Hofstra's Faello, JMU's Kuster Chosen As 2021 Randolph Award Recipients
Rob Washburn
RICHMOND, Va. (July 20, 2021) – Hofstra University junior baseball player
Mark Faello and James Madison University associate athletic director
Tom Kuster have been selected as the winners of the 2021 John H. Randolph Inspiration Award by the Colonial Athletic Association.
The award recognizes individuals who through strength of character and human spirit serve as an inspiration to all to maximize their potential and ability for success. It is named after former William & Mary athletic director John Randolph, who lost a courageous battle with cancer in 1995.
Faello, a native of Plainview, N.Y., was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in June, 2019 following his freshman year at Hofstra. Further tests revealed that he had Stage 3 cancer that had spread from his neck to his stomach. Faello immediately began chemotherapy, but continued to lift weights and even competed in the Futures Collegiate League, where he posted a 6-0 record and had the lowest ERA in the league.
As treatments continued in the Fall, Faello lost a great deal of weight and dealt with serious stomach pains, headaches and nausea. Despite having a PICC line in his chest, he continued to attend baseball practice and never missed a class, but had to take time off from throwing. Support from his coaches and teammates helped him push through the mental and physical struggles when he had bad days. Even though he was far from 100 percent, Faello continued as a member of the Pride baseball team during the 2020 season and made four appearances out of the bullpen.
After more than a year of treatments, Faello was declared cancer-free. During the 2021 season, he made eight appearances, including four starts, and posted a 2-1 record with 29 strikeouts over 33.1 innings. A finance major at Hofstra, Faello will be back on the mound for his senior campaign in 2022.
Kuster has been a member of the JMU sports medicine staff since 1999, has been Director of Sports Medicine since 2006 and was promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Integrated Health and Sports Performance in 2016. He oversees all health-related units within JMU Athletics consisting of sports medicine, strength and conditioning, nutrition and sport psychology, as well as supervising the men’s and women’s tennis programs.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March, 2020, Kuster devoted countless hours into creating a plan that would enable JMU student-athletes, coaches and staff to return to activity in a safe manner. In the midst of that work, Kuster began dealing with his own health challenges and doctors discovered he had an advanced stage of colon cancer. He immediately began an aggressive schedule of treatments, but has continued to stay engaged with implementing JMU’s pandemic strategies.
While continuing his own fight against cancer, Kuster’s leadership and teaching has allowed the JMU sports medicine staff to rally behind him and carry the load in his absence. His energy and attitude has served as an inspiration to many as the work continues to successfully emerge from the pandemic.
PAST RANDOLPH AWARD RECIPIENTS
2020 Aashaka Desai Delaware
Yeedee Thaenrat Towson
2019 Kionna Jeter Towson
2018 Trai Sharp James Madison
2017 Kathryn Ostrom UNCW
2016 Nicole Dennion Elon
2015 Dr. Maravene Loeschke Towson
2014 Heather Hartman Delaware
2013 Nick Colleluori Hofstra
UNCW women’s soccer UNCW
2012 Shelia Moorman James Madison
2011 Steven Vincent Delaware
2010 Dawn Evans James Madison
2009 Meghan Bain James Madison
2008 T.J. Carter UNCW
2007 Nicole Hester Drexel
2006 Kevin DuPrey Delaware
2005 Julia Shapiro Delaware
2004 Beth Childs Drexel
Alan Lindsey James Madison
Brannon Thomas William & Mary
2003 Ricky Beecher Towson
2002 Paul Tuohey Drexel
2001 Mandy Welch Delaware
2000 Laura Kenney George Mason
Liz Paoli George Mason
1999 Maria-Elena Calle VCU
1998 Felicia Allen Old Dominion
1997 Scott Pearson American
1996 Barbara Blosser William & Mary
John Welbourn East Carolina