Staten Island Advance Article

Staten Island, NY - The Wagner Seahawks' men's and women's basketball teams will officially kick off the 2011-2012 season with a two-hour practice that will be open to the public tonight at the Spiro Sports Center. "Madness Before Midnight" will begin at 6:00 pm and run until approximately 8:00 pm. Door to the event open at 5:00 pm as there will be a DJ playing music throughout the event.

Included in the night's festivities will be the official introduction of the teams, a dunk contest, a three-point shootout, intrasquad scrimmages and t-shirt giveaways.

The highlight of the night will be the dunk contest, which will be judged by School President Dr. Richard Guarasci, Wagner professor and former women's basketball student-athlete Pat Tooker, Seahawk 1,000 point scorer and member of the 2003 NEC Championship squad Dedrick Dye and former NBA player Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins. During his 14-year NBA career Dawkins played in three NBA Finals and broke two backboards while cementing his reputation as one of the best dunkers of all-time. Click HERE for a highlights from Dawkins' career.

The dunk contest participants are Josh Thompson (Jr., Richland, NJ / St. Augustine Prep), Naofall Folahan (So., Cotonou, Republic of Benin / Wilbraham and Monson Academy), Kenneth Ortiz (So., Newark, NJ / Science Park) and Mario Moody (Fr., East Orange, NJ / East Orange Campus).

The three-point shootout will consist of four two-person teams, featuring one men's and one women's student-athlete. 
Team One:
Stephanie Blaas (Fr., Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada/ / Montmorency) / Danny Mundweiler (Jr., Overland Park, KS / Olathe East)
Team Two:
Kelly Clark (Sr., Neptune, NJ / St. Rose) / Latif Rivers (So., Elizabeth, NJ / Avon Old Farms)
Team Three:
Laura Amorosa (So., Kirkland, Quebec / Phillips Academy (MA)) / Tyler Murray (Sr., Toronto, Ontario / Eastern Commerce)
Team Four:
Marie-Laurence Archambault (Jr., Montreal, Quebec / Montmorency) / Chris Martin (Sr., Sicklerville, NJ / Apex Academies)

The master of ceremonies will be WFAN 660 radio personality and Staten Island native John Jastremski, who recently won the WFAN Fantasy Phenom contest.

Admission is free to all. Dinner will be served prior to the event for students starting at 5:00 pm in the Spiro Sports Center. For all other fans wishing to eat the cost is $10.