August 2009

Warwick, R.I. – Aug. 6, 2009: The Community College of Rhode Island has promoted assistant men’s soccer coach Gabriel Toro to the head coaching role for the start of the 2009 season. Toro replaces 28-year veteran Victor Gaspar in the leadership position after serving as CCRI’s assistant coach for two years. Neal Rei joins the team as assistant coach.

Toro, a native of Colombia and a 1999 graduate of the University of Rhode Island (URI), will be looked upon to turn around the college’s soccer program and renew its winning tradition. “During his two years as assistant coach, Gabriel has established himself as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic leader of the CCRI men’s soccer program,” said Joe Pavone, CCRI’s director of Athletics. “We look forward to an exciting season this fall with him at the helm.”

In addition to his coaching experience at CCRI, Toro has organized and coached clinics in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for boys and girls of all ages, focusing on technical weaknesses and enhancing players’ strengths to improve their confidence and technical skills. In 2001, he led the Tolman High School boys’ soccer team to the state final.

Toro has extensive professional playing experience with the semi-pro Lusitana Portuguese Club in Cumberland and the Providence Soccer League. After graduating from URI with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, he played three seasons for the Rhode Island Stingrays. At URI, he was a member of the No. 3 ranked men’s team that garnered a record of 19-1-3 and won Atlantic-10 championship titles in 1995 and 1996. He was honored with the Bob Butler Sportsmanship Award in 1998.

Toro is an assistant program supervisor at Key Program Inc. in Providence. He is a resident of Pawtucket.

Neal Rei, who is the team’s new assistant coach, comes to CCRI with nine years of head coaching experience for various youth travel teams. In 2009, he was the YMCA Soccer Camp Director in Lincoln, R.I. where he oversaw the organization’s summer soccer program, organizing drills and scrimmages and coaching players with skills ranging from beginner to advanced. From 2000-08, he served as head coach of the Cumberland Youth Soccer Association.

Rei graduated cum laude from Rhode Island College with a bachelor’s degree in history. He went on to receive a master’s degree from Suffolk University in May 2009, graduating with a 3.825 GPA. He also was a member of Phi Sigma Alpha, a political science honor society.

Rei is a resident of Cumberland.

No. 11 ranked Lady Knights stifle College of Southern Maryland 8-0!

Warwick, R.I. – August 31, 2009: The No. 11 ranked (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) CCRI Lady Knights soccer team traveled to Maryland this past weekend and started the season off with a bang! On Saturday, the Lady Knights faced off against The College of Southern Maryland in La Plata, MD and defeated them 8-0. With the victory the Lady Knights begin the season 1-0.
The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly18,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.

No. 11 ranked Lady Knights escape CCBC-Essex with 4-0 victory!

Warwick, R.I. – August 31, 2009: The No. 11 ranked (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) CCRI Lady Knights soccer team squared-off against CCBC Essex (Community College of Baltimore County at Essex). The Lady Knights defeated CCBC-Essex 4-0. With the victory the Lady Knights begin the 2009 season 2-0.
The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 18,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.

No. 20 ranked Lady Knights off to rough start at Central Ohio Invitational

Warwick, R.I. – August 31, 2009: The No. 20 ranked CCRI Lady Knights volleyball team began their 2009 season by travelling to Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio to compete in The Central Ohio Invitational on Friday and Saturday. In Friday’s action the Lady Knights were upended by the College of Southern Maryland from La Plata, MD 17-25, 22-25, and 22-25 to start their 2009 season 0-3. They went on to play a very talented Columbus State Community College from Columbus, OH squad and lost 18-25, 21-25, and 17-25 which puts their record at 0-6 to start the 2009 season.

In their first match the Lady Knights lost to the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) 17-25, 22-25, and 22-25. Coming off a successful scrimmage at Framingham State the Lady Knights were humbled by the level of play. Southern Maryland is a well coached team that was on a mission after losing to Columbus State Community College earlier in the day. CCRI got behind early and lacked the experience to turn it around. Assistant Coach Anne-Marie Balboni stated “Our goal is to return to Nations this season and we need to understand from the start what it will take to compete at the highest level”. Leading the way for the Lady Knights against CSM was Suzanne Landry (Tiverton, RI) with a team-high 11 kills, followed by Alysa O’Neill (Johnston, RI) who charted four blocks, and Casey Doyle (Warwick, RI) who added a team-high five aces.

