Lehigh men’s lacrosse climbs for Sept. 11

One flight. Then another.

In the stillness of Goodman Stadium, the Lehigh men’s lacrosse team climbed the concrete steps lining the bleachers. 

One flight. Then another. 

Up and down the stadium stairs, they continued until each player had climbed 2,071 steps — matching the steps firefighters climbed in the World Trade Center. 

At 5:30 a.m., while most of the campus was still asleep, the men’s lacrosse team didn’t bring their sticks or helmets to practice. They came to climb — a tribute to the firefighters who selflessly sacrificed their lives responding to the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. 

The players participated in the College Athletics 9/11 Stair Climb Fundraiser, raising money for the Michael J Cawley Memorial Fund and honoring the first responders who lost their lives that day, including 343 FDNY firefighters, 37 Port Authority police officers and 23 NYPD officers on the tragic day of Sept. 11. 

According to the Michael J. Cawley Memorial Foundation website, Michael covered a shift for a firefighter the night before and wasn’t on duty the morning of Sept. 11. When he heard about the attacks, however, he climbed aboard Rescue 4 and headed to Manhattan to help with rescue efforts. 

Cawley, 32, was one of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives that day. His memory has since become part of a tradition carried on by college lacrosse players nationwide. 

College lacrosse programs across the country participate in the stair climb, an event that brings teams together in remembrance of the courage and service shown in the face of tragedy. 

The stair climb was originally started by a University of Michigan lacrosse player named Kevin Kearns and was brought to Lehigh by Brian Mullen, ‘27, a friend of the player who started the tradition. 

Mullen said the team participated in the fundraiser last year, but this year the team decided to start a fundraiser to contribute money to the organization. 

The team has already raised about $5,500, and the organization as a whole has raised about $240,000. 

“It’s to bring joy to the families who’ve lost people,” Mullen said. “I know the people who’ve lost people, they’ll see us running on social media, and we’ll put together videos and pictures, and they’ll send them out. It brings joy to them to see that people are still remembering the ones they’ve lost.” 

He said participating in this fundraiser hits close to home for the team, as several players have parents who are firefighters, and know of firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11. 

Christopher Constantine, ‘28, said the stair climb was especially meaningful for him because his father served as a New York City firefighter for 25 years before retiring from Rescue 3. His father also worked in emergency medical services on the day of the attacks.  

He said the firefighter community has a strong sense of unity, particularly in the way people come together in the wake of tragedy.

“It puts into consideration how grateful I am to wake up every day because so many people lost their lives that day,” Constantine said. “It’s definitely just something to be grateful for every day, because that was definitely tragic.” 

Clayt Gengras, ‘27, said the stair climb allows the team to bond while supporting a meaningful cause. 

“I think it’s good to do anything hard together, it just makes you closer,” Gengras said. 

Gengras said the team sent the donation link to friends and family, and even the woman who cuts his and several of his teammates’ hair donated $100 to support the team and the organization. 

Constantine said continuing traditions like the stair climb is important for keeping the memory of those lost on Sept. 11 alive. 

For the players, the climb was about more than reaching 2,071 steps. It was about remembering why they climbed them. 

To support the team’s fundraiser, donate here.