Drexel Athletics in the Running for 2021 John Wanamaker Athletic Award

The men's lacrosse team upon defeating Hofstra and winning the CAA Championship in May 2021. The team then appearing in the NCAA tournament as one of five teams from Drexel who appeared in their respective tournaments last winter and spring seasons.

Just as Dragons celebrated the amazing athletic feats of our not one, not two, but five sports teams that made it to their NCAA tournaments last winter and spring seasons, so too did those choosing the nominees of this year’s John Wanamaker Athletic Award who recognized Drexel University Athletics along with 10 other local athletic luminaries and organizations.

Now in its 50^th year, the Wanamaker Award is annually presented to “the athlete, team or organization which has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport in which they excel,” according to the award’s website. After the award was paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Drexel Athletics finds itself this year in the running alongside the likes of Philadelphia 76ers Power Forward Joel Embiid, Philadelphia Phillies Outfielder Bryce Harper, and Philadelphia Eagles Defensive End Brandon Graham.

The award’s presenters — PHL Sports, The Wanamaker Building, The Philadelphia Inquirer and CBS3 — recognized Athletics specifically for those NCAA appearances by men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse and wrestling. And as Dragons well-know, these appearances came on the heels of challenges, protocols, postponements and cancellations caused by the pandemic which “high-risk” indoor Drexel sports teams confronted with grace and excelled through.

"We had a phenomenal year with an unprecedented number of NCAA Championship appearances," Director of Athletics Maisha Kelly said. "The discipline and dedication our student-athletes showed during the pandemic paid off on the field and showed the true colors of our department. It's an honor for our teams to be nominated for such a prestigious award alongside Philadelphia icons Dawn Staley, Bryce Harper, Brandon Graham and so many others. We are all very proud to represent our city and hope to build on last year’s success going forward."

And the time is not over for Dragons to continue celebrating these achievements. Voting is open now for you to cast your ballot for Drexel Athletics to receive the Wanamaker Award. Show your support before voting ends on Oct. 4.