Sports

This is a news release from Genesee Community College.

The Genesee Community College Board of Trustees this week approved a revamped Fitness and Recreation Management degree program proposed by Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Eunice M. Bellinger and Director of Health and Physical Education Rebecca L. Dziekan.

The program adds an academic track for students wishing to pursue a career in personal training, as well as a track for students interested in golf management. Both fields are rapidly growing throughout Western New York.

The redesigned program will now be submitted to the State University of New York, and then to the New York State Education Department, for review and approval.

Students completing the program receive the Associate in Applied Science degree, and possess the academic credentials necessary to immediately find employment. As part of their academic requirements, students complete a semester-long co-op or internship in a work setting.

Graduates in the personal training track can work as coach assistants or athletic assistants, or as personal trainers. Personal trainers, often employed by health and fitness centers, health organizations, and recreational agencies, help people of all ages learn fitness skills, including weight loss, cardiovascular strength, and general conditioning. A growing number of physicians and health professionals recommend the use of personal trainers to individuals who face illness or health challenges, as well as to healthy individuals seeking to meet new fitness goals.

Graduates in the golf management track can work as staff members or managers of golf clubs, golf instructors, or contractors to golf clubs and other recreational facilities. Golf is a rapidly growing sport, and golf facilities and golf-related programs continue to expand across the region. The growing popularity of golf among senior adults, an increasing portion of the area's population, means that employment opportunities in the field will continue to grow over the next decade.

Students in the personal training track will complete courses in health sciences for coaching, personal training, and emergency response. Students in the golf management track will complete courses in teaching methodology, golf course management and planning, turf and pest management, and equipment design. Students in both concentrations will also complete a variety of general education courses, including mathematics, accounting, computer information systems, business, and liberal arts electives.

"Our Fitness and Recreation Management program is strong, but breaking the program into two academic concentrations will be good for students and good for our communities," Dziekan told trustees. "Jobs in both the personal training and golf management fields are on the increase, and this is a great time for students to enter these professions.

"But just as important, these programs will prepare students to become part of what we call the 'fitness infrastructure' of Western New York. Our graduates will help area residents become healthier and improve their overall fitness and lifestyles."

In its new strategic plan, the State University of New York identified "a healthier New York" as one of six key goals for the 64-campus SUNY system. Bellinger said that the new academic concentrations support SUNY's emphasis on improving the health of citizens.

In addition to the Fitness and Recreation Management degree program, Genesee offers a Sport Management degree program (Associate in Science), which focuses on the management of athletic and recreational organizations and business enterprises. The college also offers a Physical Education Studies degree program (Associate in Science), geared toward students interested in coaching or teaching careers. Both the Sport Management and Physical Education Studies programs are ideal for students wishing to transfer to baccalaureate colleges.

The Batavia Muckdogs and the New York-Penn League announced Thursday that the league’s philanthropic arm, the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, will once again sponsor a scholarship program.

It allows area high school seniors the opportunity to compete for one of three $2,500 grand-prize awards.

The 2011 NYPL Scholarship Program is open to any graduating senior from a public or private high school, who has been accepted at any two or four-year college or university, vocational or technical education institution or program.

Applicants will be judged based on academic performance, volunteer and extracurricular activities, and the impact the Muckdogs and Minor League Baseball have had on their lives.

The Scholarship Program will consist of two stages – a local round and a divisional round.

In the local stage, applicants from throughout the Muckdogs’ home market will compete against each other to determine one winner who will represent Batavia in the final round.

At the divisional stage, the Muckdogs’ representative will compete against the winners from the Auburn Doubledays, Jamestown Jammers, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, State College Spikes and Williamsport Crosscutters for the Pinckney Division’s $2,500 award.

Any finalist who does not win the top scholarship will receive a $250 book award.

In total, the New York-Penn League Scholarship Program will award $10,250 in scholarships this summer to deserving high school graduates from the NYPL’s 14 markets.

Scholarship applications are available by contacting the Batavia Muckdogs at (585) 343-5454 or by visiting the official Web site of the New York-Penn League, http://www.newyork-pennleague.com

The deadline to submit applications is June 30 and finalists will be selected in late July and honored at an August home game.

Here's a press release from Batavia Downs:

Congratulations goes out to Heidi Rosario of Buffalo who won Friday night's (May13) Western OTB/NHHC handicapping contest qualifier, in the clubhouse at Batavia Downs Casino.

