On March 10, students, faculty, administrators and staff gathered in the Yanitelli Center for a MAAC Champions Pep Rally. Student athletes from the men’s soccer team, women’s indoor track and field team, men’s basketball team and individual swimmer Lovro Bilonic were honored for their accomplishments. There have only been two times in school history where Saint Peter’s College won two MAAC Championships in the same year. This year, for the first time, the College has won three MAAC Championships, to date.
Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s College, and Marylou Yam, Ph.D., provost/vice president for academic affairs, both addressed the crowd and praised the athletes for their accomplishments. Athletes and coaches then addressed the fans to thank them for their unwavering support. 
In November, the men’s soccer team defeated Loyola and Iona to win the MAAC Championship and advance to the NCAA tournament for the third time. This was the soccer program’s second MAAC title and the team was led by the MAAC tournament MVP Lebo Pila and MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Assaf Sheleg.
This winter, the women’s indoor track and field team won its first MAAC Championship in program history, behind a record setting performance by Ronnah Parham. In addition, head coach Mike Massone was named MAAC Coach of the Year. 
On the individual front, Junior Lovro Bilonic became the first male swimmer in Saint Peter’s College history, and MAAC history, to be invited to compete in the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships. Bilonic posted the eighth fastest 100 Breaststroke time in the country (52.99 at ECAC’s) and will compete in the NCAA Championships later this month in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes.
Finally, the men’s basketball team became the first fourth seed in the history of the MAAC tournament to be named champion. Led by MAAC tournament MVP Jeron Belin and All-Tournament Team Honorees Wesley Jenkins, Nick Leon and Ryan Bacon, the Peacocks defeated the top two seeds in the tournament to win the title on March 7, for the third time in the program’s history. The next stop is the NCAA Championship. The Peacocks await their fate, which will be determined on Selection Sunday, March 13. Please join us that day at 5:30 p.m. in McIntyre Lounge in Dinneen Hall to watch the NCAA Selection Show with the men’s basketball team.
It’s a great year to be a part of Peacock Nation! Good luck to Lovro Bilonic and the men’s basketball team as well as all of the spring athletes!
