4th Annual STAR Awards and Recognition Ceremony
Last night Jefferson Athletics held their 4th Annual STAR, Student Team & Athlete Recognition Ceremony, in the Sturtz Theater at Jefferson Community College. We were joined by athletes, coaches, family members, friends and administration to celebrate and recognize the many accomplishments of our student athletes. Here are the award winners from last night:
2019 MSAC All Conference Recipients
- Katy Nortz and Mazzy Watson, Women's Soccer
- Piper Warren and Jasmine Harris, Women's Cross Country
- Alexa Runyon and Marjorie Vazquez, Volleyball
- Sierra Fleming, Alyson Crosby, and Chelsey Raven, Women's Basketball
- Andrew Estal, Golf
- Brendon Scordo and Zachary Widrick, Men's Lacrosse
- Derek Cuyler, Baseball
2018-2019 NJCAA All-Region
- Piper Warren, Crossy Country, 1st Team
- Alexa Runyon, Volleyball, 1st Team
- Marjorie Vazquez, Volleyball, 2nd Team
- Chelsey Raven, Women's Basketball 1st Team
- Alyson Crosby, Women's Basketball, 2nd Team
- Brendon Scordo, Men's Lacrosse, 3rd Team
- Bryley Frederick, Men's Lacrosse, 3rd Team
2018-2019 All-American
- Piper Warren, Women's Cross Country Honorable Mention
Play of the Year-Presented by Director of Athletics Jeffrey Wiley
Jerry Willis, Men's Basketball
Scoring with .06 on the clock versus Tompkins Cortland, Jerry rebounded the ball off a missed free throw and dribbled down the court with our season on the line and made a 30 foot jump shot to put us up by 1 point. If he does not make this shot, we do not go to the playoffs! Great individual effort and play to win the game.
Game/Meet/Match of the Year-Presented by Director of Athletics Jeffrey Wiley
Women's Basketball
Knocks off #3 Nationally Ranked Onondaga for MSAC Championship! Women's basketball found themselves back in the Mid State Athletic Conference Championship for the first time since 2015. They would face off against MSAC rival, and regular season champ Onondaga CC for the third time this season. Matching up with OCC on their home floor is no easy task, we jumped out to an early 14-5 first quarter lead behind two key 3 point field goals from Sierra Fleming and Katelyn Flanagan. Onondaga fought back in the second quarter, but the freshman duo of Ashlyn Eyles and Alyson Crosby led the offensive charge giving us a 28-20 halftime lead. The hardest task at hand when playing OCC at OCC is weathering the start to their third quarters year after year. This game was no different, OCC came out and slowly gained momentum and took a 38-36 lead into the fourth quarter. It didn't take long in the fourth quarter for us to get back to business behind a quick basket from Katelyn Flanagan, and another from Alyson Crosby. Offensively Eyles, Raven, Crosby, and Flanagan would control the fourth quarter and lead our women's basketball team to a hard fought 54-48 victory over the #3 nationally ranked Onondaga Lazers on their home floor. The MSAC Championship was the first since 2005!
Male and Female Frontier League/Cannoneer Scholar Award-Presented by Vice President of Academic Affairs, Tom Finch
The Frontier League makes up about 75% of our teams Rosters. Without the athletes in our local high schools we would have a hard time fielding teams.
The Frontier League and Jefferson Community College has a great working relationship as we are the host of many Frontier League Championships. As a result of hosting the Frontier League as set up a Scholarship for a former Frontier League Athlete who exceled both on and off the field for Jefferson. These Athletes will be graduating this spring and will be continuing their education and athletics at the next level.
William Magovney, Baseball
Willie was a key starting pitcher and teammate during his two year Jefferson career. He was a competitor on the mound pitching in big games versus strong National and Divisional opponents. Willie has spent several hours over the past two seasons working on pitching mechanics with kids and being a primary worker at all our summer and winter baseball clinics. He also is an umpire for the Watertown Little League. William plans on attending SUNY Fredonia to continue his academic and athletic career.
Katy Nortz, Women's Soccer/Basketball
GPA 3.52, one of the top defenders in the region. Team captain who has played every minute of every game in her two years here even with a broken wrist. Katy is also a 2 sport athlete, works part time and is very involved in the Children's Miracle Network. Katy will be attending Oswego in the fall and playing for the Lakers.
The Valentine Award-Presented by the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Tom Finch
The Valentine Award is given the graduating student-athlete who displays the best combination of success in academics and athletics, leadership, and community engagement. The Prestigious award is named in honor of former Jefferson Athletic Director Rene D. Valentine, and it was first established in 1990.
Caleb Mueller, Men's Soccer
Caleb endured some tough times over the past two seasons with the soccer team. Through his hard work, Caleb will be continuing his soccer career at Division III powerhouse SUNY Plattsburgh. Caleb play a pivotal role in anchoring the middle for the Cannoneers and was asked to control the game. Caleb epitomized "the never give up attitude" and was one of the constant bright spots, day in, day out! He is also a standout in the classroom with a 3.31 and was a great leader on the field of play here at JCC.
Cannoneers Cares Award-Presented by Athletic Secretary Rachael Riordan
The Cannoneer Cares award goes to a team that has gone above and beyond for the Watertown and surrounding community. Community Service teaches our Student/athletes lifelong lessons about giving back, respect, civic responsibility and team work.
Jefferson Men's Basketball
Men's Basketball Team led by Coach Joe Vaadi, Matt Gorman and Andre Brown worked with the American Red Cross and their program to install smoke detectors in homes across in the Watertown and Clayton Area. This Group installed about 50 detectors.
