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Student Senate members voted last month to bring the athletic fee to $67, a historic $17 increase, for the next the academic year. “[The athletic department] kind of gave us set options which on one hand I appreciated, but on another hand I wanted to know ‘okay, how much money do you need?’,” said Student Senate treasurer Josiah Dillon. The Nov. 23 decision will increase the athletic fee 34 percent next fall if approved by the Faculty Student Association. FSA director Ann Carrozza advocated with the athletic department to raise the fee at the November meeting. “This is the first time we’re over coming forward and asking for something of this magnitude,” said Carrozza. With FSA approval, the decision will go into effect for
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the next two years bringing the fee to $67 for full-time students. The decision was opposed by five senators. “The tuition [bill] should be kept low and they could’ve sufficed with $12 or $15,” said freshman class president Emma Dillon, one of the senators who opposed the decision. “We’re trying to get back to the less where we’re not necessarily operating off [of] less every year,” said Kristan Pelletier, director of intercollegiate athletics. Pelletier and Justin Hoyt, assistant director of athletics, asked for the fee to raise to combat budget cuts due to downward enrollment. This year, the athletic department budget was reduced six percent. “It’s one thing have a nice new field, but if your team’s [equipment] is not on the same caliber, it looks funny to people coming to watch,” said Student Senate president Everett McNair.
December 8th, 2015
Athletic fee to be raised 34 percent next fall
Continued on page 2
Photo Illustration by Matt Whalen | THE HUDSONIAN
Tennis player serves a new purpose By: Tyler McNeil Managing Editor
Tattooed students reveal the meaning behind their ink By: Jenny Caulfield Junior Creative Editor
Jordyn Applebaum decided to keep swinging after years of grief pushed her away from the tennis court. “I like to say that I’m rewriting my story,” said Applebaum. Witnessing tragedies throughout her lifetime has inspired Applebaum to reach out to strangers coping with stress on campus. “I kind of wonder ‘what if these people are going through something and they need someone to talk to?’ I’ll be that person,” she said. Last semester after discovering assistant professor Keith Gunner’s wife was battling cancer, she became closer with the professor. “Once a week I’ll bring him homemade meals that he can cook for his wife because she can’t cook for herself,” said Applebaum. Heading back to the court Before her first practice in August, Applebaum feared that years away from tennis would prevent her from success on the team. “I thought I would just drop it like a class,” she said. Battling herself to stay on the team, she crossed off every practice she attended on her schedule. It wasn’t until she faced Herkimer County Community College, her first game on an official team in six years that she stopped crossing off practices on her schedule. After looking around at her teammates and mother on the sidelines at the game, Applebaum, who was behind early in the match, became inspired to win. “I’d just look at them and they gave me a look or a smile and it would just be good,” she said. Continued on page 9
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said Murphy. The tattoo on Murphy’s rib cage with the date “August 13th, Growing up in a mixed 2014” symbolizes her struggles household of approval and with depression and long-term disapproval, Katarina Fuchs, trauma. “Aug.13 is the day and human services student, decided final time I decided I would try to follow her instincts and to end my life, but I was given advocate for body modification. another chance,” she said. Murphy “I respect my parents, but I make got the quote tattooed to serve as my own choices too,” said Fuchs. her daily reminder of her past, Fuchs got which altered her her first tattoo perspective. shortly after Conor Clune, turning 18. The liberal arts student, tattoo is displayed has a tattoo reading on her back with “namaste” in the words “let it sanskrit on his be”, along with right bicep. Clune, a dandelion and a Buddhist, got birds. “‘Let it be’ the word on his means ‘don’t pick at body because its things if things are meaning is a large going okay, don’t part of following try to make them Jenny Caulfied | THE HUDSONIAN the religion. “It better because means, ‘I see the things could end up worse’,” she light in you, you see the light in said. Fuchs now has seven tattoos. me’,” he said. Fuchs is one of many students Students on campus without with positive views on their body art also feel that tattoos have tattoos. Adopted from China, Mia a more positive than negative Murphy, digital media student, effect. “I think it separates your has one tattoo her rib cage and thoughts and mind and displays one tattoo on the back of her it in a peaceful, artistic manner,” neck. “The one on the back of my said Peter Borgosz, mortuary neck is a compass arrow with the science student. Continued on page 7 coordinates of where I was born,”
