Former Student-Athlete Spotlights (Sept 2025)
Would you like to be featured in the next 'Block S' Club Alumni Spotlight? We'd love to share your story! Fill out the interest form HERE and we'll be in touch! We plan to highlight one men's student-athlete and one female student-athlete each quarter. Read our last alumni spotlights here.
Harold "Hal" McGrath, Jr. '53
Men's TennisWalking through the Lally Athletics Complex in August, Hal and his partner Marylyn were shocked and in awe at how much the Athletic Complex has changed since his time playing tennis at Syracuse. Of course, the change of Manley Fieldhouse (now known as Lally Athletics Complex) and the Skytop tennis courts that he used to play on were surprising, but possibly the most memorable discovery of Hal’s visit back to Syracuse was seeing his own photo displayed in a trophy case in the Hall of Fame. As Hal and Marylyn finished their tour of the newly renovated complex, he stopped in his tracks when he recognized a familiar face on the wall inside of the trophy case. “Wow I didn’t know they had this here,” said Hal. It was a game photo of Hal in his collegiate days.
With his long track record of success and accolades, Hal has every right to walk with a chip on his shoulder. Hal picked up his first tennis racket at 10 years old and won his first tournament that same year. He won the City Boys Singles at age 14 and the state title the following year. He was so good that he was even offered free membership to the Sedgwick Farms Tennis Club by the President of the Club, Harry Trout. Hal was so impressive that the Syracuse University Chancellor, William Pearson Tolley, offered to cover half of his tuition.
Hal wasn’t the traditional student-athlete that we see today. Hal was taking night classes at Syracuse and working at Merchants Bank during the day. Juggling work, school, and tennis, Hal still found a way to be ranked number 10 in the country as he won the Eastern Intercollegiate Singles Championship. He then went on to win three National Senior Gold crowns and even defeated a one-time Davis Cup championship pair.
One of his most unique tennis matches was against a man he saw handing out Jello cups to a bunch of excited kids running up to the stranger at the Y in Manlius. That Jello cup man turned out to be former actor and comedian, Bill Cosby. “If you make it big, don’t forget me and remember to bank with me!”, Hal said to Bill Cosby after a fun tennis match many years ago. “He made it big, but the bank deposit never came,” Hal said jokingly. When recalling the tennis match with Bill Cosby, Hal said very humbly “ehh, I played a pretty good game” – which was the same response he gave when asked about the 100+ titles he has won over his life. Hal describes himself as a “pretty good” tennis player. His partner Marylyn, a great support system for him, encourages him to stay humble.
It takes a lot of respect and maturity to experience so much athletic success and not turn into a cocky or arrogant person. Hal is an inspiration to many people, athletes and non-athletes. There’s a lot to be learned from Hal, from the way he remains level-headed and humble, to the way he handles wins and losses. “I try to win and lose the same. It’s something I got from my dad,” Hal said. It takes a lot of fortitude, mindfulness, and respect for the game to have that mindset especially being the top competitor that Hal was. Hal’s positive attitude and athletic success is what led him to become a very well-deserved member of the Nottingham High School Wall of Fame. Hal also earned the Letterwinner of Distinction Award, presented by the Syracuse Varsity Club (now known as the Block S Club), which is the most prestigious honor a former varsity student-athlete can receive. Some other notable winners include Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and Martha Mogish.
Hal, now retired, worked many years in the banking industry and even more years playing tennis. This year is Hal’s first time not playing tennis. He’s resting his body a bit more nowadays although he remains a member of the Cazenovia Club, his home court. His hobbies now include walking and watching matches at the Club. You may even catch him at Drumlins supporting the women’s tennis team.
Kalei Mahi '04
Women's SwimmingKalei’s journey is the kind of story that defines what it means to be a Syracuse student-athlete: courageous, resilient, and committed to lifting others while chasing her own excellence. If you saw Kalei as a young child or watched her fight through her debilitating back injury, you might not have imagined she’d turn into a record-setting swimmer. But after you hear her story of resilience and determination, you will understand why she is a two-time Abbie Bigelow Award winner for courage.
Kalei was a so-called “flight risk” growing up, having her parents dive in the water fully clothed to save her more times than they can count. Her parents put her into swimming lessons which helped her stay safe around the water and it even helped tremendously with her severe asthma she had growing up. What started as a safety lesson quickly turned into passion.
Kalei grew up playing other sports such as volleyball and water polo, but no other sport matched the level of focus, confidence, and energy she felt from swimming. She loved being in a sport where she was in full control of the outcome of the competition. Even though other sports didn’t capture her attention like swimming, Kalei still has a lot of respect for non-water sports, stating “it takes a special athlete to thrive on land, and I am not one of them.”
Although land and water sports have clear differences in competing styles, what remains the same is that each athlete must be mentally strong. The mental strength to overcome adversity like a sudden injury is often overlooked. If you’ve never had an injury that affected your performance, you may not fully understand the impact injuries can have on an athlete’s mental health.
Kalei suffered from a back injury in college that caused her to wake up at 5am some days just to give herself enough time to get out of bed without triggering a back spasm before practice. “I competed at meets where I couldn’t feel my legs after a race and sometimes would have a trainer waiting at the end of the pool with an ice bag and a portable tens machine ready to go,” said Kalei. She was offered a medical retirement, but she refused. She wanted to finish what she started. She wanted to finish strong, medal at the Big East, and compete all four years and she did just that.
Finish strong is an understatement, Kalei placed at the Big East Finals all four years and capped her collegiate career as a record holder in the 100 Breaststroke, a legacy she is deeply proud of, especially knowing the swimming program at Syracuse no longer exists. Her talent and excellence continued even out of the pool as Kalei carried those same qualities of grit and leadership into her professional life.
Kalei has built a 20+ year career in brand marketing, working alongside some of the most respected names in the world including Sony, American Express, AT&T, The Coca-Cola Company, YouTube, eBay, and Sephora. Whether leading influencer campaigns or shaping brand strategy, Kalei brought the same discipline and collaborative spirit that defined her years in the pool. Kalei now owns her own company called NextGen Legacy NIL, where she helps student-athletes and their families navigate the evolving Name, Image, and Likeness landscape. Every athlete she works with gets a personalized plan tailored to their goals, values, and comfort level. She helps athletes tell their story, advocate for themselves, and prepare for opportunities that extend beyond their playing careers. Her ethos is rooted in education, intention, and protection, ensuring that the next generation of athletes has both the tools to succeed and the guidance to do so responsibly.
Kalei’s journey shows us all what it looks like to not give up and keep pushing. She could have stopped back in college with her back injury, but she knew she had a bigger purpose. Kalei embodies the values of Syracuse athletics: courage, resilience, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to the athletic community.
Stay connected with Kalei here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaleimahi/
Archived Alumni Spotlights:
July 2025
