Students win Viking Cup

By: Maggie Helenek

Jr Copy Editor

Students won the Faculty vs. Students soccer game, 5-2, at Hudson Valley’s Annual Spring Fest. The event took place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 25 at the Outdoor Athletic Complex.

Jack Furlong, a liberal arts major, was a part of the student team in the soccer match.

“I thought that we got off to a commanding 2-0 lead and then it was 5-2 at halftime,” Furlong said. “Our defense held well.”

“[Spring Fest] has been a lot of fun, [and there are] tons of activities,” Furlong said. “I’m glad that I got involved with the Viking Cup challenge this year,” he said. “I’m in the Student Senate and I heard about the game and I signed up as soon as I could.”

Adam Sopris, Assistant Director of Athletics and Sports Information Director, helped organize the match with Alfredo Balarin, the Assistant Director of Student Life. They were both members of the staff team.

“It was a good game and I think students enjoyed themselves,” Balarin said. “I think [the] staff had a good time as well,” he continued. “It’s great weather and a good day to have faculty and students interact and get ready for the end of the year.”

Caricature paintings, free food, T-shirts and music added to the success of the game for the students and contributed to the engagement, according to Sporis.

“I was warming up and getting ready for the game, [but] I know that they had a lot of students participate in the caricatures,” Balarin stated. “It’s always a lot of fun.”

In previous years, students and faculty have competed in softball, kickball and dodgeball.

“The previous president we had liked baseball so that’s why we did softball,” Sopris said. “Dr. Ramsammy’s a big soccer fan so we switched it up to a soccer match,” he said. “Compared to last year and the year before, I think more students were involved with playing the game and [watching] in the stands.”

Mikayla Holden, a student within the paramedic program, enjoyed the Spring Festival.

“It’s my first year attending [Hudson Valley Community College] so this is my first Spring Fest,” she said. “I filled out a survey and got a free shirt,” Holden continued. “The best part is probably the food.”

Holden has taken advantage of the caricatures at previous Hudson Valley Community College events.

“We have caricatures at every event we do,” Sopris said. “They seem to be a big hit, so we keep bringing them back.”

Richard Vanalstyne, a student in the Overhead Electric Line Worker program, also attended Spring Fest for the first time.

“I just enjoyed some free food and got to watch the game,” Vanalstyne stated.

“These events are nice because you get students, faculty and staff to interact outside the classroom and office environment which doesn’t always occur,” Balarin said. “It’s good for people to have fun together and get to know that we are all not that different.”

“I would for sure attend Spring Fest again,” Furlong said.