Banner unveiling highlights Basketball Banquet

By: Mike Mazzeo

Posted: 5/1/09

Seniors Andrea Peterson, Nicole Hester and Brooke Cornish stood 15 rows up in the bleachers at the Daskalakis Athletic Center, hands on the attached strings that waved high above them, ready to unveil the respective banners of both the women's basketball team's 2009 Colonial Athletic Association championship and NCAA tournament appearance.

Drexel Athletic Director Dr. Eric Zillmer waited, got the "OK" and then he gave them the signal. The three players - each such a vital contributor to the Dragons' Cinderella run - gave a strong tug and the ornate banner flowed downward. The success of their season was now officially hanging and waving in the rafters forever.

The banner unveiling highlighted a festive night on the hardwood at the DAC as seniors from both the men's and women's basketball teams were honored at the annual Basketball Banquet April 30 which served as the culmination of the 2008-09 season.

"I'm so happy they did this tonight, dropping the banner here with so many fans and everyone who has supported us over the years, good and bad," Drexel women's basketball coach Denise Dillon said. "So it was nice to do it now instead of wait until next year, especially with our three seniors here."

Aside from the banner unveiling, all seven seniors from both teams (Peterson, Hester and Cornish from the women's team and Scott Rodgers, Tramayne Hawthorne, Chris Mohl and Bobby Jordan) each received framed jerseys.

"It's always tough when you [lose] your seniors," Flint said. "It's a nice banquet. But that's it for those guys. They're not gonna play for you anymore."

Dillon and Flint also each handed out their respective team awards.

Receiving accolades on the women's team were Gabriela Marginean (Most Valuable Player), Jasmina Rosseel (Lil Haas Coaches Award), Jennifer Stjärnström (Steve Sher Academic Award), Peterson (Liz Berry Most Improved Player and Defensive Award) and Hester (Spirit/Leadership Award).

Receiving accolades on the men's team were Evan Neisler ("Sweep" Award as Top Rebounder), Jamie Harris (Most Improved Player Award and Assists Award), Leon Spencer (Academic Award), Jordan and Mohl (co-recipients of the Donald Shank Spirit & Dedication Award) and Rodgers (Dragon "D" Award and Most Valuable Player).

The banquet kicked off with opening remarks from Drexel University President C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni and Zillmer, while invitees were treated to a pasta dinner. A thank-you from the seniors concluded the festivities.

Dillon, who saw her team set a record for single-season wins (24) and tie a record for consecutive wins (16) en route to the first conference championship in Drexel history and first NCAA tournament berth in women's basketball history, was asked if she had a chance to reflect on her team's accomplishments.

"I really don't know if I have until now," Dillon said. "Today kind of made it real."

Flint, who proved his critics wrong, finishing sixth in the CAA after being chosen to come in last, has already set his sights on the 2009-10 season.

"We're looking forward to the upcoming year," Flint said. "We lose some good players in Tray [Hawthorne] and Scott [Rodgers], but we look forward to it because these guys have grown together and we're gonna be even better."

Dillon, who echoed similar sentiments about looking forward to next season, was just pleased to take a moment to reminisce about the past.

"Tonight was excellent," Dillon said. "It was just great to step back and take a few minutes to see what we really made happen here at Drexel."