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December 8th, 2015
NEWS
The Hudsonian Hudson Valley Community College 80 Vandenburgh Ave. Troy, NY 12180 Phone: 518-629-7568 Email: hudsonian@hvcc.edu
Student housing scheduled for 2017
Managing Editor Tyler McNeil Business Manager Patrick Gareau News Editor Durgin McCue Sports Editor John C. Longton III Photo Editor Marison Topinio Copy Editor Dae-Jin Yuk Junior Editors Jenny Caulfield Rebecca Jordan Staff Writers Sam Kobylar Staff Photographers Mikey Bryant Ranvijay Kaliraman Faculty Adviser Rachel Bornn Letters to the Editor
December
Two new bidders look to take on development
By: Tyler McNeil Managing Editor
Editor-in-Chief Matt Whalen
Calendar of Events
The future of student housing could be in the hands of one of two developers, Citizens Group or Hudson Valley Stargreen, next Tuesday. “We had some very good responses to this last [request-forproposal], and we’re evaluating that, and we feel very confident that by fall of 2017, we’re going to be able to provide student housing on that site [of the Hy Rosenblum Administration building],” said President Drew Matonak. The college is currently in the process of interviewing both developers for the 41-acre student housing property. Both developers requested to purchase the site three weeks ago when bids closed for the Hy Rosenblum Administration building property. “We’re prepared should the bid be
favorable,” said Dennis Kennedy, director of communications and marketing about the college selling the land. According to the request for proposal and based on the building’s current condition, both bidders would be allowed to either renovate or demolish the Hy Rosenblum Administration building for student housing. The document also stated that student housing must be completed by June 1, 2017. “I mean, I just think it’s a reasonable amount of time to move forward,” said Kennedy. Both bidders are located nearby the college in North Greenbush. Hudson Valley Stargreen is currently in the process of constructing 33,000 square feet of retail space and 48 townhouse units at the Route 4 corridor. Citizens Group, headquartered in the Rensselaer Technology Park, operates
student housing suites across the state, including at RPI and UAlbany. A request for proposal was first issued by the Hudson Valley Stargreen on Oct. 28 after the Rensselaer County Legislature approved the sale of student housing. SUNY approved the college’s sale of student housing on Nov. 5, the same day Hudson Valley hosted a pre-bid conference for companies interested in purchasing the site. On Sep. 22, after Omni Development struggled to finance the project, the Board of Trustees voted to sell the property in hopes of accelerating the process of student housing construction. In August, the opening date of housing was moved to 2017 due to financial difficulties in putting the over $20 million project together. No estimates are available on future student housing construction costs.
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Tyler McNeil | THE HUDSONIAN The Hy Rosenblum Administration building has been left vacant since 2007.
From Page 1
Athletic fee Last spring, the senate voted to contribute $85,000 of their class gift towards funding the athletic complex turf. The athletic complex is expected to come with a new track and field team. Expenses for a new track and field program will cost the athletic department an estimated $15,000 to $20,000. “We really want to hit the ground running with the track and field program,” said Hoyt. The athletic department also hopes to increase the fee in an effort to catch up with recruitment budget cuts over recent years. “If they put more money into recruiting, we could get better quality teams and we can rank nationally frequently and improve the quality of our athletics program,” said senior senator Chad Albright. Albright mentioned raising the athletic fee to $20 after senior senator Erika Pelletier motioned to have a $15 student activity
fee. His suggestion to add an amendment to her motion was denied by Erika. “That’s huge for students. It might not sound like much, but $20 is huge for students,” said Erika. She opposed the final vote to raise the fee to $17. Senior senator Chris Orzeszek suggested the $17 fee increase as a compromise between $15 and $20. “I think it’s very smart to invest in athletics and make our school more
reputable through that because academically we are pretty well off, but definitely being overall more reputable is a good idea,” said Orzeszek. Senior senator Kara VanGuilder voted against the $17 fee in favor of a higher one, believing the increase was not supportive enough towards the athletic department. “To increase [the fee] $20 isn’t that much when the average student blows money,” said VanGuilder.
Tyler McNeil | THE HUDSONIAN Director of Athletics Kristan Pelletier and Assistant Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt speak in front of the senate.
