November 04, 2019
Around Friartown: men’s basketball at the Pan Am Games
Carrying the flag
Friar men’s basketball coach Ed Cooley, center, led Team USA — comprised of BIG EAST Conference players — to a 3-2 record and a bronze medal in this summer’s Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Friars who competed for Team USA are, from left, Alpha Diallo ’20 (New York, N.Y.), David Duke ’22 (Providence, R.I.), A.J. Reeves ’22 (Roxbury, Mass.), and Nate Watson ’21 (Portsmouth, Va.). Earlier in the summer, Cooley signed a multi-year contract extension at PC.
1998 gold medalists named to U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
The 1998 gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team was named to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame this fall. Seven Providence College graduates were members of the team, which made history by winning the first Olympic gold medal in the sport. Team USA went 6-0 at the Winter Olympics, held in Nagano, Japan. Shortly after winning, the teammates returned to campus. From left are Lisa Brown-Miller ’88, Vicki Movsessian ’94, Chris Bailey ’94, Sarah DeCosta-Hayes ’00, Alana Blahoski ’96, Cammi Granato ’93 & ’12Hon., and Laurie Baker ’00.
Setting the pace
Decorated distance runner Millie Paladino ’19 (Morgantown, W. Va.) earned the 2018-19 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award for women’s track and field. The award recognizes academic and athletic achievement, along with community service. A three-time BIG EAST champion, Paladino earned five All-America honors during her storied career. She earned a degree in applied physics with a 3.34 GPA.
Finishing strong
Track stars Brianna Ilarda ’19 (Perth, Australia) and Abbey Wheeler ’20 (Elmira, N.Y.) captured Second Team All-America honors at June’s NCAA Outdoor Track Championships. Ilarda finished 10th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase while Wheeler placed 14th in the 5,000 meters. It was Wheeler’s second All-America performance and Ilarda’s fourth.
Sign me up
Numerous recent Friar student-athletes have begun careers in professional sports.
• Ice hockey standouts Christina Putigna ’19 (Grimsby, Ont.) and Cassidy MacPherson ’19 (Oakville, Ont.) signed on with the Boston Pride and the Buffalo Beauts of the NWHL, respectively.
• Basketball sharpshooter Jovana Nogic ’19 (Belgrade, Serbia) will begin her pro career with Cadi La Seu in the First Spanish League.
• Former PC lacrosse teammates Jarrod Neumann ’17 & ’18G and James Barclay ’18 were reunited in the pro ranks, with Chaos LC of the Premiere Lacrosse League.
• Two-time BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Tate Boyce ’19 (Matthews, N.C.) joined the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse.
• Four hockey stars signed contracts with NHL teams that had drafted them: Kasper Björkvist ’20 (Espoo, Finland) with the Pittsburgh Penguins; Jacob Bryson ’20 (London, Ont.), Buffalo Sabres; Brandon Duhaime ’20 (Parkland, Fla.), Minnesota Wild; and Josh Wilkins ’20 (Raleigh, N.C.), Nashville Predators.
