Athletics department implements changes during the summer
Skylar Blankenship
Sports Editor
Even during the summer break, the wheels of Hudson Valley Community College stay in motion, and this includes the athletic department.
Days after the Spring 2017 semester ended, Cheyanne Mandigo, outfielder on the women’s softball team, earned All-Conference honors. Mandigo is a freshman engineering science major.
Mandigo ended the season with a .375 batting average, achieving 21 hits and 18 runs.
A few weeks later, the men’s baseball team finished second in the NJCAA Region 3 Tournament. The team finished the season with a 26-15 record. Three members of the team, outfielder Alex Koshgarian, first baseman/pitcher Nicolas Teitter, and pitcher Nicholas Zuba, were each recipients of All-Tournament Team honors.
Also taking place this summer, the assistant director of athletics and women’s tennis head coach positions both became vacant. Since then, both positions have been filled.
Adam Sopris was named the new assistant director of athletics by Justin Hoyt, Hudson Valley’s current director of athletics. He will also hold the position of sports information director.
Regarding Sopris, Hoyt states, “Adam brings a tremendous amount of experience to the athletic department and his skill set will be a valuable asset for our programs and student-athletes. More importantly, Adam is a person of high character that will assist our student-athletes in achieving both academic and athletic excellence.”
Sopris’ relevant work experience includes his position at the NCAA Division III Little East Conference (LEC) in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where he was the assistant commissioner and the primary communications representative for its 19 sponsored collegiate sports.
Sopris holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from Siena College, as well as a masters in sports management from the University of San Francisco.
Sopris is enthusiastic about his new position, saying, “I am very excited for the opportunity to return home to the Capital Region, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the Viking family. I am ready to help the department achieve its future goals and continue to grow the programs in a positive direction.”
Denise Potenza also rejoined the Viking family as the women’s head tennis coach after taking a year-long break.
Some of Potenza’s accomplishments include her induction into the Watervliet Hall of Fame, leading HVCC’s singles tennis to the National Championships and earning the Paul F. Bishop Coach of the Year on two occasions.
Along with these additions to the department and coaching staff, the Viking’s website also received an update.
Additionally, other Hudson Valley athletes began partaking in practices and scrimmages, including the women’s volleyball, men’s soccer and men’s football teams. Meetings were also held for the women’s soccer and men’s baseball teams.
Ending the summer on a high note, the Hudson Valley men’s football team received a visit from Darryl Talley, former Buffalo Bills linebacker.
If this summer’s events are any indication, Hudson Valley has a bright and exciting semester of athletics ahead.