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December 8th, 2015
NEWS
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Wi-Fi concerns could be in the past with upgrades By: Rebecca Jordan Junior News Editor The quality of Wi-Fi on campus has been a source of complaints for students, but the ITS department says it is taking steps to address the concerns. “The Wi-Fi is so horrible. I go to class and even my professors are complaining about it; they complain about it more than I do. On my phone it’s not that bad, but in classes and the computer lab it’s really slow,” said Hannah Gonzales, liberal arts student. Students have come across problems such as slow internet and being forced to log into the HVCC-COMM network every time they move from one building to the next. Others complain of not having the capability to access Wi-Fi outside buildings. Sophia Schermerhorn, a nursing student, said, “I find it fairly annoying, especially since I’m paying for college and I would like the Wi-Fi to work.” The ITS department is in the process of doubling the bandwidth, or speed of Wi-Fi, across campus, increasing it from 2.4 to 5 gigahertz (GHz). Crews are also in the process of installing an additional hundred routers to add
to the over three hundred already in use. The new routers will be 5 GHz and will support newer devices, while older phones and laptops will still have access to the 2.4 GHz network. Students have also expressed a desire to see the Wi-Fi coverage extended outside of campus buildings. “The fact that there is no Wi-Fi outside doesn’t really promote going outside in the spring or early fall semesters,” said
James Napier, criminal investigation student. ITS has been laying out plans and collecting bids to build an outdoor Wi-Fi network. This will allow students seamless coverage in high-volume areas such as in front of the Siek Campus Center and Hudson and Higbee halls. “It all depends on the weather. Winter is coming, and there is underground work and the hanging of units on the outside
of buildings that needs to be done. We may be waiting until the spring on some of those construction items,” said interim chief information officer Sarah Garrand. The project’s tentative completion date is set for spring 2016. Sporadic internet and Wi-Fi outages have also been concerns for students throughout the semester. The Aug. 21 internet outage on was a due to an underground fire that broke out near
Photo Illustration by Tyler McNeil | THE HUDSONIAN
North Pearl Street in Albany. The campus lost internet a second time on Aug. 27 when a construction team dug up the college’s internet provider First Light’s major fiber network in Watervliet. “Unfortunately, both of those events, which were outside our means of controlling, happened within the first two weeks of classes,” said Garrand. In order to prevent future outages such as the ones that occurred within the first weeks of classes, Garrand said the ITS team plans to divide the path by which internet comes into campus. One line will come from the north and another from the south, each with the capability of supporting campus Wi-Fi on its own in the event that the other line is damaged. “I think some people confuse the internet outage as being a Wi-Fi outage when we had no internet connectivity in or outside the campus during both of those outages,” Garrand said. The loss of Wi-Fi in the Campus Center on Nov. 11, however, was an actual Wi-Fi outage that still baffles both the ITS department and First Light,. “They are unable to recreate the problem, so unfortunately I do not have an answer as to why that occurred,” Garrand said.
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Student volunteers reveal renovated bedroom to child By: Tyler McNeil Managing Editor Students gathered around a doorway to watch six-year-old Aiden enter his new bedroom, put together by the Student Senate community service committee at St. Catherine’s Center for Children, last month. “The kids already have a difficult time because they’re not at their regular home so doing things like this just makes them feel good so I like it a lot,” said Nate Kealon, assistant supervisor at St. Catherine’s Center for Children. “We want to encourage students to be able to take advantage of more of these types of leadership opportunities at the college and in the community,” said President Drew Matonak. “It was a lot of hard work so, seeing [Aiden’s] face made the work seem effortless,” said Erika Pelletier, head of the community service committee. The project was drawn out since the beginning of the semester with help
Matt Whalen | THE HUDSONIAN Erika Pelletier, chair of the community service committee, chose for a 6-year-old Aiden’s room to be Minionthemed so the room would be unisex for takers to come. from her brother, freshman senator Stephen Pelletier. “Even though we are here to learn, we’re also here to make the world a better place,” said Student Senate president Everett McNair. The Student Senate passed a budget of over $200 for the project’s paints in September. The remain-
ing funds came from a bake sale that raised $119 and a coin drop that raised $67. The room’s makeover took about ten hours, spread over two days. According to Erika, the bulk of students volunteering at the Copson House came on the project’s final date of completion, Nov.
