Matt Murphy: Matt is one of the best examples of a guy determined to finish what he has started. When our coaching staff arrived at the conclusion of Matt’s freshman year, there were many questions about who would return to the team. Matt was very clear that he wanted to work hard to help the team. He was a man of his word and did just that. As an athlete, good student, and a young man with impeccable character Matt represents what is the best of Saint Mary’s University’s May graduation class of 2011. Despite being caught in the middle of a program transition he has been a great teammate and a terrific role model for our young players. The ultimate compliment one can have in athletics is to have the trust and respect of your teammates. Matt Murphy has that compliment. The future has so many possibilities for Matt and we wish him the very best. We have enjoyed being his coaches and want to thank him for all of his contributions to our team and our school. It will be fun following Matt’s future career path. We hope our paths continue to cross down the road and we will always be there if he needs us. Thanks again Matt.
Pat Connolly: When we first met Pat it was quite evident that he wanted to improve as a player and contribute in a positive way. As he worked hard to get better he developed the confidence to be a 3 year regular in the lineup. He has had to battle the best big men in the MIAC on a nightly basis and after those games they knew they were in a street fight. A great way to sum up Pat’s value to our team is a comment Coach Kevin made one day. Pat was not at practice due to a family event. The practice was quiet, a bit listless, and I was losing my patience. I turned to Kevin and said, “What is going on today?” He simply said, “Connolly is not here.” Pat brought a little chip on his shoulder every day, always some humor, active vocal chords (especially when Coach Kevin made a call he did not like), and just a love for the game. We were glad when he returned. We are very proud of Pat and if he just believes in himself as he heads out into the world he will be very, very successful. We cannot thank him enough for his loyalty and hard work. Our coaching staff will miss him but we look forward to a life long relationship and the knowledge we will always be there for him. See you on the south side this summer. Thanks Pat.
Gary Seifert: Gary Is my all-time favorite Cardinal baseball player, just ahead of Nick Winecke. What a great addition Gary has been to our team since bouncing back from knee surgery that cost him his sophomore season. We continue to bring him out of the bullpen and he delivers with a great move inside, a blocked shot (a crowd favorite) or splashing down a 3 pointer. It has been fun to see Gary get back his “basketball Jones” and we have really enjoyed having him on our team. If our team was a variety show Gary and Pat would be the stand-up comedy team. His easy going demeanor often hides a real competitor but he makes us laugh and every team
needs those light moments. As we always say, enjoy the journey and Gary helps us do that every day. Gary is a great combination of intelligence, sense of humor, dedication, and a real concern for others. He is a great teammate. It will be fun, in ten years, to see what Gary is doing. Thanks so much for caring about all of your teammates, not just your classmates, and for working so hard. As with all of the seniors we will miss you but look forward to a lasting relationship. Just make sure when they name a street in Prescott after you that you let us know. Thanks Gary.
Ryan Wockenfus: Ryan provided me with one of the firsts in my life: watching a javelin competition. We were very proud watching our guy capture silver in last year’s MIAC Track and Field Championships. He will grab the gold this year! I say that because you never count this guy out. He did not play on the team his freshman year, but came to me and asked if he could try out. Our roster was a bit depleted with our late arrival and we knew at least he was an athlete. He had a difficult task, gaining our favor and the respect of his classmates who had played on the team the year before. It was not always easy, but he did it. They love him and respect very much. He went from an unknown gamble to a very, very valuable member and leader on this team. His maturity, focus, and love for the game have spilled over and made him one of the most respected young men on this campus. Many things stand out when we think of Ryan but for me it is the way he truly cares about his teammates. He is going to be a terrific teacher and if we have anything to say about it, hopefully a college basketball coach someday. The lesson our guys should have learned from Ryan is to love the game and never take being a college basketball player for granted. Best wishes for a long career serving young people and hopefully we will be in contact as members of the same coaching fraternity. Thanks for everything Ryan.
Will Wright: The record books will speak loudly on what Will accomplished as an individual player at Saint Mary’s University but his smile is the light that shows what is inside. He has provided all of us with some memorable moments and plays. When the new staff was named late in 2008 there was a bit of a panic: “what is Will going to do?” Ron Weimer (former admission rep who helped Will come to SMU from Chicago) told me that I would not meet a better young man than Will Wright and that he would make a mature decision. We never spoke about it, but I think Will felt at home at SMU because of all of the things outside of basketball. After 3 years I believe that to be true. Will is a very serious student who truly enjoys the life on a college campus. As the coach at SMU I am very pleased that Will decided to jump on board when we arrived. He has been a joy to be around and we appreciate the way he has practiced and competed every day. My memories of Will include the times we worked together with young kids and how his eyes and their eyes lit up as they spent time together. They loved him. We would like to have Will’s future and it will be exciting to follow his path in the years to come. Whether it is business, coaching, or administration, he will always be an “impact player”. He loves people and they love him. We will always be there for you and congratulations on a great career. Thanks for being a part of our lives.
Lukas Holland: Truth be known, Lukas has made my Top Ten list of lead singers in a band. He has not bumped Teddy Pendergrast or Al Green, but he is pushing Prince. If you check the list of individual basketball accomplishments at Saint Mary’s University there will be a familiar name. His play speaks for itself. Sometimes I do think Lukas should have played back in the day. I can see him flying down the court with that big afro, high socks, with a Pistol Pete flair, then heading back to the dorm to listen to a little Sly and the Family Stone or Jimmy Hendrix. I say that because of all of the players I have ever coached few have had the sense of history or awareness of the world off of the court. He is truly a renaissance man. But do not let the boyish look fool you, he is one tough son of a gun. He has played almost half of his senior season on one leg. We gave the ball to Lukas as soon as we started practice his sophomore year and he has run the show ever since. He has worked hard to lead by example and he really cares about the team. He has also become our best recruiter and we are very grateful to him for helping us continue to try to attract talent to the campus. We appreciate his outstanding work in the classroom, on the court, on campus, and in the community. The world is waiting for Lukas and he will have a fun ride. We are proud of you and thank you for everything. Thanks Lukas.
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