Rosario bested leader Hyland Clark in the final contest race.

She’ll represent Western OTB in the $50,000 National Harness Handicapping Championship to be held at the Meadowland Racetrack on July 9th. Best of Luck to Heidi and many thanks to everyone that participated.

Later this year Western OTB and Batavia Downs Casino will host a qualifier for the 2012 Horse Players World Series. Details will be announced soon. Check out www.westernotb.com <http://www.westernotb.com>  for more information.

Earlier this year, Corey Brown and a few of his college friends found themselves on a wild goose chase when looking for adult sports leagues to join in their spare time.

"We were searching around for leagues and eventually got sick of it," he said. "We wondered, 'Why can't you ever find sports leagues unless you hear about it from a friend of a friend of a friend?'"

Instead of throwing in the towel, Brown and his buddies got to work to solve the problem. They did some more digging and eventually created the Web site, LeagueHound.com.

"Basically, we're doing the work for other adults like us who want to find sports leagues in their area," he explained. Brown enlisted the help of his friends, Eric Bartz, Tyler Kossow and Candice Lymburner for the project.

Now, LeagueHound is growing every day. Although he isn't living in Batavia anymore, Brown (who is working on his Master's degree at Niagara University) still has a soft spot for his hometown.

"Sports can mean a lot to someone from a small town and that's probably why this was so important to me," he said.

He admits that he knew nothing about creating Internet sites when he began, but by mid-February, he had learned the basics and began putting things together. When asked when the Web site would be finished, Brown laughed.

"It will never be finished. New sports leagues can always be added, and we're not trying to put something together for just Western New York or just New York state. Actually, at first we wanted to make a nation-wide Web site, but we figured New York would be a good start."

Brown and his colleagues started with Buffalo and Rochester and have begun to branch out towards Syracuse in their search for sports leagues.

"We'll work towards the big cities and then try to fill in the gaps in between," he said.

Researching isn't easy, as the college students have found. Brown said it takes weeks to get even a small city covered.

"You have to look in every community center and every bar... there are actually a lot of leagues out there, they are just hard to find. It's the most difficult thing to deal with but we want to be the ones to do it so our clientele doesn't have to."

LeagueHound.com is up and running - ready for more sports leagues looking for players to send along their information and more potential players to look for some adult sports to enjoy.

GCC's Mark DeCook tees off at hole 11 at the MCC Invitational

On Sunday May 8th, in the last scheduled tournament before Regionals, GCC’s second year golf team accomplished several firsts. They won their first golf tournament, they had their first medalist, and they were the first team to beat MCC this season in a big upset, snapping a long winning streak.
 
MCC went into their own tournament at their home course - the Webster GC in Webster NY - as the heavy favorite, as they usually are. They were on a season long win streak, and they had not lost a tournament since they lost at nationals three years ago.
 
GCC had late tee times in the 11 team event, and their players were paired against Monroe CC and Onondaga CC, both the teams that beat them for first and second place on Saturday at the GCC Invitational.
 
GCC’s realistic goal for the day was to beat Onondaga for second place and to get in a good mind set for Regionals. It turned out that their sites were set too low.
 
It was a beautify sunny day, and it looked promising early on as Mark DeCook and Matt Ferdinand each had good front nines to lead both of their groups handily. Kyle Harman and Corey Kocent were involved in closer matches in their respective groups. Corey and Kyle finished strong however, with Kocent making par at the last hole in semi darkness to shoot a 75 and was medalist for the event.
 
GCC shot 311 as a team, with Kocent’s 75, Harman’s 77, Ferdinand’s 78, and DeCook’s 81. Alex Muench and Adam Bishop also participated for GCC. MCC shot 316 to take second place, and Mohawk Valley CC shot 328 for third.
 
On Saturday, May 7th, GCC hosted their GCC Invitational at the Batavia Country Club on another great day for golf.
 
Even though it is GCC’s home course, the Batavia Country Clubs greens seemed to bewilder GCC’s players. Tee to green they played well, but their putting as a group just wasn't good enough.
 
GCC gave it a good shot but they finished 3rd behind Monroe CC (305) and Onondaga CC (315) with a score of 320. Mark DeCook finished tied for fourth individually with a 77, Matt Ferdinand shot a 79, Kyle Harman carded an 81, and Corey Kocent shot an 83. Adam Bishop and Alex Muench also participated.
 