22. “I like seeing little kids happy so I wanted to do something to help brighten their day,” said senior senator Audrey McKee. With limited space in the bedroom, volunteers worked closely together throughout the weekend project. “Especially in the senate, I got to know people
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more,” said senior senator Jacob Lamere. Along with the senate, additional support for the project came from the Pelletier family. “It’s our routine. It’s important for us to give back and that’s what we do,” said Stephanie Pelletier, mother of the senate siblings. “When you know the story behind it, it’s a different project,” said Stephen. He started working with the Copson House two years ago for an Eagle Scout project. After raising $1,300, Stephen was able to decorate a child’s room with sports memorabilia. Next semester, Stephen, who wishes to lead the community service committee in his sister’s absence, hopes for the Senate to continue working with the Copson House. “They really do appreciate as much as anyone can get them,” he said. “It’s a little bit of a challenge, but it’s a great thing to do,” said St. Catherine’s Center for Children executive director William Gettman.
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December 8th, 2015
NEWS
Physical Plant invests in energy efficient garbage cans By: Rebecca Jordan Junior News Editor Several solar powered garbage cans have been added to campus this year in an effort to increase energy efficiency. Produced by BigBelly, a global company that focuses exclusively on waste management, the garbage cans make trash collection easier in numerous ways. The trash cans assist with compacting. This makes it possible for the can to hold five times as much garbage as a regular bin of identical size and shape, meaning they do not need to be emptied as often. In addition to containing more trash, when a can is close to being full, it sends out an electronic signal to Hudson Valley maintenance computers identifying which can needs to be emptied. “From an efficiency
standpoint, they do take longer to fill, and it saves on manpower because my guys don’t have to stop as often,” said Richard Edwards, director of the Physical Plant. “It is a more efficient way for my guys to pick up trash because they know where they have to stop and where they don’t.” Along with being energy efficient, the cans also are e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y - f r i e n d l y. Perhaps the most obvious physical difference between typical garbage bins and the BigBelly containers would be the solar panels plastered on top of the cans. Currently, there are six BigBelly cans on campus, located outside the Marvin Library and Student Center. Edwards hopes to add more in the future: “We only have six, and some of that is driven by financial constraints; they’re four thousand dollars apiece. We’d love to get more, but right now it’s not in the budget.”
Ranvijay Kaliraman | THE HUDSONIAN Student uses one of six BigBelly trash cans on campus, earlier this semester.
Outstanding staff members recognized by Hudson Valley By: Durgin McCue News Editor Elizabeth Stamas-Genthner and David Wojcik were this year’s winners of the Meritorious Service Award. “Hudson Valley has a history or recognizing excellence and people who have invested their entire careers into the college,” said President Drew Matonak. “It’s something we should all be very proud of that.” For 35 years, Hudson Valley has recognized staff with meritorious service awards at an annual ceremony. StamasGenthner, a senior clerk, has been
working for the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center since 2011. Wojcik, hired five years ago, works as a printing machine operator in the print shop. Both were recognized for their commitment to their respective departments. “I don’t care if you are a custodian, or a teacher who has had students in their classroom for forty years. Everybody here makes a contribution in one way or another to the success of our students,” said Matonak. The recipients were selected by a ten-member committee based on nomination submissions. The nominators were also required to
submit letters of support. “It’s a very fair process. That is why I like to work on the committee,” said committee chairwoman Suzanne Brownrigg. “Every year it is a lot of work, but it is really rewarding. There are a lot of people on campus that don’t get recognized enough.” There were fewer nominations this year than in the past according to Brownrigg. Last year the committee received 17 applications but only received 3 this year. Brownrigg, who has been on the committee for more than a decade, said that the number of applications and awards given has always varied dramatically
from year to year. One year, the committee granted awards to all 12 who were nominated. The college also recognized over 70 staff members who have been employed by the college for more than five years. The two longest serving college employees to be recognized were professors Joseph Caruso, hired in 1975, and Timothy Dennis, hired in 1970. “Those individuals more than anybody else are responsible for how Hudson Valley has developed over the years,” said Matonak. Caruso started working at the college in the criminal justice department at the age of 22 and ended up staying for 40 years. “I never planned to stay here for
more than five years. I found that I loved teaching and I have no reason to leave,” said Caruso. Dennis was a student at Hudson Valley himself before he decided to pursue teaching in the civil, construction, industrial and mechanical technologies department. According to Dennis, many of his students who weren’t accepted to fouryear schools use Hudson Valley to prove themselves before transferring. “I enjoy teaching, I have enjoyed teaching since the the first day I worked here, I plan to keep on teaching until the day I don’t enjoy it,” he said.
