Cerchio, Dalembert, Downing, Jemison & Petillo to be inducted June 22.
South Orange, N.J. - Five influential individuals who made a significant impact on Pirates Athletics have received the call to be inducted into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame, including Lou Cerchio '96 of wrestling, Samuel Dalembert of men's basketball, Kristen Downing '97 of women's tennis, Greg Jemison '76 of baseball and Dr. John Petillo '69, Seton Hall's University Chancellor from 1984-89. The five will be inducted and celebrated as part of the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame Golf Outing and Dinner to take place on Monday, June 22 at the Fairmont Country Club in Chatham, N.J.
The event will begin with registration and lunch at 11 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m., the cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and the induction ceremony and dinner at 7 p.m. The entry fee is $600 per person ($300 tax deductible) for golf and dinner, $250 per person ($125 tax deductible) for cocktails and dinner only. For full information on the event, please click here.
INDUCTEE BIOGRAPHIES
Lou Cerchio '96, a Scotch Plains, N.J., native and graduate of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, was a member of the Pirates wrestling team from 1990-95 and had a prolific record at 103-25-1 and was a three-time NCAA qualifier helping lead Seton Hall to national relevance. In his senior year, he was an All-American at 167 pounds after finishing seventh at the NCAA Championship, winning the Big Northeast Wrestling Conference championship and compiling a 41-7 record. He had a 25-match winning streak on his way to the All-America status. His dominance on the mat led to the program's No. 18 final national ranking in 1995. CERCHIO PHOTO
A member of Seton Hall's Sweet 16 team in 2000, Samuel Dalembert was a force on the court for the Pirates over his two seasons before being selected 26th overall in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft. The 6'11 center enjoyed a standout freshman campaign, leading the BIG EAST with 3.9 blocks per game (in conference games only) and earning All-Metropolitan third team, BIG EAST All-Rookie and Seton Hall Freshman of the Year honors. He had a 12-rebound, six-block performance in Seton Hall's first-round NCAA Tournament win over Oregon. Dalembert, originally from Haiti and a graduate of St. Patrick's High School in Elizabeth, N.J., ended his career as the program's all-time leader in blocks (167) and is still second in field goal percentage (.537). He has gone on to play 13 seasons in the NBA and ranks in the top 40 all-time in blocks. DALEMBERT PHOTO
Kristen Downing '97, originally from Melrose, Mass., and a graduate of Melrose High School, is Seton Hall's all-time leader in singles wins (86) and total wins (155), helping the women's tennis program establish itself as a top-tier BIG EAST program and earn the team's first-ever NCAA Championship qualification in 1996. She began with an incredible freshman season that saw her go unbeaten in dual matches (14-0) and 26-4 overall. She then helped the Pirates to a BIG EAST runner-up finish as a sophomore and dominated as a junior and senior, winning the ECAC doubles championship in 1996, the year the Pirates also went to the NCAA East Regional. Overall, she had a 27-12 record in BIG EAST singles matches, all coming at the No. 1 position. DOWNING PHOTO
A member of Seton Hall's back-to-back College World Series baseball teams in 1974 and '75, Greg Jemison '76 was the resident speedster on the Pirates. An outfielder, Jemison set Pirates records in career (114) and single-season (44 in 1976) stolen bases which still rank in the program's top five today. He led the team in stolen bases in three of the four seasons he played and also led the Pirates in runs scored as a senior in 1976. He was a first-round pick by the Texas Rangers in the 1976 June Secondary MLB Draft and went on to play five years of Minor League Baseball. Jemison is originally from Coatesville, Pa., and graduated from Coatesville High School. JEMISON PHOTO
The Chancellor from 1984-89 during a period of renaissance on campus, Dr. John Petillo '69 presided over Seton Hall University when the men's basketball team reached the championship game of the 1989 NCAA Tournament and as well as five BIG EAST championship winning programs, three of which coming from the men's soccer team alone. During Petillo's tenure, the university completed numerous facility projects, including the construction of four new residence halls from 1986-88, helping the university transform its identity from a commuter to school to a residential campus. An expert in business, Petillo has served as president and CEO for many companies and non-profit organizations and is currently the president at Sacred Heart University. Petillo is also a graduate of Seton Hall, earning both a bachelor's and master's degree in South Orange. PETILLO PHOTO
http://www.shupirates.com/genrel/040615aae.html
South Orange, N.J. - Five influential individuals who made a significant impact on Pirates Athletics have received the call to be inducted into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame, including Lou Cerchio '96 of wrestling, Samuel Dalembert of men's basketball, Kristen Downing '97 of women's tennis, Greg Jemison '76 of baseball and Dr. John Petillo '69, Seton Hall's University Chancellor from 1984-89. The five will be inducted and celebrated as part of the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame Golf Outing and Dinner to take place on Monday, June 22 at the Fairmont Country Club in Chatham, N.J.