The MEN'S BASKETBALL Team Members:
Marlon Richardson, Jerry Willis, Rabbe Kader, Eugene Campbell, Liam Bonk, Michael Ayala, Jake Hess, Malik While and Elijah Smalls.
Male Performance of the Year-Presented by Assistant Athletic Director John Northrop
Elijah Smalls-Men's Basketball
Versus Tompkins Cortland at home to decide whether we go to playoffs or not. Even though overshadowed by the game winning shot of Jerry Willis, "Eli" carried the Cannoneers for most of this game! He scored 29 points and made timely basket after timely basket to keep the Cannoneers in the game. Without this performance, the Cannoneers would not have made the Mid State playoffs.
Female Performance of the Year-Presented by Assistant Athletic Director John Northrop
Ashlyn Eyles-Women's Basketball
For the second time in 6 days we faced off against the nationally ranked Onondaga Lazers, this time it was a for a birth to the Region 3 Championship game. Ashlyn Eyles turned in her most impressive performance of the year at just the right time. Eyles dominated the game, and controlled our offense with ease. She tallied 29 points while shooting over 55% from the floor, against a defense that was focused on limiting her success. Ashlyn turned in one of the toughest, and most focused performances I have coached in the 8 years I have been at Jefferson. She single handedly controlled the pace of play for the duration of the game with her ball handling, scoring, and passing/play making ability. Ashlyn's performance would help lead a comeback from a 9 point deficit with just 2 minutes and 30 seconds left, she would score 7 points in the final minute and 22 seconds including the 2 game winning free throws with just 9.0 seconds left. She helped send us to our first Regional 3 Championship appearance since 2005, and earn her a spot on the Region 3 All-Tournament Team.
Male Rookie of the Year-Presented by Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Corey Campbell
Derek Cuyler, Baseball
Derek has been a stand out freshmen all season. He has started at catcher in 27 of the 33 games this season, the most demanding position on the field. He controls the pitching staff, working offensive hitters, and battling all the elements catchers do each day without ever wanting a day off. He committed only 5 errors on the season and has a fielding percentage of .966. He has a team best .342 batting average. He is consistently in the weight room and attending extra lab work to make sure he is keeping his body in shape and his grades up.
Female Rookie of the Year-Presented by Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Corey Campbell
Chelsey Raven, Women's Basketball
Chelsey was our most consistent player for the duration of the year. As a freshman she averaged 14.4 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 43 % from the floor and 74% from the free throw line. She notched 7 games with over 20 points scored, and registered 6 double-doubles on the year. Her consistency throughout the year earned her MSAC All-Conference Team, and a First Team All-Region selection.
Male Athlete of the Year-Presented by Director of Athletics Jeffrey Wiley
Hunter Holliday, Baseball
Hunter has been a major key for us the past two seasons. Although he battled an early season injury costing him a week of games, he has battled back and is a key bat and leader on defense. Hunter this season in 18 games is hitting .293 with 7 doubles and 1 triple. Defensively Hunter is a staple at shortstop with plus range and an upper level arm across the diamond. He will transfer after graduation in May to SUNY Oswego and be looked at to step in and start at shortstop right away for the Lakers whom went to the NCAA DIII World Series the past two seasons. He is a Phys Ed major with an overall GPA of 3.40.
Female Athlete of the Year-Presented by Director of Athletics Jeffrey Wiley
Mallory Harter, Volleyball
Mallory was not recruited as a setter, but she had to become one as a freshman because the team needed her in 2017. In 2018, her team needed her to be the libero after Jenna Wilson was out with a broken thumb in early September. Mallory's only response to these changes throughout both seasons has been, "whatever is best for the team". During her time as a Cannoneer she compiled 674 digs, 435 service points, and 575 assists. These numbers should speak for themselves. Mallory played two COMPLETELY different positions in two seasons and led her team in both aspects. This season she served as a captain, was named our Defensive Player of the Year, finished 11th in the region in total digs, named to the Regional All-Tournament Team as well as being the Jefferson Athlete of the Week for October 9th. When we were in the fifth set against Jamestown in the Regional Finals, down 9-14, Mallory had the serve. She served the ball in 5 times in a row when the Regional Championship was on the line. We ended up tying the game at 14-14, only to lose 16-18. Any missed serve would have ended it for us, and she knew it. She stepped up to the pressure in the biggest game of the season just like she had done for the past two seasons, she did what was best for the team and gave us every opportunity she could to give us a chance for victory. She is a true team player and a fine example of what a captain should be.
Coach of the Year-Presented by President Dr. Ty Stone
Joshua Woodward, Women's Basketball
Josh and the women's basketball team had a great run to finish the 2018-19 season. As the #2 seed in the Mid State conference Playoffs the team knocked off the #1 Seed Onondaga Lazers to win the MSAC Championship and exactly one week later as the #4 seed in Regionals they had to play the #1 seeded Lazers on their home court to advance to the Regional Championship Game. Josh led the team to two of the biggest upsets in the programs history.
Team of the Year-Presented by President Dr. Ty Stone
Women's Basketball
The women's basketball team enjoyed one of the most successful years in the programs history. They won the MSAC Tournament Championship, earned their first birth in the Region 3 Championship game with big wins over Hudson Valley and Onondaga along the way before falling short to #3 Nationally Ranked North Country. The team earned four wins against teams that were nationally ranked throughout the year. The team finished the season with a 20-7 overall record and a Mid-State record of 11-3.
The Jefferson Athletics Department would like to thank all who attended tonight's events and supported out department and our student athletes throughout the year!