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The fifth annual Raise Your Game Athletics Fundraising Challenge was another 
record-setter for Rider’s Department of Athletics. The 2014-15 challenge generated the most donors compared to any of the previous challenges. Since the first year of the challenge, Rider Athletics has increased its number of athletic alumni donors by almost 400%.

The Rider men’s soccer team finished first for the second consecutive year and will receive a $6,000 first-place prize.  

"It’s a great feeling to win back-to-back Raise Your Game Challenges and I want to thank the alumni for their tremendous support and enthusiasm,” said head coach Charlie Inverso. “They are a first class group of guys. Our former players come to games, meet the current players and help find jobs for our graduates." 

Inverso gave a special thank you to the alumni committee, Kevin Doran ’78, Nick Stephan ’78, Larry Povia ’77, Mike Stasiulaitis ’94, Kevin Nerwinski ’88, Jim Harvey ’96, Eric Elgin ’13 and Corey Diamond ’11, and acknowledged the team's participation as well. "We would not receive such great support if our players weren’t moving the program in the right direction,” he said. 

The men’s soccer team held off both the wrestling team and the field hockey teams to finish at the top of the standings. The wrestling team will be awarded a $4,000 second place prize, and for its third place finish, the field hockey team will be awarded a $2,000 third place prize. The women’s soccer team had the largest improvement in former athlete participation, and will be awarded a $1,000 Most Improved team prize.

“I want to congratulate the men’s soccer team for another terrific fundraising year and the other winning teams in the fifth-annual Raise Your Game Challenge,” Director of Athletics Don Harnum said. “We appreciate the generosity and commitment of our Rider athletic alumni to the challenge, and recognize how important they are to the success of all our teams and the Athletic Department. Their participation and engagement makes a big difference for our student-athletes.”

Each program earns participation points in the Raise Your Game Challenge based on gifts by former athletes of at least $25. The prize money will be used to help each program’s operating budget.  

To make a gift any time to one of Rider’s athletic programs, please go to . If you have any questions or need further information about the Raise Your Game Challenge, please contact Steve Rudenstein, associate director of major gifts for athletics, at 609-896-5291 or srudenstein@rider.edu.