Matt Whalen | THE HUDSONIAN Elizabeth Stamas-Genther and Dave Wojicik receive Meritorius Service Awards in the BTC with President Drew Matonak.
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Presidential Poll
December 8th, 2015
By: Durgin McCue News Editor
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Graphic by Tyler McNeil | THE HUDSONIAN
December 8th, 2015 From Page 1
Tatted students “I think if you get a tattoo just to get one, it’s stupid. It should have a significant meaning if you’re going to ink it on your body,” said Emily
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Rusiecki, liberal arts student. Rusiecki said that due to a tattoo’s permanence, that there should be a significant meaning to any tattoo. Seven right arm tattoos have costed business-marketing student
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Nick Downey over $1300. “I just started on my shoulder after I graduated high school,” he said. Alexander Rodriguez, individual studies student, has 19 tattoos that cover his arms, chest and neck. “They’re like art to me,” said Rodriguez.
Some students deal with disapproval after getting inked, especially Fuchs. Growing up, her father showed extreme disapproval of her getting tattoos from a young age. “My whole dad’s side of the family, some of them like it, but every time I go to my grandma’s if I show her my tattoos she’ll
say, ‘oh you used to be so perfect when you were born and it’s like ruining your body’,” she said. Fuchs has had a long-term struggle for the acceptance of her family because of her body modifications. “I’m not going to disrespect them, but it is offensive - if it makes me happy, it should make them happy,” said Fuchs.
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One of many tattoos on Nick Downey’s right arm.
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Mia Murphey’s ribcage piece in remembrance of her suicide attempt from last year.
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8 From Page 1
Jordan and Tennis Her connection with the team has grown off the court, over a month since the season ended. Applebaum has driven to campus just to meet up with former teammates. “They kind of looked up to me even though I was looking up to them,” said Applebaum. Time off Applebaum’s mother attended almost every one of the 22-year-old’s matches last season. She missed one home match due to heart complications. “She was literally the only parent there at almost every single match, home and away. It made me so happy,” she said. Over the last three years, Applebaum’s mother has been battling multiple myeloma, a rare terminal bone marrow cancer. “[My family] just put a halt on everything,” she said. From 2012 to 2014, Applebaum devoted less time at Hudson Valley and more time at home, taking care of her mother. At the age of three, her adopted father died of lung cancer. In sixth grade, her mother’s then-fiancé fell to
leukemia. “Now that it’s happening for a third time while I’m older, I really see what my Mom could’ve been going through when she was going through that with her husband,” she said. Attitude adjustment By tenth grade, after playing with the Shaker High School varsity tennis team for three years, Applebaum backed away from tennis to stand by her mother who was struggling with a brain tumor. She left tennis for the rest of high school and dealt with stress by showing hostility. ”People saw me a certain way and I just went with it,” she said. The summer before her senior year, Applebaum’s attitude changed when her mother let a co-worker, Tracy Laverty, stay in their Loudonville home after struggling with a breakup. During her stay, Applebaum spent most of her time with Laverty to cope with stress. “If I had the slightest bit of sadness on my face, she would do everything she can to take it off,” said Applebaum. One day, around 6 a.m., Laverty, woke her up to play tennis for the first time since tenth grade. “She didn’t know how to hit a tennis ball, but she was doing it for me,” she said.
December 8th, 2015 Shortly after moving out in 2013, Laverty died of an unintentional prescription drug overdose mixed with alcohol abuse. “I could cry any second from that, but I also smile a lot,” she recalled. After her death, Applebaum didn’t step on a tennis court until August this year. The next away match Next season, Applebaum hopes to play tennis with a different team, away from home. She considers her next challenge living away from her family. “To put myself out there and live in dorm with somebody would be a completely different experience for me,” said Applebaum. Beyond transferring outside the region, Applebaum hopes to use her biology concentration to work with nutrition science to help others struggling with disease. Her decision to pursue biology was inspired by her mother which changed her eating habits after being diagnosed with cancer. “I see how much good eating helps. When you get diagnosed with something, you have to think ‘I have to change my entire eating habits’ and that’s not easy for anyone,” she said.
