BY SHANE DONALDSON ’99

During his time at URI, Pete Sherman ’97 was a standout for the men’s track and field team. He served as captain, was the 1997 Atlantic 10 champion in the hammer throw, and won the 1997 URI LeBoeuf Award, which is given to the school’s outstanding senior athlete. Sherman also was an NCAA provisional qualifier for the hammer throw his senior year. His career best throw was 199’6″.

Through his family’s company, Newport Propane, Sherman and his wife Jocelyn Sherman ’00 (formerly Jocelyn Tracey)—a former thrower herself for the women’s track and field team—donated a new indoor thrower’s cage to the men’s and women’s teams. The cage will allow the throwers to practice in Mackal Field House.

“I would like to thank Peter and Jocelyn for their incredibly generous gift that will benefit two programs, both of which played a huge part in their URI experience,” says Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn. “There are no bigger URI fans than the entire Sherman family, and we are grateful to have them as part of the URI athletics family.”

“This was a way to give back to a program that gave my wife and me so much back when we were competing,” said Pete. “The old cage, which we threw out of, was too confined. You didn’t have the space you needed to practice efficiently. The newer cage is bigger, better and much more safe for the student-athletes using it.”

Jocelyn was an Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient, and graduated with a major in dietetics. Today she works as a clinical nutrition manager for Sodexo at Butler Hospital. The Shermans are often seen with their daughters Ellen and Audrey at Rhody football and basketball games.

Pete attributes a lot of his success in life to Rhode Island head coach John Copeland, who taught life lessons that go way beyond the track. “His impact on my life is one that I don’t think I can put into words,” Pete said. “He’s just a real good guy who cares about his athletes.”