During the 2006 US Lacrosse Convention opening ceremonies, the Lacrosse Industry Council presented the inaugural James Leo Muhlfelder award to Tom Gravante. Named after the former President of deBeer Lacrosse and the first leader of the Lacrosse Industry Council, the award was created in Muhlfelders memory to recognize an individual whose work on and off the field has enhanced the lacrosse community as a whole.
“Transcending competition is something we hold in great esteem in both athletes and coaches, but competition in lacrosse doesnt end on the field,” said Jennifer Riitano, current Chair of the Lacrosse Industry Council, as she introduced the late Mulhfelders wife, Wendy, to present the award. “This award is given to a person in Lacrosse who demonstrates that intangible quality which Jim brought to the game, and left here with us.”
The first annual award was presented to Mount St. Marys Head Coach, Tom Gravante. An All-American attackman during his playing days at Hobart College whose lacrosse accomplishments include a long and distinguished list of awards and credentials, Gravante was nominated for and won the award because “he is like a machine, churning out inspiration for anyone playing for him, against him, or just watching the games.”
Gravante was not able to accept the award in person as he is currently being treated for non-hodgkins lymphoma. His courage in the face of that adversity is part of the admiration he inspires in his lacrosse colleagues. According to his nomination, he should be celebrated for “fighting for his life at such a young age while still devoting the major part of it to lacrosse and the kids.”
The James Leo Muhlfelder Award consists of a plaque to be awarded at the US Lacrosse Convention each year which will hang in the US Lacrosse Headquarters & Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.