The event will begin with registration and lunch at 11 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m., the cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and the induction ceremony and dinner at 7 p.m. The entry fee is $600 per person ($300 tax deductible) for golf and dinner, $250 per person ($125 tax deductible) for cocktails and dinner only. For full information on the event, please click here.
INDUCTEE BIOGRAPHIES
Lou Cerchio '96, a Scotch Plains, N.J., native and graduate of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, was a member of the Pirates wrestling team from 1990-95 and had a prolific record at 103-25-1 and was a three-time NCAA qualifier helping lead Seton Hall to national relevance. In his senior year, he was an All-American at 167 pounds after finishing seventh at the NCAA Championship, winning the Big Northeast Wrestling Conference championship and compiling a 41-7 record. He had a 25-match winning streak on his way to the All-America status. His dominance on the mat led to the program's No. 18 final national ranking in 1995. CERCHIO PHOTO
A member of Seton Hall's Sweet 16 team in 2000, Samuel Dalembert was a force on the court for the Pirates over his two seasons before being selected 26th overall in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft. The 6'11 center enjoyed a standout freshman campaign, leading the BIG EAST with 3.9 blocks per game (in conference games only) and earning All-Metropolitan third team, BIG EAST All-Rookie and Seton Hall Freshman of the Year honors. He had a 12-rebound, six-block performance in Seton Hall's first-round NCAA Tournament win over Oregon. Dalembert, originally from Haiti and a graduate of St. Patrick's High School in Elizabeth, N.J., ended his career as the program's all-time leader in blocks (167) and is still second in field goal percentage (.537). He has gone on to play 13 seasons in the NBA and ranks in the top 40 all-time in blocks. DALEMBERT PHOTO
Kristen Downing '97, originally from Melrose, Mass., and a graduate of Melrose High School, is Seton Hall's all-time leader in singles wins (86) and total wins (155), helping the women's tennis program establish itself as a top-tier BIG EAST program and earn the team's first-ever NCAA Championship qualification in 1996. She began with an incredible freshman season that saw her go unbeaten in dual matches (14-0) and 26-4 overall. She then helped the Pirates to a BIG EAST runner-up finish as a sophomore and dominated as a junior and senior, winning the ECAC doubles championship in 1996, the year the Pirates also went to the NCAA East Regional. Overall, she had a 27-12 record in BIG EAST singles matches, all coming at the No. 1 position. DOWNING PHOTO
A member of Seton Hall's back-to-back College World Series baseball teams in 1974 and '75, Greg Jemison '76 was the resident speedster on the Pirates. An outfielder, Jemison set Pirates records in career (114) and single-season (44 in 1976) stolen bases which still rank in the program's top five today. He led the team in stolen bases in three of the four seasons he played and also led the Pirates in runs scored as a senior in 1976. He was a first-round pick by the Texas Rangers in the 1976 June Secondary MLB Draft and went on to play five years of Minor League Baseball. Jemison is originally from Coatesville, Pa., and graduated from Coatesville High School. JEMISON PHOTO
The Chancellor from 1984-89 during a period of renaissance on campus, Dr. John Petillo '69 presided over Seton Hall University when the men's basketball team reached the championship game of the 1989 NCAA Tournament and as well as five BIG EAST championship winning programs, three of which coming from the men's soccer team alone. During Petillo's tenure, the university completed numerous facility projects, including the construction of four new residence halls from 1986-88, helping the university transform its identity from a commuter to school to a residential campus. An expert in business, Petillo has served as president and CEO for many companies and non-profit organizations and is currently the president at Sacred Heart University. Petillo is also a graduate of Seton Hall, earning both a bachelor's and master's degree in South Orange. PETILLO PHOTO
http://www.shupirates.com/genrel/040615aae.html
