and think we can make some noise in the Ivy League. But we've got to play. We've got to get guys to step up and get some leaders."

Villanova's Michael Corrado: "We had three competitive games, and everyone 's gotten an opportunity to play. We'll go back this week and watch some films. We have one more weekend; next week we play Siena and Binghamton at Binghamton."

St. Joseph's Pat Cullinan: "I thought we did very well against Cabrini and Villanova and we got to do our (player) evaluations. We used some different combinations. We had a great game against Loyola, other than an 8-minute lapse it was a pretty competitive game. Overall, I am really happy about the day and what we were able to accomplish."

Lehigh's Kevin Cassese: "As far as our team I'm extremely pleased; the guys played hard. That was our goal. We don't care about any scores. We want the same intensity from the first whistle to the last.

"In general, it's an exciting time to be a Mountain Hawk. We're trying to improve on a 6-9 record and get over the hump and go back to the Patriot League championships.

Cassese, a former Duke standout in his second year, is one of the youngest coaches in Division I. But he has high goals. "Well, honestly, I'm an impatient guy," he said. "I'm a young guy but an impatient guy. If we can do it this year, that would be to my liking."

Penn State's Glenn Thiel: "Our offense didn't play very well at all; we couldn't pass and we couldn't catch. But it was a great experience."

Widener's Jamie Lockard: "We wanted to come in here and play hard and I think we did that. Sometimes, we didn't play too smart, but the guys went out there and competed and I think it was good we got a lot of guys in. We'll be young this year; we lost six seniors so we'll be using a lot of sophomores and juniors. It's good to get them in here making a lot of mistakes. They'll be able to learn from that "

Haverford College's Mike Murphy: "We want to make sure we know what we're doing in all phases of the game. We have guys shooting for positions and this is how we do it."

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Reactions from Participants

It was Nick Colleluori's dream to help raise awareness and money so others who had blood cancer like he did could have a better chance to recover. Saturday at the 2nd Annual Nick Colleluori Classic at Ridley High, 13 men's lacrosse teams got the chance to see his dream fulfilled up close and personal.

Each of the teams was assigned an honorary captain, someone connected to their school who was recovering from blood cancer. For Widener, the team hero was David Wolovitz, who has been in remission for several years and delivered a rousing pep talk to the Pride before their two games. Wolovitz graduated from Widener in the 1960s when it was know as Pennsylvania Military College.

"Our (honorary captain) spoke to us and to see him smile ... I was so happy to see him tell his story," said Widener junior defender and Ridley graduate Nick Politarhos, after his team split its two games against Division I Bellarmine (Ky.) and local rival Haverford College. "He had cancer and they said he had three years to live, but because of a benefit like this to raise money, he is in remission and has been living five years longer than they said he would. Just to hear that is awesome."

"It means a lot playing here, at Ridley," said Politarhos, a key member of the Pride's four-time defending Middle Atlantic Conference champions. "We're coming home – not like we're far – seeing everyone you haven't seen in a while. It's a great cause and I'm glad they're having it here."

Politarhos is one of six Widener players who went to Ridley. One of those, junior midfielder Cory Malampy, who grew up with Nick, had many emotions. "For me it's a very personal level to come back and play because I knew Nick for many years," he said. "To be able to come back and honor him is a great thing."

Said Widener coach Jamie Lockard: "This is a great day. It (The Classic) has already taken off in its second year. It's pretty neat to be a part of it. It raises so much awareness. I'm on the (HEADstrong) web site, and I'm reading about the cancer and what it does to you. I had no knowledge about (this cancer) until a year and a half ago when I learned about this (foundation). Then, you incorporate it into a sport like this with so many young people, and I think it's a great thing."

St. Joseph's coach Pat Cullinan said his team's honorary captain, Jon Jeffries, was an inspiration to his Hawks. Jeffries, a Ridley graduate, is recovering from blood cancer and will graduate this year from Elizabethtown.

"This year's event is more personal," Cullinan said. "We got to interact with Jon and hear his story. It was somewhat emotional at the end to say good bye. He made a great impression, which is what makes this day special. He is their age, which gives it a little bit more reality. Last Thursday he got his sixth-month clean bill of health.

"He knew Nick and the family and he'll graduate in May. He is looking forward to getting to that next six-month period. He didn't want to focus on himself, but more on what people have to go through. We're going to stay in touch with him since my daughter is a sophomore at Elizabethtown. The biggest thing I heard – and we've been talking about this – is that you never take anything for granted. You can be diagnosed when you're 22 years old. Usually they think it's something you get young in life or old in life."

The good feelings were shared by all. "Nick blessed us today with this weather," said Cabrini senior midfielder Chris Cavaliere, another Ridley graduate who played with Colleluori in high school. "Being here last year and being here this year, it's amazing to see the growth. What's to come?"

Loyola junior defender Steve Layne, a Malvern Prep graduate, said it was great to come home for such a good cause. "We don't get the chance to play many games in the Philly area. Actually, it was the first time in my college career I've been back up. But I got to see a lot of familiar faces and people coming out to support Nick. Last year we wore the laces and now we're here, being a part of it. We've come full circle. It's incredible how huge this got in such a small time."

Haverford College sophomore defender Scott Kelley, a Springfield-Delco graduate, agreed. "It's fantastic to come back here," he said. "I've had a couple tough battles on this field. We were here last year and it's grown so much. It's a great day for lacrosse.

Princeton junior midfielder Paul Barnes, a Haverford School graduate, enjoyed the atmosphere and the fact all the players got a lime green T-shirt with the HEADstrong motto, "relentless," in honor of Nick's fight. "It was awesome," Barnes said. "It was a great cause and we have a great motto."

