Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Senior MIKE TRACY

Hi, I'm Mike Tracy and this is my senior year at Hartwick College. I am a fifth year senior who had another year of eligibility left after taking a year off of basketball my junior year to pursue college football. Overall I have played three sports at Hartwick (Basketball, Baseball, and Football).

I am a double major in Physics and Business. I am from Morris, NY so I grew up in this area and consider Hartwick my second home. My father coached football here at Hartwick for 15 years up until the spring of my freshman year. He now coaches at Hamilton College. Growing up around the Hartwick environment really made it easy to pick this place to continue my education. I liked it so much I decided to stay another year! After I graduate I hope to pursue a career in business finance or sports business.

Being around Hartwick athletics for so long has allowed me to understand the tradition and talent is HARTWICK BASKETBALL. Being a part of that these past years has been an honor. I have been able to experience the highs and the lows of every season and wouldn't trade anything to give that up. Coming off of a successful season last year solidified a winning mentality which is an integral part to any athletic program. Part of the reason I came back for a fifth year was because of the confidence I have in the returning players and Coach McGuinness. I'm hoping to use everything I've learned to be someone the younger players can look to throughout the season. I'm excited for this team and I have very high expectations for us.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Sophomore MARK BLAZEK

Hello. My name is Mark Blazek and I’m a sophomore here at Hartwick. I grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. Right now I’m biology major with future plans to attend graduate school to become a physical therapist. I’m a big fan of the Cleveland Indians and Browns (I know…ouch) and the Philadelphia 76ers. Basketball is my main activity but I also enjoy watching movies, playing ping pong, sand volleyball, and Texas Hold ‘Em. My favorite player is Chris Paul, but I enjoy watching Steve Nash, Deron Williams, and Dwayne Wade.

On a more serious note, I chose Hartwick because the school offers individual attention in the classroom which was important to me. Hartwick’s collaboration with Sage Graduate School for guaranteed placement in their physical therapy program was another attractive aspect. The campus community made me feel at home even though I live five hours away. Also, the view from the top of the hill is unbelievable!

On the basketball side of things, I wanted to help revive a basketball program with a rich history of success. The gym is newly renovated and a great place to play. The team had a successful year last year and I look for things to only get better.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Freshman TRAVIS NALLY

My name is Travis Nally and I am a freshman at Hartwick College from Boston, Massachusetts. Although I live over four hours from Hartwick, I felt that the education at Hartwick was too good to pass up. I am sociology major and I hope to become a Boston police officer, or at least something in the field of criminal justice. I feel that the small school setting at Hartwick is perfect for me; the professors are willing to go out of their way to see you succeed in the classroom.

Basketball wise, the team and Coach McGuinness have both welcomed me into the Hartwick program. Everyone in the program is very dedicated and I am looking forward to spending the next four years here.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Freshman TRAVIS GODLEY

Hey, my name is Travis Godley and I am from Putnam, CT. Coming out of my senior year in high school I looked at Hartwick and loved it but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go so far away. To make sure I would find the right place for me, I did a Post Graduate year at a prep school and explored more options. No matter where I visited I just knew Hartwick was the place for me.

Coach McGuiness and the players welcomed me right away and made feel right at home. The classes here are great. Right away I could tell that the professors really cared about me and wanted me to succeed. The professors are always ready to help and I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m in a great situation to succeed on and especially off of the court.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Sophomore ERIC MINGOS

Hello my name is Eric Mingos and I am a sophomore. I am from Whitney Point NY which is about 10 minutes north of Binghamton. I am sociology major and interested in the criminal justice aspect of it.

I enjoyed this past summer hanging with friends, working, and playing some ball. I enjoy watching and playing football, baseball, and obviously basketball. My favorite teams are the New York Yankees, Houston Rockets, and of course the notorious St. Louis Rams. My favorite sport figures are Yao Ming and Marc Bulger because they are absolutely the most dominant players in their sport.

I had a wonderful experience last year with basketball, school, and the college lifestyle. Having enjoyed last year, I was looking forward to starting another year. I am excited in having another successful year on and off the court this year. I hope you can come and support the team.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Junior MARTIN MCCANN

My name is Martin McCann and I am currently a junior at Hartwick College. I am from Hopewell Junction, NY and I attended Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie, NY. I was born and raised in northern California. I root for the Golden State Warriors and the San Francisco Giants. My other favorite sports teams are the New York Giants and the New York Yankees. Although professional sports are enjoyable to watch, there is nothing like college basketball.

