We Are Marquette The Golden Eagles The 2004-05 season was one to be remembered in many different facets of Marquette Athletics. Its 10-season run in Conference USA came to a close in the spring of 2005 and the Golden Eagles savored success in C-USA for one final season. The volleyball team moved into “The Al” in 2004 and began its climb to the top post- ing back-to-back victories in its new home. The Golden Eagles went on to tally a 22-7 record, their best ever in Division I play, including 10 wins at home. Marquette volley- ball soared to new heights registering a record seven-game winning streak and advanc- ing to their first-ever Conference USA Championship game. The men’s basketball team kept on its winning ways and made an appearance in post- season play for the fourth consecutive season. Despite battling injuries, the Golden Eagles showed their resiliency and played as one. Travis Diener capped his stellar career at Marquette earning All-America honorable mention honors and was a First-Team All C- USA selection for the second-consecutive season. Enjoying its first complete season in “The Al,” the women’s basketball team also saw post-season play for the third-consecutive season earning a trip to the WNIT. Carolyn Kieger and Christina Quaye were Second Team All C-USA selections and both return to the 2005-06 squad, giving fans something to look forward this upcoming season. Making great strides throughout the season, the women’s soccer team proved they were contenders. The Golden Eagles recorded a four-game winning streak en route to their ninth-consecutive winning season. They amassed an overall record of 12-8-1, 7-2- 1 C-USA and were just one win shy of advancing to the C-USA championship match. Except for upsetting 11th ranked USF in Tampa Bay, Fla., the men’s soccer team endured a rough season plagued with injuries. However, with the emergence of talent- ed sophomores and juniors, the Golden Eagles are bound to bounce back. The track and field teams wrapped up the 2005 season with the men finishing fifth at the indoor conference championships and sixth in outdoor, while the women finished 10th at both championships. Overall 14 different Golden Eagles earned All-Conference USA honors, and Marquette gathered several top-five finishes at both championships. Brianna Dahm closed the book on her career as a Golden Eagle earning her second All- America honor for her seventh-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Championships. She also advanced to the finals of the U.S. Track and Field Championships in the same event. Led by Ted Gray, Marquette landed in 10th place at the C-USA Championships for the second consecutive year while earning a spot on the C-USA All-Freshman team. With Gray around for three more years, the Golden Eagles could be a dominant force playing in the BIG EAST. For the fifth-consecutive season, the women’s cross country team won the Conference USA Championship. With the win, head coach Dave Uhrich earned his seventh C-USA Coach of the Year honor and was also named Coach-of-the-Decade. The women leave C- USA with seven team titles, more than any other women’s cross country team. The men’s team, led by a third-place finish from Brent Des Roches landed in sixth place at the C- USA Championships. The men’s tennis team finished the season with placing 11th at the conference cham- pionships. Its season was highlighted by the play of Brett Binkley who in his first sea- son at No. 4 singles tallied a 17-5 overall record. On the women’s side, sophomore Maria Calbeto returns 11 singles wins to a team that went 5-17 last season. Besides their hard work and dedication on the playing field, the Golden Eagles dis- played the same work ethic in the classroom as 112 student athletes were named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and 24 of those were named C-USA Academic Medal Winners for a GPA of 3.75 or higher. Dahm was one of 29 student-athletes across the nation to be awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and Charles Mashozhera was named men’s track and field scholar athlete of the year. 56 This is Marquette BIG EAST Conference The BIG EAST Conference moves into 2005-06 with an While the membership has both increased and changed, emphasis on the word “Big” as the league becomes the the focus of the BIG EAST has not wavered. The conference largest Division I-A conference in the nation with 16 out- reflects a tradition of broad-based programs, led by admin- standing academic and athletic institutions. The goal of the istrators and coaches who place a constant emphasis on aca- BIG EAST has always been to compete at the highest level demic integrity. The BIG EAST Conference has enjoyed a and to do so with integrity and sportsmanship. leadership