Courtesy of hvcc.edu Jordan Applebaum swings against Herkimer earlier in the season on Sep. 24.
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December 8th, 2015
SPORTS
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Josh Rasmussen Named an All-American By: John C. Longton III Sports Editor Sophomore goalie Josh Rasmussen was named a 2nd team All-American on December 3rd and turned out to be a bright spot on a team that had a dark finish. Rasmussen finished the season with an 8-3-1 record and led a team that was time ranked 7th in the nation. He was also 9th in the nation in goals against per game with 0.96. He has an .831 saving percentage. During the season Rasmussen recorded three
shutouts, which is 19th in the nation. He gives most of the credit of his play to his defense. “Luke (Fane) and Jordan (Ganance) did really well in the back,” said Josh. “I could not have gotten second team (all-american)and first team all-region without them.” Rasmussen is a Troy native and was a transfer this year from Keuka college in the finger lakes region. He is an individual studies major and hopes to be an athletic trainer after attending his next school. He also would like to play soccer at his next school and has a few on his list. Among the list are
Sage, Plattsburgh, Ithaca, Endicott and he says, “Cortland would be my number one.” Being named a 2nd team all-american should increase his chances. He’s spoken to several coaches and choosing his next school will be a balancing act of choosing an institution that has a good soccer program and the right courses that can facilitate his career aspirations. “I would love to keep going with soccer for as long as I can,” said Rasmussen. “If I can’t go any further I would like to ban an athletic trainer for a professional team. Or I want to be a goalie trainer for a college team or a
professional team.” Rasmussen has played soccer for as long as he can remember and really focused on his game around eighth grade. “Up until about eighth or ninth grade I started taking it serious,” said Rasmussen. Around this time he realized that he could play at the college level. “I trained my ass off and I was working really hard to improve myself.” During the off-season Rasmussen trained with English Premier goaltender Rene Gilmartic. Josh went to a three day camp where Gilmartic hosted soccer players from all
over. “He pulled me aside and he complimented me and he asked me how tall I was going to get because goalies my height usually don’t really go that far,” said Rasmussen. Rasmussen is 5’10” and for a goalie that is considered undersized, but his work ethic has enabled him to overcome his genetic disadvantage. Josh Rasmussen puts in the work and is getting noticed on a national level for his results. Even though the team couldn’t finish the season on their terms, players on the team are still getting accolades for their achievements.
Marison Topinio | THE HUDSONIAN Goalie (yellow shirt) Josh Rasmussen warms up with the team and gets set to play in hopes of not
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December 8th, 2015
SPORTS
10 Vikings Sports Schedule Women’s Basketball Wednesday 12/09/15 vs. Onondaga @ 5p.m. (Away)
Men’s Basketball
Wednesday 12/09/15 vs. Onondaga @ 7p.m. (Away)
Men’s Ice Hockey Wednesday 12/09/15 vs. Mohawk Valley @ 7:30p.m. (Away)
Women’s Basketball Sunday 12/13/15 vs. TC3 @ 1p.m. (Away)
Men’s Basketball
Men’s Basketball hopes to keep season together By: Sam Kobylar Staff Writer The Vikings have hit off to a similar start throughout their first 10 games this season after starting 8-1 last season. The team won 7 of their first 10 games, giving themselves a 7-3 overall record to start this season. They won each of their first 4 games by scoring at least 80 points in each of those games. They also scored 108 points or more in 2 of those first 4 games. After their 4-0 start, the Vikings dropped their fifth game of the season to a Herkimer team which is ranked #5 in the country. After the loss, the Vikings got back to their winning ways by winning 3 games in a row and scoring at least 82 points in each of those three wins. During that 3 game winning
streak, 2 of their games were before Thanksgiving break. Their third win during that streak came in their first game after the break. The team did not let the long break affect their game. In their first game after the time off, the Vikings won their third game in a row by defeating Dutchess Community College at home, 82-72 to improve their overall record to 7-1 on the season. The Vikings had many different key contributors in this game as freshman, John Palmer, Kleon Davis, and Jordan Nelson each had 14 points for the Throughout the first 10 games of the season, Men’s Basketball Coach, Mike Long likes how he has had major contributions from many different players. “We have had some contributions from a number of different guys in different games. We have had more than a few guys that have
