Antwyne DeLonde is a notable alum and businessman who found a way to give back to his alma mater and continues to pour into Norfolk State University and its athletic department.
DeLonde has made a significant contribution to Norfolk State and the athletic department with a state-of-the-art Sports Performance Simulator, which will be unveiled to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, May 2 at 4:00 p.m. inside the James D. Gill Health and Physical Education Building.
“My wife (Mary Verrecchia) and I wanted to find a way to make a positive impact,” DeLonde said. “We didn’t want it just for Norfolk State, but for the surrounding communities. We wanted to provide the resource to Norfolk State with the sports performance simulator and assist those in the community.
“Not only did we want to build a golf program from it, but the sports performance center could be utilized for baseball and other sports. I want to thank AD (Melody) Webb for her ability to see long-term with this project.”
DeLonde, who runs the Peak Wealth Management Group at Merrill Lynch and is a financial advisor and portfolio manager for the group, works heavily in the sports and entertainment industry, as well as for ultra-high network business owners, c-level executives, and institutions.
The idea of the sports performance simulator was created nearly 20 years ago when DeLonde was a student at Norfolk State.
When DeLonde returned from serving in the war in Iraq with the United States Army, he began his path to being successful. Like many, students look for opportunities to grow and develop. He could have chosen to play football or take up baseball or basketball. He viewed those as aggression related sports compared to golf, where aggression hurts your game.
Instead, DeLonde chose a different path which would help serve his PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder).
“When I returned from Iraq in 2004, I had a conversation with (Norfolk State University former Chief of Police) Anthony Walker, who is an avid golfer, and we were just talking about the benefits of the game,” DeLonde said. “With me coming back from the war, it was explained to me that golf was a sanctuary highlighted by being out in nature and out on the (golf) course. I felt the positive impact the game of golf could have on me in the long-term, but from a mental health standpoint, it really helped me out.”
DeLonde said it wasn’t just the talks with Walker that sealed the idea of playing golf. He credited Walker, who became a mentor during his time at NSU.
“There is a level of peace when on the golf course,” DeLonde said. “I needed an outlet, something to help with my PTSD. Chief Walker was instrumental in my growth, not just as a golfer, but as an individual during my time at Norfolk State.”
When the idea was presented to build the sports performance simulator, DeLonde said there were no challenges, and everything was very well received.
“There were absolutely no roadblocks,” he said. “If we had any roadblock or challenge, it was that we started to have these conversations during COVID. So, it made for a bit of a challenge since I live in Maryland and the company (Uneekor) was based in California. Just basically we were just trying to get everyone on the same page.”
With no challenges and everyone on the same page, the only thing missing was the perfect spot or location. However, DeLonde said there was a spot on campus in the James D. Gill Health and Physical Education Building that would fit exactly what they were looking for.
“We took the old racquetball center, which was a space that wasn’t being used by the students,” he said. “We outfitted it to be the sports performance center, which really helped. So, it wasn’t like we had to create space. We didn’t have to go through permits of some sort, which probably would have extended things and caused some delays.”
DeLonde said he and his family are excited to see the new addition on campus and looks forward to the grand opening on Tuesday, May 2.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for not just myself, but my family,” he said. “The naming of the Sports Performance Center highlights the important relationship and legacy of our familial connections. I am excited for my family, my wife, Mary, and my son, Antony, to share in this honor.”
The unveiling of the sports performance center will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 4 p.m. inside the James D. Gill Health and Physical Education Building.
Source/Image: Norfolk State Athletics
