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Interview With The Titans

DETROIT -- The Titans stared down one million and took the challenge head on as the men's lacrosse team announced that it not only beat their goal of one million push-ups, but added more than 15,000 to the total by doing 1,016,912 push-ups.

“The team came to me with this and I am proud that they all challenged each other and worked together to get this done,” said assistant strength & conditioning coach Nick Wilson. “They really took this challenge and rolled with it.”

The goal of the men's lacrosse team was to total one million push-ups as a team. It began when school started back in September and it was supposed to run all the way until the season opener, but Detroit actually accomplished its goal in Mid-January. 

The six-month challenge was not only a fundraiser for the team and the strength and conditioning department, but part of the proceeds will go to the HEADstrong Foundation.  The HEADstrong Foundation for blood cancer is committed to finding a cure for all blood cancers.  The foundation is dedicated to its founder, Nicholas Colleluori, a lacrosse player at Hofstra who lost a battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2006.

“It was a team building exercise and the kids just really took it to another level,” said head coach Matt Holtz. “It was a fundraiser, but it also helped raise some money for a great cause and getting all the players to really feed off one another and challenge and push each other was great.”

Every member of the Titans was part of the “One Million Push-Up Challenge.” The team had recorded their individual amounts completed before workouts, during practice and back in the dorms. Over Christmas break, there was no shortage of push-ups as the players had to make sure they stayed on course.

“We loved the challenge and we all worked hard in marking this happen,” said senior Jason McDonald.

Sophomore Troy Dennis (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) led the way with 59,652. He was one of the Titan leaders throughout the fundraiser, never wasting a moment to get down and get some done.  Sophomore Nick Garippa (Rochester Hills, MI/Notre Dame Prep) was in second place at 33,498, while senior Adam Nolan (Ann Arbor, MI/Pioneer) recorded 31,993.

The staff even got involved as coach Holtz had 3,420, while strength coach Wilson tallied 2,200.

The Titans raised over $2,000 and are still asking for support to this great cause. For more information on how to make a donation, click here or contact strength coach Wilson at wilsonne@udmercy.edu. All gifts and donations are 100% tax-deductible within the IRS guidelines.

For more information on the HEADstrong Foundation, click here.


Team 10 Totals
Troy Dennis – 59,652
Nick Garippa – 33,498
Adam Nolan – 31,993
Brandon Beauregard – 28,702
Nick Schesnuk – 27,847
Jordan Houtby – 27,227
Scott Harris – 23,682
Chris Shevins – 23,655
Drew Schupbach – 23,200
Andrew Khalil – 22,552