RADNOR — Farewells never really interested the devoted players finishing this final season of sports at revered Cabrini University, which in a few months will become Villanova West.
To many, including the opponents, it’s hard to believe that Cabrini and its successful sports programs will no longer be part of the schedule.
Five years ago, Cabrini was at the top of the Division III sports world, with the men’s lacrosse team winning the NCAA national championship at Lincoln Financial Field against an opponent from Amherst with twice the enrollment.
Towards the end of June, the Villanova signs will begin to appear on campus as the small college and its beautiful grounds were acquired by its neighboring university. The clock is ticking for the Cabrini men’s and women’s lacrosse and baseball teams, who were all in action during the weekend tournament. The campus, which one student-athlete described as “a ghost town,” has already seen several students and athletes leave, and the point of no return is approaching more than ever before.
“It’s like a nun here at Cabrini said, ‘We’re smiling on the outside, crying on the inside,’” said Jackie Neary, who has coached women’s lacrosse and field hockey for 28 years at Cabrini. “That’s what we’re doing. You’re trying to be very stoic and it’s hard, it’s tough. During my long walk today, going through my head was how are we going to manage the emotions of our girls this weekend? Every year you’re either going to win or it’s the end, one or the other. I just want to make sure that there’s not too much weight put on the end this time. We talked about the elephant in the room. Now the elephant is bigger than the room. So that’s going to be one of my big coaching talks. I just want them to be prepared. I want them to take a deep breath. I do this every year but this year there’s just so much more weight to it.”
The ultimate competitor and healer, Neary dabbed her eyes with a tissue while being interviewed.
The Dear John letter Cabrini students received last June in the form of an announcement that the place was being sold to Villanova and the severance package, should they accept it, basically would be one more year of school/athletics or a transfer. It was something few 18-, 19-, 20- or 21-year-olds are equipped to deal with. The career guidance offered by Cabrini administrators, coaches and staff helped many get through it.
What was quietly spectacular was so many Cabrini student-athletes fought through basically a suspended sentence with their coaches, who fought through feelings they’d never felt. I stayed, is the way athletes and coached put it, for one last go-round.
Make no mistake, for the student-athletes, the announcement was a sucker punch. Athletes don’t transfer these days without the leverage of a guaranteed role or an NIL, both unlikely for students in this situation.
“We found out Friday and we had a meeting that day,” said junior midfielder and Garnet Valley alum Morgan McClintock. “I think everyone was at that meeting, and that meeting was really emotional. I remember being there and thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is actually happening.’ I was so angry. I was frustrated. So, I made my decision to stay. And I really don’t think I would have changed it for anything just because this has been really special. These girls are my best friends. My sisters.”
Shea Neary recalled that the informal meeting was filled with student-athletes, coaches, and various adults.
“Some individuals were very angry and showed it, while others were simply upset, crying, or yelling,” Shea explained. “There were numerous questions. My mother made it clear that she was staying. I believe this demonstrates her character. She also indicated that she was willing to help, no matter what. She was prepared to assist you in finding another opportunity if you desired. I don’t think many coaches have that quality to say, ‘It's your choice.’ Selfishly, coaches want you to stay. So, for her to say that she will help you no matter what, I believe that's significant and shows who she is as a person.”
Shea naturally decided to stay, having grown up with a mother who excelled in field hockey at Ridley High and Temple and became an All-American. Other coaches in different sports at Cabrini also displayed their character.
Cabrini men’s lacrosse coach Tommy DeLuca, an All-American who excelled on the title team and is the most decorated defender in the program's history, offered a slightly different perspective on continuing the athletics mission.
“I think on paper, it probably wasn’t the right decision for any of us to come back, including myself,” DeLuca stated. “You're returning to a place that's closing, right? Why wouldn’t you go to another school where you can play or coach for more than one year and you can all graduate from, or I can have a stable job and career? But it wasn’t about what was right. It was about what was right for us. It wasn’t logical. It was about what made sense to us. And we knew that we had to conclude this properly.”
With a blend of experienced and younger players, the Cavaliers secured another Atlantic East Conference championship this season. With DeLuca, the players have faith.
“I could have transferred elsewhere, but remaining here and playing with my friends is the best thing,” remarked sophomore middie Brett Gougler of Springfield. “The venue was packed last week for the conference championship. They came to see us for one last time. They all stormed the field, and it was truly amazing. We aim to finish strong and win the national championship. We've put in a lot of effort to reach this point. It would be an incredible story.”
The baseball team achieved a school record for conference victories with a 14-4 league season despite having fewer players than usual. That’s just one of the things the players will remember.
“I would say that there’s been a lot of ups and downs this year,” pitcher Hunter Kraiza, a Haverford High graduate, stated. “There were definitely challenges we faced due to having fewer guys than usual. We're used to having over 40 guys, and now we only have 20. It definitely takes a toll on your body. But I mean, it has really brought us all closer together. We've fought together. I spend a lot of time with these guys. The news was disheartening at first, but now it's exciting. We get to be the final team for Cabrini baseball.”
Nick Weisheipl, the sole coach in the eight-year history of the Cabrini baseball program and a lifelong devotee to the sport, says he’s never had a season like this one.
Weisheipl said that the players have taken responsibility for the team, which is a good sign. He didn't get mad about what happened because it wouldn't change anything. Instead, he changed how he viewed the situation and focused on enjoying the people who stayed and the new additions to the team.
Catcher Christian Strickland of Garnet Valley praised Weisheipl for being brave during the uncertain times, which helped him grow as a person.
Strickland said that Weisheipl took care of everything and helped everyone through the tough times. He sees the reduced team size as a motivation to work and play even harder.
There's been discussion about how Cabrini got into financial trouble leading to the decision to sell. The school's enrollment dropped, but the sports participation numbers remained solid. Two years ago, Cabrini's president resigned, and nine months later reports emerged about their financial difficulties.
John Dzik, the most successful coach in Cabrini's history, believes there are at least two significant unanswered questions.
Dzik expressed disappointment at the closure of Cabrini and felt that the alumni were not given the true story about the finances and a chance to save their school.
Concerns are raised about the fate of the athletic memorabilia and hope that Villanova will respect their history, but they also plan to take their belongings with them if needed.
It's a difficult time for the administrators, coaches, students, and athletes as they prepare to bid farewell.
Athletic director Kate Corcoran used to relax at the school's gym to escape the stress of the final year, but even that became difficult.
Corcoran expressed difficulty in revisiting the gym and acknowledging the dismantling of the successful place and the memories it provided to student athletes for decades.
