Generals place fourth in NATYCAA Cup standings
HERKIMER, NY –The Herkimer Generals athletic program placed fourth overall nationally among two-year non-scholarship athletic programs in the National Alliance of Two-Year Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Cup rankings for 2015-2016. Herkimer also finished 13th in the standings for the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup recognizing the top overall two-year colleges in all divisions combined. Both programs recognize excellence in two-year colleges, based on athletic success in championship competition.
Herkimer finished first in the previous two years and in the top five of the NATYCAA Cup since its inception 12 years ago. With 117 points, the Generals came 35 points short of their 2014-2015 total.
Helping the Generals to this national recognition in 2015-2016 were 11 appearances in national championship competition including 21 Region III individual and team championships. Herkimer’s top 10 team performances came from softball (2nd), women’s soccer (4th), men’s soccer (7th), women’s bowling (7th), men’s and women’s swimming & diving (9th), men’s and women’s track & field (11th), men’s bowling (13th) and women’s cross country (14th).
Region III team championships were won by men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s track & field and softball, while individual regional championships came from Nicholas Herrlett (Rotterdam, NY) in one meter and three meter diving, Christopher Simmons (Utica, NY) in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and triple jump; Matt Manda (Scotia, NY) in the 800-meter run, Tyrique Rideau (Westchester, NY) in the javelin throw; Shannon Shirley (Bronx, NY) in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash; Katicia Sakona (Corning, NY) in the long jump and triple jump; Gabrielle Bridgewater (Fort Plain, NY) in the 400-meter hurdles; Katrina Murray (Rochester, NY) in the discus throw; Jhamel Cohen (Brooklyn, NY), Adrian Young (Newburgh, NY), Demetrius Moore (Cleveland, OH), Rideau, Manda and Simmons in the 4x100-meter relay and 4x800-meter relay; and LuAisha Charles (Middletown, NY), Bridgewater, Murray and Shirley in the 4x100-meter relay.
Mountain Valley Conference team championships were earned by men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s basketball, baseball and softball.
“I am extremely proud of our student-athletes and coaches for another outstanding year in the classroom, community and on the playing fields,” said Athletic Director Donald Dutcher. “Our department strives to live by those three principles each and every day, and it’s why we have such a rich tradition.”
The NATYCAA is the professional organization of two year college athletic administrators dedicated to the continuing growth and development of two-year college athletics and the individuals involved through an exchange of information, monitoring of legislation, promotion of academic excellence, increasing communication between organizations and encouraging a high degree of integrity in all endeavors.
Herkimer College’s athletic program has 53 national, 111 regional and 153 conference championships. For more information about the Generals, visit www.herkimergenerals.com.
-Giorgio Varlaro