2010 Athletic Banquet

This years banquet was an especially important night because it marked the last time Director of Athletics, Joy Boylan, would have the opportunity to address the body of student athletes before his retirement takes place on July 1, 2010. In an article from The Greyhound, Boylan says, “We want to give them (student athletes) something to be proud of no matter what, to create school pride. At alumni events they don't talk so much about the wins and losses but about specific events that happened, the memorable moments. No matter what the sports are, all the athletes are, and should be given the opportunity to get their moment in the sun, or Greyhound, and I think that's important. " It is mentalities such as this one that have been responsible for the immense success Loyola has seen athletically in Boylan’s time here. In addressing the athletes, Boylan continued to say how thankful he was for his years spent at Loyola, and how each and every person has changed his life for the better. Jim Paquette, the former associate athetics director for development at Boston College, has been named the Loyola University’s new Director of Athletics, effective April 1st.

Awards were also an important part of the night, recognizing athletes for both their excellence in academics and athletics, but also in character. Loyola University Maryland seniors Heather Cooke and Collin Finnerty were the 2010 recipients of the Ernest Lagna and John R. Moller Awards, respectively, as the top female and male student-athletes who excel in athletics, scholarship and character.

Cooke, a four-year women's soccer letterwinner, was an All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference First Team honoree as a senior and Second Team member her sophomore and junior seasons. Finnerty is a co-captain and leading scorer for the Loyola men's lacrosse team that is currently ranked sixth nationally with two games to play in its season. An outstanding leader on and off the field, Finnerty was a member of the Teawaaraton Award Watch List, an honor given annually to the top lacrosse player in the United States. As a winner of the Ernest Lagna award, recipients are given the opportunity to address their fellow student athletes. “ I just want to say thank you so much to all my fellow athletes, and let everyone know how much I have appreciated being an athlete here for my four years, and how much I will miss the Greyhounds when I’m gone.”