St. John Fisher College Returns Wrestling to Athletics Offerings
July 27, 2021
Gift Funds Construction of New State-of-the-Art Joseph Pellicano Wrestling Pavilion
The St. John Fisher College Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the expansion of its athletic offerings with the addition of men’s wrestling back to its program. The Cardinals will now feature 25 sports at the varsity level and Fisher will join a group of 113 wrestling programs from across the Division III landscape. The College will begin a national search for its next head coach with a full competition schedule set to begin in 2022.
“We are very excited about re-introducing wrestling to our intercollegiate sport portfolio,” said Bob Ward who has served as Fisher’s Director of Athletics for more than 30 years. “Not only is wrestling one of the fastest growing sports at the high school level, but this addition will allow us to continue to engage potential student-athletes in meaningful ways.”
The Cardinals have a rich history in wrestling as Fisher competed from 1965 to 1983 where it was one of the region’s top programs. Over its 18-year history, Fisher boasted numerous Catholic National Champions and had several wrestlers compete in the NCAA Division III Championship and NAIA Championship including All-American Sandy Spero ’80 and Jerry DeHey ’75 who have each been inducted into the College’s Athletics Hall of Fame.
The return of the wrestling program is boosted by a $400,000 gift from alumnus and trustee William J. Pellicano ’80 and Tracy Pellicano to create a state-of-the-art wrestling room, which is currently under construction and will be open for use prior to the start of training.
“We are grateful for this gift from the Pellicano family. Bill’s legacy of commitment to Fisher includes his dedicated service to the Board of Trustees as well as his long record of philanthropy. His support of Fisher athletics, in particular, has impacted experiences for Fisher student-athletes, visitors, and fans. The William J. Pellicano Pavilion has been a wonderful addition to Growney Stadium. His most recent gift will help establish a dedicated space for our new wrestling program, adding to the prestige of our athletic offerings,” said Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, president of the College.
The Joseph Pellicano Wrestling Pavilion, named in honor of Pellicano’s father, will be located in Michaelhouse, adjacent to Growney Stadium and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Athletic Complex. A portion of this gift will also honor Bill’s parents, Joseph and the late Josephine F. Pellicano, in the Hermance Family Chapel of St. Basil the Great.
Pellicano said that his father, who lost an arm and a leg in a farming accident at the age of three and lives a full life today at the age of 90, has served as his role model for strength and determination. He hopes student-athletes who hear his father’s story will be equally inspired as they enter the field of competition, as he was while a member of Fisher’s football team.
“My parents’ strong faith has always inspired me throughout my life, and my participation in Fisher athletics was an integral part of my college experience and my path to where I am today,” said Pellicano. “I am proud to have the opportunity to honor my parents through the support of Fisher’s wrestling program and the Hermance Family Chapel.”
Fisher’s investment and commitment to its athletic department are evident at every turn as few colleges can boast the growth and development that Fisher has enjoyed over the last two decades. Since the turn of the century, the College has added 13 intercollegiate sports and has created numerous athletic facilities to support its nearly 750 student-athletes including the construction of Growney Stadium and the Polisseni Track and Field Complex, as well as enhancements to Dugan Yard, the Softball Complex, and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Athletic Center.
“There’s no better time to be a student-athlete at Fisher as the College is coming off its most successful year in the Athletic Department’s history,” added Ward. “As a whole, Fisher again won the Empire 8 Commissioner’s Cup, our programs captured 11 Empire 8 Championships, had 13 Empire 8 Player of the Year selections, 12 Coaching Staff of the Year recipients, 26 All-America honorees, and saw the women’s lacrosse team reach the NCAA Final Four.”
For more information about Fisher Athletics, visit https://athletics.sjfc.edu/.