LOWELL, Mass. – Friends of the UMass Lowell track & field community banded together to honor the life of Toni Onikeku, donating over 50 cardboard cutouts of the former River Hawk student-athlete to be set up in the Tsongas Center stands for the 2020-21 season.
 
Onikeku was a member of the UMass Lowell track & field program from 2012-2015 before he lost his life in a tragic accident during the summer of 2015. He was a standout student-athlete, but more importantly, is remembered as a tremendous young man committed to excellence in education and citizenship.

"Toni was a model student-athlete at UMass Lowell," recalled head coach Gary Gardner. "He was heavily involved in SAAC and a true leader on the team. It's truly touching that his friends and teammates remember how selfless he was and are carrying on that tradition."
 
In preparation for the 2020-21 hockey season, the River Hawk Athletic Department offered its fans a unique opportunity to be at the Tsongas Center, even if they could not physically be at the game. As images for cutouts of die-hard fans, loved ones and friends poured in, an idea was sparked across the track & field community.
 
Friends and former teammates of Onikeku joined forces, raising over $4,000 to provide an entire section of Onikeku cutouts that will fill the Tsongas Center beginning with the River Hawks' home opener on Nov. 27 against Northeastern.