St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Hosts Seventh Annual Carnesecca Golf Classic
9/21/2021 4:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Red White Club
Annual event generates more than $500,000 for St. John’s Men’s Basketball
QUEENS, N.Y. – Alumni, fans and St. John's supporters spanning more than 70 years gathered on Monday at North Hempstead Country Club and The Village Club of Sands Points for the seventh annual Carnesecca Golf Classic. The event, which was not held in 2020, generated more than half a million dollars in support of the Red Storm Men's Basketball program.
In addition to recognizing the lengthy accomplishments of Lou Carnesecca, the Hall of Fame coach who was in attendance on Monday, the event also honored two longtime St. John's supporters in Jeff Wengroff '73CBA and Bob Kalenka '84CBA, '91MBA. Wengroff, the principal of HE2PD, Inc. and a member of the St. John's Board of Governors, and Kalenka, the COO of Broadridge Financial Solutions and a member of the St. John's Board of Trustees, each announced a significant financial contribution at the dinner in support of their alma mater.
After a day of golf split between the two courses and a cocktail reception, the evening's attendees gathered at North Hempstead Country Club for dinner and a series of remarks from the leadership of St. John's Athletics.
The program began with words from Athletic Director Mike Cragg, who recognized Coach Carnesecca and other special guests in attendance, including members of the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors.
"It really is about family and friends," said Cragg. "Coach [Carnesecca], I stood over there for about 20 minutes and I couldn't stop watching you interact with your players and your coaches. It was magical. That's why we're all here. This event in your name is so, so special. I just want to start by saying thank you for everything you've ever done for St. John's University."
Head Coach Mike Anderson then took the podium to introduce his players and staff while talking about the upcoming season.
"I'm excited," said Anderson, who is entering his 20th year as a head coach in 2021-22. "It's going to be great to have fans. Our fans are worth 8-10 points for our basketball team because of how we play. It's the energy, the excitement that takes place. The players do things that you don't think they can do. They jump higher, they run faster, they dunk harder. It just amazes me what takes place in an arena when you play up-tempo basketball."
In his first year with the University after being appointed its 18th president in February, Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., addressed the crowd of faithful St. John's supporters and shared his vision for the future of the program.
"I'm excited about what's happening in basketball here," said Shanley. "Mike Anderson is exactly what we need, because for us to be successful you need to be able to build a program. It's not just winning one year. It's putting the pieces together to be successful over time and to be competing in the NCAA Tournament year in and year out and coach knows how to do this."
In addition to recognizing the lengthy accomplishments of Lou Carnesecca, the Hall of Fame coach who was in attendance on Monday, the event also honored two longtime St. John's supporters in Jeff Wengroff '73CBA and Bob Kalenka '84CBA, '91MBA. Wengroff, the principal of HE2PD, Inc. and a member of the St. John's Board of Governors, and Kalenka, the COO of Broadridge Financial Solutions and a member of the St. John's Board of Trustees, each announced a significant financial contribution at the dinner in support of their alma mater.
After a day of golf split between the two courses and a cocktail reception, the evening's attendees gathered at North Hempstead Country Club for dinner and a series of remarks from the leadership of St. John's Athletics.
The program began with words from Athletic Director Mike Cragg, who recognized Coach Carnesecca and other special guests in attendance, including members of the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors.
"It really is about family and friends," said Cragg. "Coach [Carnesecca], I stood over there for about 20 minutes and I couldn't stop watching you interact with your players and your coaches. It was magical. That's why we're all here. This event in your name is so, so special. I just want to start by saying thank you for everything you've ever done for St. John's University."
Head Coach Mike Anderson then took the podium to introduce his players and staff while talking about the upcoming season.
"I'm excited," said Anderson, who is entering his 20th year as a head coach in 2021-22. "It's going to be great to have fans. Our fans are worth 8-10 points for our basketball team because of how we play. It's the energy, the excitement that takes place. The players do things that you don't think they can do. They jump higher, they run faster, they dunk harder. It just amazes me what takes place in an arena when you play up-tempo basketball."
In his first year with the University after being appointed its 18th president in February, Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., addressed the crowd of faithful St. John's supporters and shared his vision for the future of the program.
"I'm excited about what's happening in basketball here," said Shanley. "Mike Anderson is exactly what we need, because for us to be successful you need to be able to build a program. It's not just winning one year. It's putting the pieces together to be successful over time and to be competing in the NCAA Tournament year in and year out and coach knows how to do this."
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