Far above Cayuga’s waters, there is a shrine to St. George.

Mario St. George Boiardi always seemed destined for greatness. He was a scion of the Chef Boyardee food business. He attended the Landon School in Maryland and earned a ridiculous 11 varsity letters in football, hockey and lacrosse. He gained entrance to Cornell and joined the lacrosse program; he was elected rookie of the year his freshman season; he helped the team reach the NCAA quarterfinals his sophomore year; as a senior, he was elected team captain. He was the fastest, most tireless member of the team. Off the field, he did tons of community service work; he loved to read to local school kids. And he planned, upon his graduation, to join Teach for America and work on an Indian reservation in South Dakota.

But all of this promise tragically ended on March 17, 2004. Playing in the fourth game of the season against Binghamton, George stepped in front of a shot to defend the goal. He was struck in the chest and fell to the turf. His heart had stopped. He received treatment immediately, but he could not be resuscitated. And just like that, just that suddenly, the heart of the Cornell lacrosse program was gone.

Or…was it? After discussions with George’s family and deliberations amongst themselves, the team elected to play on. They broke out new warm-up jerseys all numbered with George’s “21.” Soon 21’s were popping up in the stands in Ithaca, and everywhere Cornell played. George’s fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, set up the “21 Run,” a 5K which raises money for causes that George supported. At the 21 Club in New York a dinner was held to honor George; it’s now an annual event. And then came “Team 21,” a group of Cornell lax alums who play in fund-raisers in his honor. A foundation was set up to manage everything. And just like that, the heart of “21” was beating again.

And what a heart. In the ten years since George’s passing, the impact that “21” has had on the Cornell lacrosse program has been nothing short of epic. Cornell has gone 128-37, with 7 Ivy League championships, 8 NCAA tournament appearances, 3 Semi-Finals and 1 Final. This season, a scrappy young Cornell team that started the season ranked at #18 has climbed to #2, and is the only undefeated team in the nation. The team’s work ethic is embodied by their obsession with what they call “Boiardi Stats,” the winning of ground balls, the creation of turnovers, the extra hustle play. And every day, as each player enters the locker room, they pass by George’s “21” jersey, still hanging in his locker.

This Sunday afternoon at 1:21 in Ithaca, the Cornell team and community will don their 21’s and participate in the 10th annual 21 Run. Across the country, former players will link up with each other and run together. They will be joined on foot and in spirit by thousands of friends, family, and fans. They’ll all be running for a young man who was lost too soon, but who embodies scholarship, hard work, determination, and the joy of giving back to the world. They will be inspired, and he will be remembered.

Here’s to the heart of the program. Long live 21.