Each student-athlete received an “Athletes Supporting Athletes” t-shirt after going over NCAA mandatory regulations to signify the start of the 2008-09 season.

Speaking during the event were JU assistant athletic director for marketing/promotions Barry Milligan, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president Natasha Harvey, vice president DaVina Hamilton, JU director of athletics Alan Verlander and JU president Kerry Romesburg. Several members of the JU Athletics Department and coaches were also in attendance.

“The NCAA requires us to speak to the student-athletes about certain topics at the beginning of the school year but I enjoy having everyone get together so we can welcome them back to campus,” Verlander said. “As a department, we wanted to celebrate the success of the past season and set goals to make us the best we possibly can be.”

Last season, the Dolphins finished with four Atlantic Sun Conference Championships, one A-Sun Tournament title, an NCAA Tournament bid and three state championships in rowing (not including a gold medal by the Varsity 4 at Dad Vails). JU also had four teams reach the conference tournament finals while the Dolphin women capped off the year by claiming the A-Sun Sherman Day trophy for the top institution in women’s sports.

Individually, 171 JU student-athletes earned a grade point average of 3.0 or better during the academic year. The Dolphins also had 74 student athletes earn Dean's List distinctions and 15 student-athletes garnered President's Honor Roll accolades with a 4.0.