What Student-Athletes Are Saying...
6/28/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Monday, July 1 officially marks the beginning of a new chapter in the storied history of the BIG EAST Conference. Through a series of features that will appear each day this week, SHUPirates.com will provide a snapshot of Seton Hall and its place as a founding member of the league, marking the Pirates' accomplishments over the first three-plus decades and outlining the vision for the future.
Today we take a glimpse at what some of Seton Hall's student-athletes are saying about the conference, its place historically and in the national intercollegiate landscape, and their unique opportunity to lead the Pirates into a new era of the BIG EAST.
| Joey Lacus - Senior, Men's Swimming "Representing Seton Hall at the conference headquarters this past September truly showed why the BIG EAST is so unique. It was a tremendous experience where I met and became very close with other representatives from the member schools. We we’re talking about rivalries and friendships that have been created through more than 30 years of athletic competition. This conference has the ability to make an everlasting impact on each school in its unique way and that is hard for other conferences to create." | |
| Jennifer Pettigrew - Senior, Women's Soccer "It means a lot to be a student-athlete in one of the top conferences in the country. I grew up wanting to play in the BIG EAST because it was always a very competitive and challenging conference for women’s soccer. I look forward to the high level of competition, as well as the excitement that comes along with playing conference games. Every game in the BIG EAST is a battle that our team prepares for." | |
| Amanda Catherall - Sophomore, Women's Cross Country "I am very ecstatic to see what Creighton, Xavier, and Butler will bring to the BIG EAST Conference. Since they are the new schools joining, it will be fun seeing how they will compete against us, and other BIG EAST teams. Also, I am eager to see how we match up with St. John’s this year knowing that last year we were very competitive with them." | |
| Alyssa Warren - Senior, Volleyball "To be a student-athlete in the BIG EAST means being part of one of the most competitive conferences in the country and knowing that working hard at all times is a must and nothing can be taken for granted. It is a historic conference and I am thankful that we get to continue being a part of it and get to continue competing against some tough schools, as well as having new teams to play against." | |
| Colltey Sheldon - Junior, Softball "The BIG EAST Conference is special in my opinion because it has been around for a long time, it has history, it has tradition, and ultimately it sets the standards for student-athletes at the top both on and off the field. The BIG EAST is a well known conference and it’s well represented every year in all sports and I am excited to see the tradition carry on." | |
| Mateusz Brela - Junior, Men's Soccer "To be a student-athlete in the BIG EAST conference for me is a big honor and achievement, because it is one of the best conferences in the United States with some great players. I especially look forward to competing in the new BIG EAST not only individually, but also as a team. I want to make sure our conference remains on a high level both athletically and academically." | |
| Kelly Markwell - Senior, Women's Swimming "I am very excited to continue the BIG EAST tradition with the Seton Hall women’s swimming and diving team. I truly feel like we are going to be major contenders at the BIG EAST Swimming and Diving Championships and I am excited to begin our journey to become conference champions. I look forward to racing against new teams and cannot wait to watch my teammates succeed this upcoming year. Also, I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the conference after I graduate because I’m sure Seton Hall will continue to be a top competitor." | |
| Rocio Portela - Senior, Women's Tennis "I remember during my sophomore year, the tennis program had not qualified for the conference championship in more than four years. At the end of the regular season our coach usually has the end-of-the-year meeting and when he gathered us for the meeting, instead of wishing us luck for finals he told us to go and start packing because we had qualified for the BIG EAST Championship! Just being able to participate in BIG EAST Championship made me feel like I was part of such an elite group of tennis players. I’m sure my teammates would agree that we want to put Seton Hall's name amongst the top in the new BIG EAST." | |
| Gary Dunne - Senior, Men's Golf "It is a great privilege and honor to be a student athlete within the BIG EAST Conference. As an international student I had very little knowledge of the difference in conferences and what they really meant. Little did I know I had signed up for one of the most prestigious basketball conferences in the nation. The BIG EAST Conference is known everywhere around America; I love the fact that Seton Hall as one of the smallest schools within the BIG EAST has had such great success over some of the biggest schools in the nation. I have met some very close friends by participating within the BIG EAST Conference from such amazing camaraderie and sportsmanship between the athletes." | |
| Alison Kruse - Junior, Women's Golf "The BIG EAST Conference Championship is my most memorable moment from my time at Seton Hall so far. I was treated like a professional golfer at this tournament and that's just a testament to the BIG EAST Conference. I was impressed with how well the tournament was run and thankful to be in a conference that takes women's golf seriously." | |
| Max Garcia - Senior, Men's Soccer "What makes the BIG EAST special is that it is a very respected conference throughout the country. All the teams have history and accomplishments from the past that everyone remembers them for. Every team wears their jersey with respect and pride and they wear it knowing it’s not easy to be able to play in this conference." | |
| Stacey Manthorpe - Junior, Volleyball "I believe that the student-athletes in the BIG EAST are what make the conference so special. They are competitive athletes as well as great students. These student-athletes, especially the student-athletes at Seton Hall, take honoring their school very seriously and work tirelessly to represent their school the way it deserves to be remembered." | |
| Maria DeLuca - Senior, Softball "I was recruited to play at the BIG EAST level and I will continue to play at that level. The conference has changed but my mentality did not. Being a part of this conference as it changes and sticking with it means that the teams have to adjust to a few new opponents. I am excited to continue playing the good teams that we have always faced as well as welcoming in the new schools to the conference." | |
| Cory Wilson - Sophomore, Men's Golf "I think the BIG EAST conference is so special because of the high level of competition and the student-athletes. The conference is not only filled with great athletic schools but also with very well regarded academic schools." | |
| Erin McClure - Junior, Women's Golf "There is pride that comes from being in the BIG EAST Conference. I think that the new BIG EAST will be extremely beneficial towards our team’s success. It will definitely make us stronger and push us to work harder since we know we have a chance to compete for a conference title in the spring." |
| CONTINUING TRADITION: SETON HALL AND THE BIG EAST | |
| 1979: Seton Hall Joins the BIG EAST | |
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| SHU Coaches Discuss the BIG EAST |
| Top-10 Individual Performances | |
| Top-Five Teams | |
