Students secure their fifth straight Viking Cup victory

By: Omsalama Ayoub

Business Manager

Students triumphed over staff with a 2-0 shut out at the Ninth Annual Fall Festival students versus faculty soccer game.

The event took place on October 10 in the Mcdonough Sports Complex.

“[Faculty versus students game] is a good opportunity to have a couple of laughs,” said Alfredo Balarin, assistant director of student life and educational opportunity program. “Sometimes [students are] laughing at us more than we are laughing at them but it is all in good fun.” 

“The highlight of the game I would say is me getting smacked in the face with the ball,” said Derrick Joseph, a dental hygiene major. “I will most certainly come back. The athletic director told me about the SALT program and he mentioned [that] this event is [similar to] community service and a good chance to get engaged with staff.” 

Student Senate President and business major, Zion Sherin, also survived a kick to the face, but said it was a good opportunity to steal a shot at the goal.

“Everyone should play, come out, pop out,” said Alex Mendel, a mechanical engineering major. 

Mendel played for the first time at the Fall Festival. He said he intends to return for the Spring Festival in 2020. 

According to William Reuter, vice president for Administration and Finance, the Fall Festival is what makes Hudson Valley Community College unique.

“I worked at Erie Community College for 18 and a half years and we never had an event such as [Fall Festival],” Reuter said.

Since starting at Hudson Valley Community College in June 2017, Reuter has played in every faculty versus students game. 

“It warms my heart being able to share this type of event with the entire campus community,” continued Reuter.

Matching the spirit of the festival, the game was a chance to kick back and relax, especially since the majority of players had little to no training in soccer.

“Everyone had their moment and got to do something,” said Brent O’Donovan, an individual studies major. “Almost everybody here [was not a skilled] soccer player.” 

The game offered a designated social zone where students could decompress and destress right before midterms. The zone was also used as a way to maintain the campus community’s chemistry.

Food and music were prepared for attendees and students had the opportunity to have a caricature of their likeness. The event was prepared for about 500 to 600 people. 

Roughly 400 students attended the festival while only 20 of their peers played.

According to Balarin, the festival cost roughly $10,000. $8,300 of the bill was due to the Mazzone Hospitality contract, updated every fiscal year.

“We have a lot of students who eat a lot,” Balarin said, explaining the amount of money spent on food. 

“Forget about the food,” said Public Safety Officer Carmine Frankel. “We pass by each other in school [everyday] and we do not even know [each other].” 

Frankel has worked at Hudson Valley Community College for 12 years and since the start of the tradition, has played in every single faculty versus students game.

According Officer Frankel, the Fall Festival is a good opportunity to see students for a purpose other than issuing tickets.