Herkimer County Community College placed second in the 2009-2010 National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Cup competition. HCCC has placed in the top five of the competition since its inception in 2004.NATYCAA is the national organization of all two-year athletic administrators from the United States.
The NATYCAA Cup competition recognizes excellence in two-year college athletics. Rankings are formulated by awarding National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) institutions with points based on competition at NJCAA Championship events.
HCCC Director of Athletics Donald Dutcher accepted the award at the NATYCAA national convention in Anaheim, CA. "We are very proud of this ranking. It's a testament to a long history of hard work on the part of the entire athletic department staff and student athletes, together with the support of our faculty and the College administration. It is a total team effort," said Dutcher.
Pictured from left is Carl Heinrich, President of NATYCAA; Scott Boras, certificated MLB sports agent and guest speaker; Donald Dutcher, HCCC Athletic Director; and Mary Ellen Leicht, NJCAA Executive Director.
Herkimer teams that earned points toward the 2010 ranking included men's soccer, men's basketball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's bowling, baseball, women's cross country and women's track and field.
Gloucester Community College (Sewell, NJ) placed first in the rankings, and Mohawk Valley Community College (Utica, NY) placed third.
Herkimer County Community College placed second in the 2009-2010 National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Cup competition. HCCC has placed in the top five of the competition since its inception in 2004. HCCC Director of Athletics Donald Dutcher accepted the award at the NATYCAA national convention in Anaheim, CA.
Several Herkimer County Community College student-athletes were recently named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Distinguished Academic All-Americans and Academic All-Americans. To be nominated as a Distinguished Academic All-American, athletes must have completed 45 semesters hours and maintain a minimum of 3.8 GPA.
The 2010 honorees are:
George Hajjar (Utica, NY/Whitesboro), Baseball
Jack Pilkinton (Bourne End, England/Wye Valley School), Men's Soccer
Lindsay Roth (Frankfort, NY/Ilion), Women's Tennis
Brittany Varin (Ellenburg Depot, NY/North Adirondack Central School), Women's Soccer
To be nominated as an Academic All-American, athletes must have completed 45 semesters hours and maintain a minimum of 3.6 GPA.
The 2010 honorees are:
Erin Bentley (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville), Women's Soccer
Joseph Bono (Frankfort, NY/Frankfort-Schuyler), Men's Soccer
Sarah Dorosz (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), Women's Lacrosse
Melissa Tundo (Watertown, NY/General Brown), Women's Lacrosse
Director of Athletics Donald Dutcher said, "I am very pleased to have these student-athletes honored for their academic and athletic accomplishments. These individuals represent the true meaning of student-athlete and are superb role models for young people."
Herkimer County Community College's Athletic Summer Camps include Speed and Agility Camp (ages 7 to 17-years-old) and Girls Softball Camp (ages 7 to 17-year-olds) offered July 12-15. Speed and Agility Camp meets from 9am-3pm and includes a swimming component. The fee is $75 per camper or $100 per family.
The camp will improve muscle power, motor skills and reaction time. The camp director is Kyle Roepnack, HCCC's Director of Athletic Training.
Girls Softball Camp, under PJ Anadio, HCCC's head women's softball coach, will meet from 9am-noon for 7-12 year-olds. Girls ages 13 to 17 will meet from 1-4 pm. The fee is $75.
The camp will include individual instruction, teamwork and game time situations to improve camper's overall softball performance.
To register, contact the Athletic Department at (315) 866-0300, ext. 8255.
Herkimer County Community College recently recognized several student-athletes at the College's annual athletic awards banquet.Akeem Ellis (Brooklyn, NY) was honored as HCCC's Male Athlete of the Year. Ellis, a two-year starter for the men's basketball team, racked up numerous accolades. He is a Business: Sports and Recreation Management major.
Amber Swanston (Burke, NY) was honored as HCCC's Female Athlete of the Year for being a leader on both the women's soccer and softball teams. Swanston is a Liberal Arts and Science: Physical Education major.
George Hajjar (Utica, NY) was honored as HCCC's Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. A member of the 2010 Region III championship baseball team, Hajjar graduated in May with a degree in criminal justice.
Baseball coach Jason Rathbun said, "I am proud of George for enrolling in the honors program at HCCC. Maintaining a high GPA while in that program is a great accomplishment. I have no doubt that he will be successful at his next academic institution, as well as in the workforce once he completes his bachelor's degree." Hajjar plans to attend Felician College in the fall where he will play baseball.
Melissa Tundo (Watertown, NY) was recognized for being selected for the SUNY Chancellor's Scholar Athlete Award and HCCC's Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. The SUNY Chancellor's Scholar Athlete Award is the highest award given to a student-athlete in the State University. The award recognizes a combination of outstanding academic excellence and superior athletic achievement.
Student-athletes must be nominated by their athletic directors to be considered for this award; nominees are then reviewed by athletic directors from across the SUNY system. Women's lacrosse coach Dianna Ste-Marie said, "Melissa is truly one of the hardest working athletes I have had the privilege to coach.
She led the team this year by example both on the field and off by encouraging her teammates to always work hard to achieve their highest goals.
Her intelligence in the classroom is reflected in her play on the field. Melissa was our key defender that could always be depended on to keep the defense working together. I am so proud of all her accomplishments." Tundo graduated in May with an associate in arts degree in Art Studies.