role nationally. Its student-athletes own signifi- In 2005-06, the league welcomes five new members: cantly high graduation rates and their record of scholastic University of Cincinnati, DePaul University, University of achievement notably show a balance between intercollegiate Louisville, Marquette University and the University of South athletics and academics. Florida. Any successful organization needs outstanding leader- BIG EAST institutions reside in nine of the nation’s top ship. Michael Tranghese, the league’s first full-time employ- 33 largest media markets, including New York, Chicago, ee, and for 11 years the associate to Dave Gavitt, moved into Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Tampa, Pittsburgh, Hartford, the Commissioner’s chair in 1990. In his first year, he Milwaukee and Cincinnati. With the incoming members, the administered the formation of The BIG EAST Football BIG EAST markets will contain Conference. almost one fourth of all televi- The league has sion households in the U.S. long been considered a Since opening its doors in leader in innovative con- 1979, the league has won 25 cepts in promotion and national championships in six publicity, particularly different sports and 123 stu- regarding television. Those dent-athletes have won indi- efforts have resulted in vidual national titles. Last unparalleled visibility for year, Providence’s Kim Smith BIG EAST student-athletes. won the NCAA women’s coun- The conference has enjoyed try championship. The Notre long-standing relationships Dame women’s soccer team with CBS, ESPN, Inc. and took the 2004 national title. ABC. The BIG EAST has always While BIG EAST been able to boast that some of its best students are also basketball games are regular sellouts at campus and major some of its best athletes. More than 300 student-athletes public arenas, including the annual BIG EAST Championship have earned Academic All-America honors. in Madison Square Garden, attendance figures also are sig- In 2003-04, three BIG EAST student-athletes were named nificant at BIG EAST soccer, women’s basketball and baseball the national scholar-athletes of the year in their respective games. sports – Connecticut’s Emeka Okafor in men’s basketball, More than 500 BIG EAST athletes have earned All- Notre Dame’s Vanessa Pruzinsky in women’s soccer and St. America recognition and dozens have won individual NCAA John’s Chris Wingert in men’s soccer. national championships. The BIG EAST has been well-repre- BIG EAST student-athletes also have continued their suc- sented in U.S. or foreign national and Olympic teams. cess after leaving the classrooms and playing fields. Former Several athletes earned gold medals in each of the last five Connecticut women’s basketball standout Dr. Leigh Curl was summer Olympiads. inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame in The BIG EAST has its headquarters in Providence where 1999. Former Georgetown men’s basketball star Dikembe the conference administers to more than 5,500 athletes in Mutombo was named a winner of the President’s Service 23 sports. Award, the highest honor in the U.S. for volunteer service. The BIG EAST continues to thrive in the basketball arena. In 2003-04, Connecticut became the first school in NCAA history to win the men’s and women’s NCAA titles in the same season. With the Syracuse men and the UConn women grabbing NCAA crowns the previous year, the BIG EAST also became the first conference in NCAA history to win the men’s and women’s titles in consecutive seasons. In fact, the BIG EAST has won five of the last six women’s basketball crowns and three of the last seven men’s titles. Whether it’s the student-athletes or the league as a whole, moving proactively has been a consistent strategy for the conference that was formed in 1979. The Big East has continually turned challenges into opportunities to bolster its strength. In the spring of 2001, the BIG EAST added women’s lacrosse to its growing list of sports. The inaugural women’s golf championship was held in the spring of 2003. The BIG EAST became a reality on May 31, 1979, follow- ing a meeting of athletic directors from Providence College, St. John’s, Georgetown and Syracuse Universities. Seton Hall, Connecticut and Boston College completed the original seven-school alliance. This is Marquette 57 Marquette University Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university dedicated to serving God by serving our students and con- tributing to the advancement of knowledge. Our mission, therefore, is the search for truth, the discovery and shar- ing of knowledge, the fostering of personal and profes- sional excellence, the promotion of a life of faith, and the development of leadership expressed in service to others.