Athletics Announces 2023-24 Major Award Recipients
CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, June 27, 2024
The Hudson Valley Community College department of athletics has announced its annual end of year major awards for the 2023-24 academic year.
2023-24 Major Awards
President's Award – Presented to the student whose hard work, determination, hustle and attitude have enabled them to make valuable contributions to their team, the athletic department and the college.
Female President's Award: Anna Siter (Softball): In her first season at Hudson Valley, Siter put together a memorable season as she was recognized as an NJCAA All-American after leading the team to the NJCAA Region 3 championship series. Siter hit .404 and collected 36 hits with a team-best 35 RBIs and as a result was also named to the All-Region First Team and the Mountain Valley All-Conference team for her outstanding performance. Anna was used as the team's No. 3 pitcher and she finished the year with a 1.85 ERA, allowing just 13 runs on 30 hits over 30.1 innings pitched. During the Vikings 13-game wins streak, Siter hit .472 with 17 hits, 16 runs and a team-high 23 RBIs, which helped the Vikings secure the No. 3 seed in the Region 3 playoffs. Anna is set to return for her sophomore season as she works towards her associate's degree.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Siter: " Anna got it done on the field and in the classroom in her first year in a Vikings uniform. She led the team with RBIs and will be one of the top returning players to a team that looks to make a push for a Regional Championship next year."
Male President's Award: Brooks Robson (Men's Track & Field): Brooks is a two-year student-athletes and has starred for the Vikings men's track and field program during his tenue. He closed out his Vikings career at the top of the competitive mountain top as he won two individual NJCAA national championships. Robson won the long jump and the triple jump at the 2024 NJCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Robson's determination to win a national title was apparent all year as his hard work, determination and persistence to get better paid off. In 2023, Robson place seventh in the long jump with a distance of 6.29m. He won the long jump title in 2024 with a personal-record jump of 7.01m. He also avenged his second-place finish in the triple jump in 2023 and improved his jump by 0.46 meters to win the 2024 championship, garnering two-time NJCAA All-American recognition.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Robson: "Brooks came into the program as one of Coach Yorks' top recruits coming out of high school. He had a strong freshman campaign and followed up in his sophomore year with two individual National Championships. Brooks goes down as one of the best jumpers in school history."
Otto Guenther Memorial Award - Presented to a male and female student-athlete who demonstrates the best combination of academic and athletic success.
Female Otto Guenther Memorial Award: Abby Taylor (Softball): Taylor is an outstanding two-sport student-athlete who also succeeded in the classroom during her two-years at Hudson Valley. Taylor started the year off revitalizing the women's volleyball program with energy, excitement while filling a roster gap as a middle hitter. Despite missing the first six matches of the season, Taylor finished with 147 kills in 19 matches. Her .291 hitting percentage was third-best among the NJCAA Region 3 and she led the Region with 53 total blocks (0.82 b/s). Following the volleyball season, Taylor rejoined the softball program and helped guide them to the Region 3 championship series for the second consecutive season. In 26 games played, Taylor hit .376 with 32 hits, 34 RBIs and slugged a team-high .671 with 13 extra-base hits and 30 runs scored. During the team's 13-game win streak to close out the regular season, Taylor finished with a .422 batting average with 19 hits, 21 runs scored and 21 RBIs. Abby was recognized for her success this season by the Region 3 coaches with All-Region Second Team honors. She was also named to the Mountain Valley Conference First Team. Abby graduated with a degree in exercise science in May.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Taylor: "Abby is the type of athlete that you could put on any of our teams, and she would be one of the top players. Starring as a two-sport student-athlete, Abby played a pivotal role in the transformation of our volleyball team and was also one of the Region's top softball players that helped lead her team to the Regional Championship."
Male Otto Guenther Memorial Award: Bo Catherwood (Football): Catherwood completed a successful two-sport campaign as the starting running back for the football program and a shooting guard for the men's basketball program. Catherwood, who is a hard-working individual, had performed well inside the classroom, securing a 4.0 GPA during the fall semester. Catherwood finished the football season as the team's leading rusher, accumulating 346 rushing yards in eight games. He was also a dual-threat out of the backfield with 289 receiving yards, totaling a team-best 635 all-purpose yards as the football team won its third consecutive Region 3 championship. On the hardwood, Catherwood averaged 21.1 minutes and was the fourth-leading scorer on the team. Catherwood closed out the season on a tear as he scored 15 and 17 points in the final two homes games of the season against Jefferson and Onondaga, respectively.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Catherwood: "Bo is as talented as an athlete that we had in our department this past year. He starred at running back on the football team and also played in 24 games on our basketball team. Bo should be one of the nation's top running backs next year, building off a strong freshman season."
Lester Higbee Award – Presented to the most outstanding female athlete.
Lester Higbee Award: Keely Legnard (Women's Tennis): Legnard proved to be one of the best women's tennis players in the history of Hudson Valley women's tennis program. Legnard dominated the competition all season, winning every match in straight sets and won the NJCAA Region 3 singles championship. She earned the No. 2 seed at the NJCAA national championships, where she lost in the championship round and was named a NJCAA All-American for her second-place finish. Keely played all season as the No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles, garnered All-Region and All-Conference accolades in both flights. Legnard did not lose a set at No. 1 singles, until the final NJCAA championship match in Chattanooga, TN. Legnard finished the year with an 8-1 record at No. 1 singles.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Legnard: "Keely is a local product who transferred to us and had one of the best individual seasons as our number one singles player. Keely went undefeated in the regular season, and finished second at the National Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee."