MCC’s Tim McCall was Men’s medalist with a score of 72.
 
The Hudson Valley CC Women’s Golf team won the Women’s division, and Stephanie Rahn from Mohawk Valley CC was the Women’s medalist with a score of 101
 
GCC’s golf team qualified for Regionals for the second straight year, which will be held Monday May 16th and Tuesday May 17th at the Cortland Country Club in Cortland, NY. They depart next Sunday for a practice round, with hopes of finishing first or second in the tournament which would qualify them for Nationals in June.
 

Todd Haight has been appointed general manager of Live Racing at Batavia Downs by the Board of Directors of Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation that owns the Genesee County racetrack and casino.

Haight began his new duties this week and he replaces Michael D. Kane, who was recently appointed president and CEO of WROTB

In his previous position as promotion marketing specialist at The Downs, Haight served as track handicapper and television host. He also created and implemented racing promotions. He has been with the organization since 2002.

“I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity and the confidence shown in me by Chairman Richard Bianchi, the board of directors and Mike Kane,” Haight said. “I look forward to working with the racing staff and horsemen and continuing many of the great traditions for which Batavia Downs is known.”

Kane said: “Todd’s knowledge and experience in the horseracing industry and at Batavia Downs should serve him well in his new position.”

In addition to being America’s Oldest Lighted Harness Track, the facility at 8315 Park Road in Batavia is home to more than 600 of the most popular slots and the Grandstands Bar & Grille.

Batavia Downs’ 65th harness season begins July 25.

GCC’s Corey Kocent Fires a 76 At The Tompkins Cortland CC Invitational

GCC Golf competed in two tournaments over the weekend: at the Tompkins Cortland CC Invitational on Sunday at the Elm Tree GC in Cortland NY, and on Friday at the Corning CC Invitational at the Corning CC, Corning NY.

At the Tompkins Cortland CC event on Sunday, GCC shot 311 for their lowest total as a team for the year.  Corey Kocent, former BHS standout golfer led the Cougars with a 76, his best score of the season, as was Mark DeCook’s 77.  Matt Ferdinand and Kyle Harman each shot 79 to round out the scoring, Adam Bishop and Alex Muench also played.

On Friday at the Corning CC Invitational, the cougars finished 3^rdwith a score of 320 to Monroe CC’s 298 and Onondaga CC’s 317.  It appears as though it’s going to be a tight race for Nationals between GCC and Onondaga, with each team trading 2^ndplace back and forth as this season has progressed. It looks like MCC should take 1^stplace, then it’s a battle for the other spot for Nationals.  Only 2 teams get there from each region, with the exception that Jamestown CC gets an automatic berth because they host the NJCAA Nationals at the Chautauqua GC, June 5^ththrough 10^th.

Matt Ferdinand started out rough with a triple bogey on the first hole at the Corning CC event, but he rebounded well to post a 76.  Corey Kocent shot a 79, Kyle Harman shot an 81, and Alex Muench contributed an 84 to complete the scoring.  Mark DeCook and Adam Bishop also participated.

This weekend on May 7^th, GCC hosts its home GCC Invitational Tournament at the Batavia Country Club.  A twelve team field is anticipated with Men’s teams from Broome CC, Cayuga CC, Corning CC, Hudson Valley CC, Jamestown CC, Jefferson CC, Monroe CC, Mohawk Valley, Niagara CC, Onondaga CC, and Tompkins Cortland CC.

There will also be Women competing from Cayuga CC, Hudson Valley CC, Mohawk Valley CC, and Onondaga CC.

The public is invited to come out and support the GCC Golf team and to see some excellent NJCAA Golf. Tee Times start at 10 am, the GCC players will be teeing off with later tee times in the threesomes field.

GCC plays its last match before Regionals on Sunday in the MCC Invitational at the Webster GC, Webster NY.

Shayne Herold, of  Le Roy, NY, is a member of the men's baseball team at Ashland University. He is majoring in Sports Management.

He is the son of Tom and Kelly Herold of LeRoy.

The Ashland Eagles are coming off a strong 2010 season in which they finished with a 35-22 record and made it into the Midwest Regionals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The baseball Eagles are members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

For more information, including individual and team statistics, the game schedule and roster, go to: http://www.ashland.edu/athletics/M-Baseball/.

The team is coached by John Schaly.

Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) is a mid-sized, private institution that values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.