May 17, 2005

FAIRFIELD, CT - At the 13th Annual All sports and Senior Awards Banquet it had become quickly apparent to Coach Jamie P. Romeo that he was losing an integral part of his program in Susan Leventakos.

As Leventakos' name, called over-and-over for the following awards: Coach's Award, Graduating Senior, and as an inaugural member of the Scholar-Athlete Society (minimum 3.5 grade point average), Romeo could not help but think about the first time she walked into his office. "She had press clippings that must have dated back to her freshman year in high school, so as I'm thumbing through the album...I find out that she is a basketball and hockey player along with being a golfer. I was sold. She had a knack for team sports coupled with being an accomplished golfer, I just had to follow-up on my instincts."

When she left the office, Romeo hopped on the phone and called Coach Tom Rosati, who is the Director of Instruction for the Pioneers and a longtime Fairfield County native. "I'm saying, Coach, what do you think?" Romeo said. "Coach Rosati is telling me she is a must have, besides being very dependable and having solid game, she has strong leadership qualities."

Leventakos, who grew up three minutes from Sacred Heart's Fairfield, CT campus, went to Fairfield High School. She actually started her college career at SUNY Cortland in upstate New York, with thoughts of being an elementary school teacher. "I thought coming out of high school that I wanted to be away from home. I did consider SHU my senior year in high school, but Cortland was a better fit at that time."

In the Spring of 2004, after taking the Fall semester of 2003 off, Leventakos was back home, studying at Sacred Heart University as a Sociology Major taking courses and practicing with the golf team. "Sue had one year of eligibility remaining and with golf being a fall/spring sport and her graduating in May of 2005, we agreed that it would be best if she hold off on the Spring of 2004, and participate in the Fall of 2004 and Spring of 2005." Romeo said. "In the back of my mind, I knew that we had a young team and that we would rely on her to be our leader. I can't be more proud of her, she came in here and did a great job for the program both on and off the links."

Leventakos, the lone senior in the line-up for the Pioneers, provided leadership for the two freshmen and two sophomores that played alongside her. "I really enjoyed being part of the program, we are definitely moving in the right direction." Leventakos said. "I look forward to monitoring the progress."

Leventakos, who will graduate May 15, 2005, has plans of moving to Boston and taking some time to find the "right fit" for a job opportunity. "Sue is the consummate team player...whoever lands her on their team is very lucky...we know we were!" Romeo concluded.