John Cerminara threw the shot put and discus for the Behrend men’s track & field team from 2010-13. He was a three-time Mason Dixon Champion in the discus and two-time Mason Dixon Champion in the shot put. His senior year, he was named the Mason Dixon Conference Field Athlete of the Year and broke three program records. Cerminara qualified for the ECAC Championships in six events and was named All-ECAC in the discus. He earned the team’s Most Improved Award and was ranked in the Top 50 in the nation two years in a row in the discus.

His freshman year marked the beginning of his reign as one of the program’s premier throwers. Cerminara earned All-Conference honors for finishing sixth at the Mason-Dixon Championship in the shot put. In his sophomore season was the breakthrough year where he won the conference championship in the shot put and discus.

Cerminara continued to elevate his performances, qualifying for the ECAC Championships in the shot put and successfully defending his discus crown. He added a third-place finish in the shot put and fifth place in the hammer throw at conference championships, while also earning All-ECAC honors in the discus. That season, Cerminara broke the school record in the event with a mark of 47.98 meters—a record that stood until 2017.

With his relentless drive, he set a new indoor school record in the shot put with a 14.52m toss and qualified for ECAC’s during his final indoor season. Outdoors, Cerminara was undefeated against Division III competitors in the discus throw through the conference championship. He earned a three-peat championship in the discus throw, and regained his title in the shot put. Cerminara also placed seventh to earn All-Conference in the hammer throw. At the ECAC Championships, he would place his highest in the discus throw (fourth overall) to earn All-ECAC honors once again.

Nationally, Cerminara ranked in the Top 50 in the discus in consecutive seasons, underscoring his place among the best in Division III. Over four years, he transformed himself from a promising freshman with marks of 12.77m in the shot put and 37.24m in the discus into a record-setting champion with personal bests of 14.68m and 47.98m, respectively.

Cerminara’s legacy is defined not only by the records and championships he achieved but also by the standard of excellence and work ethic he left behind. His name remains etched in Behrend Track & Field history as one of its greatest throwers.