played very well.” said Coach Long. However, after defeating Dutchess Community College to get their third win in a row, the Viking’s streak got snapped last Saturday. Finger Lakes Community College handed Hudson Valley their second loss of the season by defeating the Vikings at home (73-68). Finger Lakes Community College led by 7 points late in the second half which helped ice the game for Finger Lakes late in the game and made a key difference in the outcome. Even though the Vikings led parts of the game, they let the lead get away late in the game. Finger Lakes outscored Hudson Valley, 14-8 in the final seven minutes of the game. The Vikings were only trailing by one point with 7:30 left in the game. After losing to Finger Lakes
Community College on Saturday, things didn’t get much better for the Vikings. On Sunday, the team lost their second home game in a row to Corning Community College in another very tightly contested game (68-66) as this game came down to the final minutes. This was the lowest the team scored all season. ings had some other players step up in this game as freshman Diamond Corker and Kevin Lenehan each had 11 points. “It is going to show how tough these guys can be, if they have any resilience,” said head coach Mike Long. The Vikings will look to snap their two game losing streak and get back on the right track on Wednesday night away at Onondaga Community College.
Sunday 12/13/15 vs. TC3 @ 3p.m. (Away)
Vikings Scoreboard Men’s Ice Hockey
WIN
Dec. 5 HVCC v. Vermont Club 1-0 Diamond Corker goes up for a shot against the Dutchess defense in a 82-72 victory.
LOSS
Dec. 6 HVCC v. RPI Club 2-4
Women’s Basketball Dec. 6 HVCC v.
LOSS Finger Lakes 44-65 LOSS
Dec. 6 HVCC v. Corning 36-62
Men’s Basketball Dec. 5 HVCC v. LOSS Finger Lakes 68-73
LOSS
Dec. 6 HVCC v. Corning 66-68 Erico Feaster fights through the defense to make every basket count.
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John Palmer scores 14 points against Dutchess to lead the team to a victory.
December 8th, 2015
SPORTS
11
Hockey season turns a corner By: John C. Longton III Sports Editor The hockey team won two out of the three games they played this past weekend and improved their record to 4-6. The action kicked off last Friday when the Vikings played host to the Siena club team. They won the game 4-2, but the story of the game was freshman Sean Spohr from Westfield, Massachusetts. In the contest, Spohr recorded a hat trick. His performance in the game led the Vikings to a much needed win and showed coach Matt Alvey that his young team was starting to play together. “Not only do I think that we’re gelling together I think that we’re starting to understand how to play the game of hockey as
a team,” said Alvey. The team has 22 newcomers and haven’t had a lot of time on the ice together. Now they are starting to buy into Alvey’s system and are looking to turn the corner. On Saturday, they hosted a Vermont club team that gave the Vikings a fight until the last horn. Hudson Valley won the contest 1-0, scoring early in the first period. The goal was scored by Troy native Joel Braun. Braun and Andrew Feder from South Windsor had a two on one near Vermont’s goal when Feder passed the puck to Braun, who netted the goal. It was Braun’s first goal of the season and it seemed as if it would be one of multiple in the game.“We had great energy right from the start,” said Braun. “Coming in from last night we have a lot of energy and we look real good.”
After scoring his first collegiate goal, Braun said after the game, “It felt great. It was a big one right there.” There were two reasons why the Vikings were able to fend off the Cats. The first reason was because Hudson Valley’s offense was in control and seemed to be pushing the puck into the Vermont zone at will. The Vikings had 42 shots on goal versus the 23 they surrendered to their counterpart. The other reason was the performance of their goalie, Nate Muller, from Highgate, Vermont. Muller didn’t allow a single goal and recorded 23 saves. “We definitely played a good game today,” said Muller. “We played well and the team’s feeling it.” It was the Viking’s second win in as many nights against two worthy opponents. On Sunday, the team traveled to the
Fieldhouse at RPI to face their club team. The results weren’t as favorable. The Vikings lost 4-2 and seemed as if 3 games were too much. In the game, freshman Peter Borosz from Depew and sophomore Brandon Doherty from Hopewell Junction both scored. It was Borosz’s first goal of the year and Doherty’s second. Even though the team dropped their Sunday game against RPI, it seems like they’re maturing and really coming together as a team. Taking 2 out of 3 games in as many days is a big step for a young team that is trying to get back on track with a successful season. Their next game is this Wednesday at Mohawk Valley. The last time the two teams met, the Vikings won 4-2. This young team looks to prove themselves in their second to last season in existence.
