Frank Faverzani with his sons Frank and Mark
Local Interest Highlighted NCAA Title Game
Ocean City was intimately connected to last night’s NCAA mens’ basketball championship game in Houston, won by Villanova 77-74 over North Carolina.
Both sides were represented for the game at Houston’s Reliant Stadium. The Carlin family, who reside at Gardens Plaza were solidly behind Villanova -- and for good reason. Dan and Adele Carlin’s daughter Candice Kolins is a 2007 ‘Nova grad, and former varsity athlete. The number one singles player on the Wildcats’ tennis team, Candice’s teammate was Leighann Reilly, the second singles player and daughter of Villanova head coach Jay Wright.
“We’re all really excited and we think Villanova can do it,” Candice said prior to the game. “At the beginning of the season I thought they had the potential, and they have an awesome coach in Jay Wright.”
The family’s other connection is that Dan and son-in-law Rob played in an Ocean City father-son tennis tournament against Jay Wright and his son. As a result, Dan and Adele and Candice and her husband Sean watched the game cheering for the Wildcats. But it could have been more complicated. “Sean got his MBA at Syracuse, so if they had won their (national semifinal game) it could have divided loyalties. But now that they are out, we’re all for Villanova.
Jay Wright, center, with the Carlin Family.
Jay Wright and his family spend their summers in Ocean City, Dan Carlin said. “Jay is a great guy and they are a really nice family.”
Lest anyone think Ocean City was all in for Villanova, one need look no further than Ocean City High School, where junior field hockey star Julia Herrington has already committed to play her college hockey at the University of North Carolina.
“I am wearing Carolina blue and taking a lot of kidding from my friends,” Julia said. “Villanova is a Philly team so most of our school is cheering for them. But UNC is an awesome school and I am proud that I am going to be going there and playing for them.”
Herrington attended a field hockey camp at Carolina last summer, and after the Red Raiders won the South Jersey Group III and Cape Atlantic Championships, she was invited for an unofficial recruiting visit.
“I loved it so much I decided to commit,” she said.
Now Julia can enjoy her senior season next year by concentrating on playing and not recruiting.
Ocean City was in the house at Houston, as well. Frank Faverzani, a Private Wealth Advisor, and his sons Frank and Mark attended Saturday’s semifinal contests as well as last night’s title clash. He also supplied OCNJDaily with the exclusive photos in this story.
Frank, a 1988 Villanova grad, was in Lexington Kentucky to witness the Wildcats’ last national championship, the famous win over Georgetown. He was shocked to see his alma mater put on a clinic and destroy Oklahoma by 44 points in this year’s national semi.
“It was something to behold,” he said. “It was pretty incredible. But I think tonight could be a battle of defense,” he said before the game.
Villanova vs. North Carolina just before the game that will go down in history.