This past summer I worked as a coach and instructor at many different basketball camps. I worked at Hartwick's two basketball camps here on campus. In addition I worked at Stanford, University of Connecticut and Syracuse University's camps. It was a great experience to share my knowledge and love for the game with many young players.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my first two years at Hartwick College. Winning the ECAC's last year was a huge accomplishment for our program. I am extremely excited for the upcoming season and I cannot wait for games to start.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Freshman JONATHAN ZEHE

My name is Jon Zehe from Erie, PA. I played basketball all four years of high school and now I’m playing at Hartwick College in Oneonta NY. I’ve played basketball basically my whole life. During my senior year of high school, one week before the playoffs I broke my knee and had surgery. The surgery put me out for a little over six months. Finally after rehabbing all summer, I am ready to play.

Even though I live in Pennsylvania, I dislike every Pittsburgh sports team. I am a Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, and a Los Angeles Lakers fan. I love watching professional sports and enjoy following my favorite teams.

I have two older sisters who attend Tampa University and Penn State University. Even though my siblings go to large schools, I am happy that I am at a small college because I can make better connections.

I’m happy where I am at, and I can’t wait for the games to start.

JUST WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR

Just wait ‘til next year!” This thought pops into the head of just about every player once a season comes to a close. Every player thinks about what will happen next year. We all have hopes and aspirations as players and as a team. We take steps to improve ourselves in the offseason, all in preparation for next year. Well, “next year” becomes “this year” in less than week for the men’s basketball team here at Hartwick.

This year will be extra-fresh in a lot of ways. First, we have a new coaching staff with the departure of Coach Culpo and Coach Kindlon and the arrival of head coach Todd McGuinness and assistant coach Nick Nichay. Also, five players from last year’s team were lost to graduation so Hartwick basketball will have no lack of opportunities for incoming and returning players to step up their play fill in those newly opened spots on the floor. The new season gives players a chance to show what they can do to help this team. Six incoming freshman will be tasting college basketball for the first time. Binder Gymnasium which had its name changed to “Lambros Arena” in the last game of the regular season last year still has its “new gym smell” as it’s barely a year old.

One person who can hardly be considered “new” is Mike Tracy. Tracy graduated last year but still has a remaining year of eligibility so he will return as a welcomed member of this year’s team. His leadership and experience will definitely be a valued asset to the team.

This offseason I spent a lot of time watching highlights of current and former NBA players such as Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Tim Hardaway, Pete Maravich, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobili, and others. I tried to study what makes each of them great and tried to incorporate some of their game into my own. I feel that the year of college basketball experience under my belt will greatly benefit me this season. I’m pumped, I’m hyped, I’m excited for the season to start but, “Just wait…”.

Mark Blazek ‘12

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Senior JAMES MANTAS

My name is James Mantas and I am a senior here at Hartwick College. I am a Biology major and an aspiring medical student. I love Hartwick’s small class size and the familiarity that one develops with the professors here.

I am from Niskayuna New York which is right outside of Albany. I have a younger brother who also plays basketball but for Skidmore College. I am a very family oriented person and I am very outgoing and friendly.

I am going to miss this school and my friends very much, the memories and relationships I have accumulated throughout my four years here will stay with me for the rest of my life. I am looking forward to our season and I believe we have it in us to have a very successful season and even surprise a number of people this year. We have a great group of guys and when push comes to shove I know they are all with me. Overall I am glad to have been a part of Hartwick and I’m enjoying every moment of my time left here.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Sophomore TEDDY BRIDGMAN

My name is Teddy Bridgman and I am sophomore from Wayland MA. I am a business major and hope to obtain my masters in Communication after I graduate from Hartwick. Before Hartwick, I attended Tilton Prep School in Tilton, NH. I have a younger brother Taylor who is a senior in high school, my mother is an office manager for JSB-partners and my father is a medical sales man for Bio-tissue.

I have always loved sports and becoming a sports commentator has been a long time dream of mine. I have always loved the game of basketball and love playing in college. Coaching is another career path that I may look into pursing when I am done playing at Hartwick. My favorite sports teams are the New York Giants, Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics - I could talk sports all day.

I love it here at Hartwick College, because it is a small liberal arts college. I love the one on one time we spend with our professors and the small class sizes. When I leave Hartwick, I know I will be a better and more rounded individual.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Senior KYLE PHILLIPS

My name is Kyle Phillips. I am a senior majoring in mathematics from Ashland, Massachusetts. I have two brothers. My older brother works for a printing company in Boston. Mt twin brother is a senior at Bowdoin College. My father is an engineer at Eaton and my mother is a retired elementary school teacher.

Born and bread in Massachusetts has made me a die hard Patriots, Celtics, and Red Sox fan. Over three years spent in New York I have warmed up to cheering for the Giants and Mets, but still have a very passionate hatred for the Yankees, Jets, and Knicks. I absolutely love college basketball and can’t wait for March Madness 2010.