Women’s basketball falls on the short end By: Sam Kobylar Staff Writer It has been a slow start for the women’s basketball team so far throughout their 2015-16 season as they have dropped eight out of their first nine games to open up their season. Before winning their first game on Thursday against Dutchess Community College, the Vikings started their season 0-6 and three of their first six losses came by 27 points or more. However, the Vikings finally got their first victory of the season last Thursday against Dutchess Community College by defeating them, 53-38. The Vikings had a huge second half in the game as the Vikings trailed Dutchess, 27-22 at halftime. Hudson Valley went on to outscore Dutchess, 3111 in the second half to get a big comeback win at home against Dutchess. Freshman guard, Chelsea Stevens had a big game of the
bench by putting up 15 points off the bench which included five three pointers. Freshman forward, Hope Rebeor also had 15 points in the game to help give the Vikings their first win of the season. But after defeating Dutchess on Thursday night, the Vikings suffered another tough loss on Saturday afternoon as the Vikings lost at home to Finger Lakes Community College, 65-44 to drop their record to 1-7 after the first eight games of the season. Like Thursday night’s game, this was a closely fought game until one team ran away with the game late. This time it was not the Vikings as the they went into the 4th quarter only down 44-38. Finger Lakes went on to outscore Hudson Valley 21-6 in the second half to help secure a 65-44 victory over the Vikings. Forwards, Erica Shudt and Hope Rebeor each led the Vikings in scoring in the game as they each had 15 points. Then, after losing to Dutchess
on Saturday afternoon, the Vikings suffered another tough loss on Sunday afternoon as they lost their second home game in two days as the Vikings lost to Corning Community College, 62-36. Some key contributors for the Vikings in this game came from forwards, Di’Asia Smith, Hope Rebeor, and Deirdre Werner. Smith had 13 points for the Vikings while Rebeor and Werner each had nine points for the Vikings. For the second straight game, the Vikings were very close in the first half as they led Corning 24-19 at halftime. However, Corning came out in the second half and blew away the Vikings as Corning outscored Hudson Valley, 43-12 to sink Hudson Valley’s overall record to 1-8 on the season. Even though the team has gotten off to a rough 1-8 start, women’s basketball coach, Rich Gilooly isn’t too concerned. Gilooly said, “I think if you look at the record it is a little misleading. I don’t look at it as we are in
this deep hole and we got to turn around this whole season, we had a few minutes in a couple of games where some things haven’t gone our way. If you look at our games and really break them down, we are pretty competitive for a large chunk. We are doing very good in some stretches and it has not reflected on our record right now but that is why I don’t really worry about the record.” The Vikings have certainly had some chances to win some more games. So far throughout the first nine games of the season three of their eight losses came by seven points or less and have been very competitive. The Vikings certainly seem like they are getting better as the season is moving along as they had nine players active on Saturday’s game against Finger Lakes while there was a point earlier in the season where the team only had six players active for some games. “You find us building the way
we have been building and getting contributions from people who are not used to being accounted on to make major contributions and you start to see them moving in the right direction which is why our games have been competitive for long stretches.” said Coach Gilooly on the development of the team. One positive thing that the Vikings have been able to take out of their tough 1-8 start is that the teammate chemistry has looked really good, even though it hasn’t translated to wins. “They are a great group of young women, they work very hard. They want to do the right things to win and be successful.” said Coach Gilooly on his players. The Vikings will look to start a winning streak on Wednesday night as they go on the road to take on Onondaga Community College at 5pm.
Matt Whalen | THE HUDSONIAN Hope Rebeor number 13, goes up for a tough shot against the Corning defense scoring 9 points in a loss over the weekend.
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