Dual Wins Christen St. Joseph’s New Athletic Center

The St. Joseph’s College men’s and women’s basketball teams christened their brand new Hill Center athletic center with dual wins on Thursday night, December 18, bringing cheers and smiles to the face of every fan — nuns, students, faculty, parents and neighbors alike — who sat in the stands.

The scores were 69-66 for the men’s basketball team and 69-58 for the women’s team against rival sister school St. Joseph’s Long Island.

The dual wins capped off an already celebratory night for the St. Joseph’s community, which officially unveiled its state-of-the-art, 40,000-square-foot athletic facility during a grand opening ceremony that took place between the two games.

“I’ve waited 18 years to say these words. It’s not often you can see a dream become a reality [and many of you] probably thought this would never happen, but to see it actually come true is something special,” said St. Joseph’s College Athletic Director Frank Carbone, who noted that it was also the school’s 98th anniversary. “I hope this building is alive and kicking for our second centennial!”

Located at 212 Vanderbilt Avenue, the center is named after St. Joseph’s sixth president, Sister Elizabeth A. Hill, CSJ. The basketball court itself is named after Carbone and the full facility also includes a fitness center, gift shop and meeting rooms.

St. Joseph’s College President Dr. Jack P. Calareso and alum/Hill Center donor Steve Somers also spoke at the grand opening ceremony, with Calareso thanking the Sisters of St. Joseph’s for founding the college nearly a century ago.