Thomas Cahill Award – Presented to the most outstanding male athlete.
Thomas Cahill Award: Cole Duncan (Men's Lacrosse): Duncan joined the ranks of one of the most talented student-athletes to compete at Hudson Valley. He was dominant all season as he led the team with 53 points from 43 goals and 10 assists. His 43 goals ranked second among all of Region 3. Duncan scored at least one point in 10 games this season and surpassed seven points in six games, including an eight-goal game in the Vikings 13-11 win over Delaware Tech on April 6. Duncan also showed up against national-powerhouses in Genesee and Onondaga as he tallied six goals against both programs this season, which garnered him NJCAA All-Region 3 second team accolades. Duncan closed out his two-year career with 85 points on 68 goals and 17 assists over the course of 22 games played. His 68 goals rank fourth and his 85 points ranks fifth overall in the Vikings men's lacrosse record books.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Duncan: "Cole was a special player on our lacrosse team that made it to the Regional Championship this past year. He continued to improve from his freshman season and became one of the Region's top players."
Dr. Andrew J. Matonak Character Award – Presented to a student for their commitment and contributions to their team, embracing the character and spirit of the College and the athletic department.
Dr. Andrew J. Matonak Character Award: Jeremy Taggart (Baseball): Taggart completed his sophomore season with the baseball program in 2024. He played an important role on the team and the team's primary catcher. He managed a pitching staff that allowed a Region 3 best 133 runs and 100 earned runs over 223.2 innings pitched. The team also boasted the Region's second-best ERA, placing second only to SUNY Niagara.
Jeremy Taggart is the ultimate team leader as he led the baseball team both on and off the field with great character and charisma over the last two seasons. Taggart led the charge for a baseball team that had volunteered over 2,400 hours since the fall 2022 semester and he is the first to volunteer to help the department, the College and his teammates.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Taggart: "Jeremy is the type of player you want on every one of your teams. As a member of our baseball team, Jeremy also went above and beyond in helping our department when in need, and also volunteered countless hours of community service. He is a person of great character and will be successful in anything he chooses to do."
Paul F. Bishop Coach of the Year Award – Presented to the coach who exhibits the highest level of sportsmanship, leadership, professionalism and ethics, and who demonstrates the highest level of commitment to his/her sport, the athletic department and, most importantly, to the student - athletes.
Paul F. Bishop Coach of the Year Award: Therese DeCan (Women's Volleyball): The women's volleyball program has reached new heights under the leadership of Coach Therese DeCan. In two short seasons, DeCan has guided the program as the No. 7 seed to the NJCAA Region 3 championships for the first time since 2008 and only the second time making the final championship weekend in over 25+ years. The volleyball program also finished with a winning record of 13-12, which is the first-time the program finished a season above .500 since 2010. Coach DeCan is poised to keep the Vikings women's volleyball program at the top of the Region each year as she continues to prove she is a tremendous recruiter and exudes immense character and professionalism needed to be successful in the NJCAA.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Coach DeCan: "Coach DeCan is exactly what you look for in a head coach and her hard work has shown great improvement in the volleyball program. Her enthusiasm and passion for the sport is encompassed in the program and our student-athletes. I'm excited for Coach DeCan to continue building the program."
Phil Brown Assistant Coach of the Year Award – Presented to an athletic department support staff member or assistant coach who has contributed to the success of the department and the student-athletes, with a commitment to promoting the ideals set forth by their head coach or administrator.
Phil Brown Assistant Coach of the Year Award: Ed Pierce (Men's Basketball): Coach Pierce recently completed his ninth season as Coach Long's top assistant for the men's basketball program. Coach Pierce remains committed to the Hudson Valley basketball program, its student-athletes and the community. Coach Pierce's desire to coach the student-athletes each season remains strong and he continues to take a lead role in practice and game day preparation and scouting.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Coach Pierce: "Coach Pierce is Coach Long's right-hand man and is heavily relied upon within the program. He is a strong advocate for our student-athletes and I sincerely appreciate all that he gives to our men's basketball program."
Willie A. Hammett Award for Excellence in Student Service – Presented annually to a member of the campus community in recognition of dedicated and tireless service to our student-athletes.
Willie A. Hammett Award for Excellence in Student Service: Louis Coplin: Mr. Louis Coplin was awarded the Willie A. Hammett Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Student Service. In recognition of his tireless dedication and service over the last 37 years to the athletics department, the student-athletes and the campus community.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Mr. Coplin: "Mr. Coplin embodies everything that the Willie A. Hammett Award represents. It only seemed appropriate that we made this a lifetime achievement award as Mr. Coplin has dedicated his professional career to helping students in all aspects of life. We are truly lucky to have a leader at the school that has made such a profound impact on so many people's lives."
John L. Buono Award for Citizenship - Presented to a member of the Vikings community who has demonstrated a commitment to the College and student-athletes.
John L. Buono Award: Alycia Courter (Faculty Student Association – Executive Director): Alycia Courter has served the college's Faculty Student Association (FSA) for 27 years and has served as the FSA's Executive Director since 2017. She has played an essential role in the overall success of the athletics department, which operates through the FSA, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Ms. Courter has been a longtime supporter of the athletics department and has helped the department meet the growing needs and expectations of the student-athletes, coaches and staff.
Director of Athletics Justin Hoyt on Ms. Courter: "Ms. Courter works "behind the scenes", but she is the one that makes everything happen for our department. Her support and hard work are key to the success of our day-to-day operations. We are lucky to have her leadership and skills to help continue making our department thrive."