Alumni Game December 4

ALUMNI GAME Saturday December 4th, 2010 after Hartwick vs. Morrisville State at 3:00 pm.

Coach Lambros will still be in town and please pass the word. Dinner will be served after the game. Game to start around 5:00 pm. RSVP to Coach McGuinness at mcguinnesst@hartwick.edu. Hope to see everyone.

Hartwick Welcomes Coach Gibbs

Dan Gibbs joins the Hartwick College men’s basketball program as an assistant coach for the 2010-11 academic year.

Prior to Hartwick, Gibbs spent four years at Syracuse University as the Assistant Head Team Manager for the Orange basketball program. While at SU, Gibbs assisted the Orange coaching staff with training forwards and centers at practices and ran off-season workouts for the players. In addition, he supervised a staff of 20 managers and performed promotional work for Orange summer camps.

Gibbs also has served as both a basketball intern at IMG and a marketing/operations assistant at Hoops Mountain Inc. Basketball Camp. At IMG, he assisted in basketball workouts for college and NBA players and coached and directed camps for players ages 12-22. At Hoops Mountain, Gibbs served as director of tournament sites and summer camps.

Gibbs earned his bachelor's degree in marketing management from Syracuse University in May 2010.

Senior Martin McCann Summer Intern with the New Jersey Nets

Senior Martin McCann worked as a full time Graphic Design intern for the New Jersey Nets this summer. While working hard on his gam ethis summer for his senior year, Martin was able to gain valuable experience and was able to work with different areas of graphic design. When Martin returns to school, he will be blogging about his summer experience.

Congrats Seniors

Hartwick College Basketball graduated three seniors this weekend. The three players helped moved the program forward and will be missed greatly. Mike Tracy Jr, a double major in Physics and Business, has accepted a job in Boston. Kyle Phillips, Mathematics major, will be working in Boston in the fall. James Mantas, a Biology/ Pre-Med major, will be going to Med School in the fall. The program is proud of our seniors and knows that they will all do well for themselves in the future. Stay in shape for the Alumni game.

Hartwick helps with EDD Memorial Fund

This past weekend the Hartwick Men’s Basketball team helped with the EDD Memorial Fund at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club. Eight young people with disabilities spent the afternoon improving their basketball skills working with members of our team. We did different shooting games and skill work with the young people. We have a few pictures of the event and will be doing more work with the EDD Fund.

EMPIRE 8 HONORS

The Empire 8 Conference announced its 2010 Men's Basketball All-Conference teams on Thursday. Hartwick sophomore guard Mark Blazek (Erie, PA/Erie Cathedral Prep), senior center Kyle Phillips (Ashland, MA/Ashland), and senior forward James Mantas (Niskayuna, NY/CBA) each were recognized. Blazek, the league's second leading scorer and reigning Rookie of the Year, earned first team honors. Phillips garnered honorable mention, and Mantas was Hartwick's Sportsman of the Year.

Blazek ranks second in the conference in scoring (20.3 points per game) and free throw percentage (80.8 percent), and third in three-point field goals (2.3 per game) this season. He scored in double figures in all 24 of the Hawks' games this season and has accumulated 110 three-point baskets in two seasons at 'Wick, good enough for 8th in the all-time Hartwick record book. Blazek was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I First Team by CoSIDA earlier this year.

Phillips led Hartwick in rebounding (6.3 rpg), and blocks (40), and finished second behind Blazek in scoring with an average of 14.8 points per game. He recorded four double-doubles and reached double figures in scoring in 21 of 24 games this season. He closes out his four years at 'Wick with a career field goal percentage of .558 (274-for-493) and his 72 blocked shots ranks 3rd all-time in College history.

One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2010 Empire 8 Men's Basketball Sportsman of the Year Team. The E8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. Mantas consistently exhibited the critical traits as an outstanding sportsman throughout the year. He was one of two players on the team to start in all 24 games this season for the Hawks, averaging 6.4 points per game. He led Hartwick in steals this season with 38 and was second on the squad in rebounding (5.2 rpg), assists (61), and blocks (14).

In conference play, the Hartwick men's basketball team had its best season in nine years. 'Wick recorded seven E8 wins and finished sixth in the conference standings this year. It marks the team's highest win total and finish in the standings since the 2000-2001 team won seven and placed fourth.

SENIOR BLOG- KYLE PHILLIPS

As there is one week left of my basketball career at Hartwick College, I am slowly trying to stop the seconds from passing. These past four years have certainly made a tremendous impact on my life. I went through a drastic transformation from being a shy, skinny freshman to what I am now.

I have built a great collection of memories at Hartwick. Playing Oneonta State each year was always the most anticipated game. I’ve never been part of a game with a crowd of over 2,500. Each year playing RIT was an experience in itself. We have had many battles playing them, most seeming like roller coasters. The fondest memory was probably wining the ECAC championship over St. John Fisher. Having not beaten them in over 20 years, and not winning the ECAC in multiple tries, gave me great pride in being part of the Hartwick Men’s Basketball program.

It is easy to say I do not regret coming to Hartwick. Four years ago I chose to come to Hartwick simply based on the great people at the school. I easily became friends with the players. You won’t find any other team in the U.S. like the Hartwick Men’s Basketball team. I’ve seen many unique personalities through my four years. Matt “Simo”, ate, drank, and breathed WWE. Jan Coccoziello had a severe obsession over Kobe Bryant, and tried to mimic every posture, facial expression, and move Kobe did on the court. Greg Bankowski looked like he came right out of the 1980s and belonged in the movie Goodfellas. Teddy Bridgeman couldn’t tell you the president of the United States, but could give you the whole NY Giants roster with player stats and thorough analysis. Eric Mingos is famous for two things, his gauging biceps, and a killer jump shot. Dan Devantier always has a mental meltdown before he even shoots the ball. It’s these bizarre, yet endearing characters, and more, that have made my time at Hartwick College worthwhile.
In the months to come I look to finish school and graduate and put my mathematics degree to use.