Another Springfield-Delco graduate, Penn State senior goalie Drew Adams, also enjoyed his homecoming. Adams, a third-team All-American last year who recently was named a Nittany Lion captain, is one of 18 Philly players from Penn State. "I couldn't ask for a better place to come back to play," Adams said. "I know all the Philly guys feel the same way. It's really neat. I probably played on this field 20 times in high school."

Maryland sophomore defender Brett Schmidt, an Upper Dublin graduate who played in the event's last game against Princeton, said the cause was more important than the score of his contest. "Lacrosse-wise, we really didn't play our best games, so we have our work cut out for us in the winter, but it was nice to see how many people came out to support the cause," he said. "I'm glad we came and helped raise all this money. I'm glad we're involved in it."

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Presentation and More Comments About the Event

There were an equal amount of cheers and tears when Cheryl Colleluori spoke about her son Nick during the special HEADstrong Presentation late in the afternoon of Saturday's 2nd Annual Nick Colleluori Classic at Ridley High School. As most of the players from the 13 teams that participated in the event to raise money for blood cancer research sat in a circle in the field where Nick played in high school, they listened along with the large crowd to a mother who continues to fight just as she continues to grieve.

"My son Michael said, 'Nick was one of a kind,'" she said. "He was 'relentless.' In whatever he did, whether it was busting someone chops, doing schoolwork or playing a game, he approached it with passion. This tournament is just a small glimpse of who Nick was. It is no easier for us today than it was when we got his diagnosis. We are asked all the time how we do it. To be honest, we really don't know. All we do know is that each day that passes we are one day closer to Nick."

The impact of Saturday's Classic is staggering. Mrs. Colleluori, Chairman of the HEADstrong Foundation that runs the Colleluori Classic, said more than $150,000 will be raised from this event. An estimated 10,000 people attended the Classic, which featured 18 games over a 12-hour period. In two short years, the Nick Colleluori Classic has become a major fall ball tournament, and an even more renowned charity event. Plans are already being made for expansion next year, though Mrs. Colleluori does not want to change the venue away from Nick's home.

One of the more poignant comments made Saturday came from Dr. Stephen Schuster, Nick's doctor at the University of Pennsylvania. Schuster was introduced by Cheryl Colleluori and gave his own speech during the presentation.

"Nick and I shared something," he said. "In his case it was better described as relentless because that word has action. I am referred to as obsessed. It sounds like a passive description, but it was quite the same. We basically shared a similar trait. We get stuck on an idea and we don't give up. We may get knocked down and we may not always win, but we don't give up."

Comments From Others About the Classic

Nick's older brother Pat Colleluori, a key figure in HEADstrong products and promotion: "This is a very humbling event, to get an opportunity to share Nick's legacy – and to really see his legacy at work. "Nick meant a lot to a lot of people. People are interested in awareness products from HEADstrong and in building strategic alliances.

"The pro players are giving back. And you see some of the top schools in the US wanting to participate in the event that promotes cancer awareness. This is Nick. This is where he played and where he grew up. "Today I feel a lot of pride. Through his life, I count my blessings every day. We lost a great kid. There is a little bit of him in everyone here today. It was emotional to say we lost a great kid. But look at what we gained from this great person."

Legendary Princeton coach Bill Tierney, who has won six NCAA championships, said he could not refuse an invitation to the Classic.

"Last year when we played Hofstra at our place, Mrs. Colleluori looked me in the eye and asked, 'Would you come to Nick's tournament?' I just melted," he said. "I said, 'of course.' If one person's life can be helped by us playing lacrosse, we're going."

Haverford College's honorary captain K.C. Peterson, a 2007 All-American goalie at Haverford who is in remission for blood cancer, was introduced by Cheryl Colleluori as sample for inspiration.

"The growth of this tournament has been exponential," Peterson said. "It's not a sometimes thing, it's an al-the time thing. It's more than about just this weekend. It's growing everywhere and I wouldn't be surprised you start seeing people with the laces overseas."

Nick's younger brother, Hofstra senior Michael Colleluori: "It's beyond words. It's a great cause and it's everything Nick stood for. We're getting there a little more each year. Hopefully we can make a difference."

Ridley graduate Mike Podagjny, a 2008 Academic All-American at Notre Dame who now plays for the San Francisco Dragons and helped run the youth clinic: "It's a great cause and a way to learn about what Nick and everyone with cancer goes through.

"I grew up playing with Nick and grew up knowing the family. It was a a big-time loss. There were so many people affected by the loss. He was just such an awesome person and it truly shows by how many people are involved with HEADstrong. It's a truly great event and an outstanding tribute to Nicholas."

Brian Bair, assistant director of the tournament: "It's a great day weather-wise for a great cause. We had a lot of people working on this since the end of May, and then once we got into summer, we went full bore in getting the word out.

"It's just amazing how much this has spread throughout the country. Guys promoting for the San Francisco Dragons on the west coast will help HEADstrong a lot. I think Nick would be proud of what we are doing. We have a lot more to do. But I think we are trying to follow in his footsteps and his example of giving everything 100 percent."

Ridley graduate and Dragons player Bill McGlone, another organizer of the youth clinic: "It's great for this area to see this level of lacrosse. Nick's influence was a part of this. He's the reason for all this. "Nick was an inspiration to me. He was 170 pounds ... maybe when soaking wet. But he was the toughest (football) linemen. It shows what type of guy he was. It's awesome that this foundation has brought all these levels together – pros to youth. And we get to do it at Ridley – home, sweet home."