The major reason why I came to Hartwick College is the people. Everyone has great character and integrity. I have built many lasting relationships from players, coaches, professors, and the student body. Hartwick is a very concise community where you can go to anybody for advice. I will always treasure my years at Hartwick as some of the best ever in my life.

I hope that our team focuses at the task at hand for another productive season which will further contribute to the overall success of Hartwick. I look forward to the coming months of practice, games, homework, tests, and finally graduation.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Sophomore Shane McHugh

Hello! My name is Shane McHugh and I am a sophomore at Hartwick College. I am originally from a small town on the border of Massachusetts in New York called New Lebanon. I live with both of my parents, Shaun and Donna and my little brother, Kyle.

I choose Hartwick for a variety of reasons; namely, the class sizes, distance to campus from where I live and of course, Basketball. I am very excited to get my sophomore season underway. As a freshman, our team won the ECAC tournament and I am looking forward to an even more successful season this year.

As for my studies at Hartwick, I am a political science major, with a Pre-Law interest. I also am thinking about obtaining a minor in Computer and Information science. I plan to graduate Hartwick in 2012, upon which I plan on attending Law school. My father is a state magistrate so I have grown up with an interest in the law.

In my free time I like to play sports, video games and hang out with friends. I also play Bass Guitar for the alternative rock band Adam’s Crossing (we hope to release our first studio album sometime next summer!)

This season should be very exciting as we have a new look team; with the addition of a new freshman class and a new coaching staff it should be interesting. See you all on the court.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Freshman AARON LAING

My name is Aaron Laing and I am a freshman here at Hartwick College. I am very excited to begin my four years here and hope it will be an enjoyable experience. My schedule includes classes such as Introduction to Business, Business Computing, and English Composition. So far I have found all my professors incredibly friendly and look forward to getting to know them better throughout the year. As far as basketball, it goes without saying that I am extremely eager to see what the season brings. We have a great group of guys and it will be a lot of fun I’m sure

I grew up in Laurens New York which is just a few miles away from the Hartwick campus. I was a three sport athlete in high school but basketball has always been a passion of mine. I am ecstatic that I’m able to continue playing throughout college. My family has always been very supportive of me throughout the years, they are great.

I can’t what to see what happens on and off the court in the next few years that I spend at Hartwick. It should be quite an adventure.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Freshman Sam Young

My name is Sam Young, and I am from Warner, NH. Currently, I am a freshman at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY. Warner is roughly four and a half hours from Oneonta, but the geographic layout is about the same so it has not been too much of a change location wise for me.

In my next four years here at Hartwick, I intend to accomplish a lot. First I hope to find a subject that I love, considering I will be spending my next 40 years doing whatever it is I do. Second I hope to have an enjoyable basketball career. Finally, I hope to meet people I have never met and do things I never would have thought to do in the previous chapters of my life.

Over the summer I worked for my friend’s father haying and I worked for Mas-Con Masonry Company. In my spare time I like to play basketball, ride motorcycles, hike, hang out with friends, swim, and fish with my father.

Meet the Hartwick Hawks- Sophomore CHRIS RYDER

Hey my name is Chris Ryder, I’m a sophomore at Hartwick college. I’m from Port Washington, Long Island and play Basketball here at Hartwick. I am also on the club volleyball team when I’m not playing basketball. I have an older brother who graduated from Salisbury University in Maryland. He is currently living in Boulder, Colorado, managing a restaurant and playing professional indoor box lacrosse. He also is coaching the men’s lacrosse team at Boulder High School along with doing personal training lessons in lacrosse. My Father is the Chief Helicopter Pilot and Manager for the company Ventura Air Services. My mother is a 3rd grade teacher at Glenwood Landing elementary school in the North Shore school district.

My favorite sports teams are The Giants, The Mets, The Islanders, and I have no favorite NBA team but I want The Knicks to do well. My favorite player of all time is Hakeem Olajuwon and my favorite active player I would say is either Chris Bosh or Danny Granger.

I like Hartwick because of the relationships I’ve built with the people here. Being that it’s a small school I get the extra attention in the classroom that I need to succeed in the classroom. The campus is really nice and has a great view of the City of Oneonta. My decision was influenced because I wanted to play basketball in college and I’ve found the perfect fit for me as a student-athlete. This program has a great history and great support from the Alumni. The ultimate goal for our team here is to bring the program back to where it once was. I believe I am part of something here with the group that we have and believe we have the right kind of people to turn this program around.

I am currently undecided as a major but will declare a business major at the end of this year. I have no clue what I want to do in the future but I’m enjoying my time at Hartwick. I am excited for this season because I believe we have a lot to prove to our league and I have a lot to prove individually this year. It’s going to be a great year.