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Concordia (N.Y.)
Saint Michael's
Men's Basketball
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April 30, 2009
Men's Basketball's Mike Iola '09 Named Jerry Lanteri Award Winner
COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College men's basketball coach Tom O'Shea has announced that senior Mike Iola (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) is the recipient of the 2009 Jerry Lanteri Award, honoring an exemplary member of the Purple Knights' men's basketball squad annually.
To receive the award, chosen by a committee of former players and the men's basketball coaching staff, candidates must attain an esteemed academic stature, closely resemble the ideal of the true student-athlete, and be highly regarded by fellow students for his leadership qualities, both on and off the court.
"Mike represented the Saint Michael's College men's basketball program, and the College as a whole, with dignity and class the past four years," said O'Shea, who completed his 12th season as head coach of the Purple Knights last season. "He is a strong student, and made positive contributions to our program all four seasons, on and off the court."
Iola was a member of the Saint Michael's men's basketball program the last four seasons, and served as the squad's captain in 2008-09. He played in 105 contests for the Purple Knights, including 50 starts (at least 11 starts in all four seasons), and scored 523 career points (5.0 points per game) and grabbed 243 career rebounds (2.3 rebounds per contest). His best season statistically came as a junior, when Iola averaged 8.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He also helped guide the Purple Knights to a 16-13 season as a sophomore in 2006-07, and scored a career-high 21 points near his hometown in a game at Merrimack College on Jan. 16, 2008.
Iola is the son of Stephen and Ginger Iola. He is expected to graduate on May 14 with a degree in business administration.
The award is named after Jerry Lanteri, a 1976 honors graduate of Saint Michael's and former member of the Purple Knights' men's basketball team. Lanteri, a native of Southington, Conn., and standout student-athlete at Saint Paul's High School in Bristol, Conn., died on July 23, 1977 from injuries resulting from a car accident.
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