FDU Magazine - Fall 2021
KNIGHTS AND DEVILS
By Sara Campione 2021-09-16 11:42:14
Track and Field Coming to Devils Athletics
DIVISION I KNIGHTS MEN'S BASKETBALL
From Mascot on the Sidelines to Player on the Main Roster
Sal Xheraj, Knights Basketball
When Sal Xheraj, a senior accounting major, lost his mascot head during the 2019 NCAA tournament game, the FDU Knights against Gonzaga in Salt Lake City, Utah, he took it in stride. He was, after all, on court during March Madness.
Being on the tournament court as Knightro—the beloved mascot of the FDU Knights — was a bucket-list moment, even if it did not go as planned. “I initially took the position of Knightro because it was a way to show off my dance moves and fulfill my desire of entertaining people,” says Xheraj. “I would never have guessed at the plethora of opportunities that came in the future. I’m proud to say that I once represented Fairleigh Dickinson University as Knightro.”
Xheraj, who traded in his blue fur and tail for polo shirts to be the team manager for the 2019–20 season, now proudly sports a Knights jersey. Number 15 is officially on the team.
Head Coach Greg Herenda saw potential after watching Xheraj practice with the team during warm-up drills. Xheraj completed a walk-on tryout for the 2020–21 season, joining the team as a guard and scoring his first points as a Knight against Mount St. Mary’s in February, another bucket-list moment to check off of his list.
“Sal has been an incredible ambassador for our University. He has great energy and spirit, and now he’s helping the Knights in uniform,” says Herenda.
As Xheraj prepares for next season, he has serious goals to achieve. “I've been working out with my teammates and on my own to ensure that I am in the best shape possible to be a valuable asset to my team,” he says. “Ultimately, I hope to experience March Madness as a player this year.”
Xheraj isn’t known around campus just for his moves on the court. He has been an orientation leader and a member of the Student Government Association, has spoken on student panels for Silberman College of Business and has volunteered with the basketball team at a food pantry in Newark, N.J.
“I am so incredibly thankful that I committed to FDU in 2018,” he says. “If I’m capable of handling six classes a semester, basketball and volunteering, then I'm confident that I can handle a full-time job. Being a Knight has taught me hard work, time management and the importance of being part of a team.”
He chose FDU based on its proximity to New York City and the opportunities for internships. “When I first arrived at the University, I thought, “How can I cement myself in becoming the best student I can be?”
In the summer of 2021, Xheraj completed an internship with EY (Ernst & Young), one of the bigfour accounting firms, a place where he developed a deeper interest in international taxation.
“He’s what FDU is all about,” Herenda told NJ.com. “It’s about opportunity. When you take a step back, you realize how much he has done and how much more he will accomplish.”— S.C.
DIVISION III DEVILS MEN'S TENNIS
Taking a Swing at Hunger
CJ Milano, Devils Tennis
Senior hotel and restaurant management major CJ Milano spends many hours each week working at the Devils Care Food Pantry and playing on the tennis court.
One of the founding members of the pantry and its current president, Milano conducted research in a freshman writing course to determine the need for a campus pantry. He deeply believes in destigmatizing hunger.
“I’m a hospitality student and have a culinary background. Food has always been important to me. I hate the idea of anyone facing food insecurity.” — CJ MILANO
“I’m a hospitality student and have a culinary background. Food has always been important to me. I hate the idea of anyone facing food insecurity,” says Milano.
Some of the pantry’s top items include macaroni and cheese, cereal, condensed milk, pasta sauce, hygiene or household products like toothbrushes and laundry pods — and of course — instant ramen.
If he’s not at the pantry or in class, he’s on the tennis court.
He didn’t come to FDU expecting to a play a sport — he didn’t in high school — but was convinced to join the team by some classmates. Milano, a certified pickleball pro (pickleball is a paddleball sport combining elements of badminton, table tennis and tennis), thought: “Why not?”
He met with Head Tennis Coach Tom Battaglia, showed up to the first practice and joined the team the spring semester of his freshman year. “All the guys and the girls took me in like one of their own, and made me part of the family.”
Over the years, Milano worked his way up to the rank of co-captain. “We just have so much fun, and we’ve really made tennis into a team sport. So many people just look at tennis as an individual activity, but we’re always there supporting anyone and everyone in the lineup, no matter the spot. That’s our goal.”
His mission at the Devils Care Food Pantry hinges on support, too. The pantry closed temporarily when classes went remote, but the team is back to promoting it to the FDU community on social media and on the Campus Bubble platform.
“The look on the faces of our first customers when we opened the room, and they saw the food is the reason why we do it all. It’s to help those truly in need,” he says.
Recently, the pantry distributed reusable shopping bags on campus. Milano hopes that when people see other people with the bag, that it increases the visibility of the Devils Care Food Pantry and reduces the social stigma. “Every single student who lives on campus received one, and it’s just another way to spread the word about Devils Care.”— S.C.
A Season of Champions
Knights Women’s Bowling The Knights women’s bowling team made its 13th appearance at the NCAA tournament in April. The team punched its ticket to the tournament after defeating Sacred Heart University for the NEC championship, the fifth in program history, a conference record. Head Coach Mike LoPresti also made history — becoming the first women’s bowling coach in NCAA history to win more than 1,500 games.
Knights Men’s Tennis The Knights men’s tennis team captured its 13th NEC championship after defeating St. Francis Brooklyn. The team headed to the NCAA tournament, where they faced No. 7 University of Virginia in the first round of play. Sophomore Teodors Pukse nabbed the NEC Men’s Tennis Player of the Year honors.
Knights Women’s Golf The Knights women’s golf team won its third consecutive NEC championship, and the fifth in the last six seasons. Senior Julia Warke took the NEC Individual Championship title after shooting a 224 over the three days of competition. The team went on to the NCAA tournament in Louisville, Ky., where they appeared for the third consecutive year.
Devils Women’s Lacrosse The Devils women’s lacrosse team completed their 2021 campaign with a program record of 16-1, and the first undefeated regular season in program history. The Devils won their fifth MAC title in six seasons, moving on to compete in the NCAA tournament, where they were defeated in the second round by Washington & Lee. Head Coach Evan Mager was named MAC Freedom Conference Coach of the Year, senior midfielder Aliyha Elk was named MAC Freedom Defensive Player of the Year and first-year midfielder Katie Walsh claimed Midfielder and Rookie of the Year honors.
Knights Track and Field Freshman Salif Mane took first place in the men’s triple jump and broke the Northeast Conference outdoor track and field championship record, which had previously been held for nine years. Mane also took first place with 16.14 meters in the men’s triple jump at the Eastern College Athletic Conference/Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America, followed by sophomore Taeco O’Garro’s 15.68-meter jump winning him second place.
Track and Field coming to Devils Athletics
In the spring, Jenn Noon, director of athletics for Division III, announced the athletic department would add men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field to the roster of sports available at the Florham Campus, bringing the total to 23. Tying in with the new Elizabeth Ruth Hennessy Field, the track and field team will make its home on a brand new 400-meter, NCAA-compliant eightlane track.
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