In their second match of the day the Lady Knights found themselves up against the talented Columbus State Community College (CSCC) squad losing 18-25, 21-25, and 17-25. CSCC has a few high caliber players that wanted to make an impact early. They came into the match having beaten College of Southern Maryland in five sets. “We bunch of things right, just not enough to win the match. Our talent is there they just need to execute with greater consistency” commented Assistant Coach Anne-Marie Balboni after the match. Leading the way for the Lady Knights versus CCSC was Lauren Bessette (South Kingstown, RI) with 10 kills, followed by Renee Boudreaux (Cranston, RI) with three aces, and Captain Cory Santos (Carlsbad, CA) led the Lady Knights with 14 assists.

The Lady Knights look to get into the win column on day two of the Central Ohio Invitational when play resumes on Saturday when they will face Lake Michigan Community College, Macomb Community College, and Edison Community College.
The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 18,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.

No. 20 ranked Lady Knights chart first win of 2009 in day two of Central Ohio invitational!

Warwick, R.I. – August 31, 2009: The No. 20 ranked Lady Knights volleyball team resumed play in The Central Ohio Invitational at Columbus State Community College in Columbus, OH on Saturday. The Lady Knights squared-off against Lake Michigan Community College and fell 25-15, 21-25, 17-25 and 14-25. In the second match they lost to Macomb Community College 11-25, 14-25 and 18-25, and in their third and final match of the day the Lady Knights succumbed to Edison Community College 11-25, 8-25 and 18-25. With the win and losses the Lady Knights begin the season 0-5.
The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls nearly 18,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.

Student worker positions available
The CCRI women’s volleyball team is looking for scorekeepers and line judges for the upcoming fall season. Training and certification classes by the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials will be provided from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 19 at the Flanagan Campus in Lincoln. To be eligible, students must be enrolled and have earned a minimum of six credits. For an application and more information, contact Kevin Salisbury at ksalisbury@ccri.edu.

CCRI appoints Brian Warburton to Head Coach Women’s Volleyball

Warwick, R.I. – July 16, 2009: The Community College of Rhode Island has selected Brian Warburton of Providence as head coach of its women’s volleyball team. Warburton replaces Ray DeAngelis who coached the Lady Knights for the last nine seasons, eight as head coach, with an overall record of 207-98.

Warburton comes to CCRI with a wealth of experience as coach, official, and player. He has served as head coach of the Attleboro High School girls’ volleyball team since 2006 overseeing all phases of the program including recruitment and retention. For the past four years he has served as a referee for interscholastic and intercollegiate volleyball games. He is USA Volleyball IMPACT certified and is a certified linesman and scorekeeper for the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials.

“CCRI is excited to welcome Brian to our coaching staff,” said CCRI Athletic Director Joe Pavone. “His coaching, officiating and playing experience as well as his positive attitude will continue to guide our successful women’s volleyball program to great achievements.”

Warburton plays in many beach and court volleyball leagues across Rhode Island. He is a member of the Rhode Island Volleyball Officials Association and a former member of the Massachusetts Girls’ Volleyball Coaches Association.

An English teacher at Attleboro High School, Warburton is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and played for the volleyball club team.

Anne-Marie Balboni of East Providence returns as assistant coach of the CCRI volleyball team after a one-year hiatus. She brings more than 25 years of volleyball experience as a player and captain in recreational and United States Volleyball Association level competition.
The Community College of Rhode Island, New England’s largest comprehensive community college, enrolls 18,000 students in credit courses and thousands more in non-credit and job training classes. Its athletic program boasts 12 varsity programs and an academic support program for all student-athletes.

CCRI announces Deb Panzica as Head Coach of Co-ed Tennis

Warwick, R.I. – July 16, 2009: The Community College of Rhode Island Department of Athletics has promoted Deb Panzica of Foster to the position of head coach of its coed tennis team. This year the college is combining its men’s and women’s tennis squads to compete as one team. For the past three years she served as assistant men’s tennis coach at CCRI and as head coach of the college’s women’s tennis team for the last two.

Panzica is a board member of USA Tennis Rhode Island and previously served as president of the organization for two years. She is a board member of USA Tennis New England. Panzica is a National Tennis Ratings Program verifier for USA Tennis and a multiple-time New England Champion in singles and mixed doubles. She served as the assistant head tennis coach at Scituate High School from 2001-02, helping the team advance to the Division II State Championship.
Since the inception of tennis at CCRI in 1974, teams have a combined record of 256-78. The men’s team has won 14 Region XXI Championships and the women’s team has won two. In the 2008-09 season, men’s tennis finished their season in fifth place at the NJCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Tournament held in Allen, Texas. The women’s team placed third at the Harford NIT Tournament and sixth at the ITA New England Regional Tournament. In the 2007-08 season, men’s tennis finished 9th at the National Tournament and the women’s team placed 12th.
“Deb has been a go-to leader of CCRI’s tennis program,” said CCRI Athletic Director Joe Pavone. “She will provide the co-ed tennis team with her knowledge, passion and enthusiasm as they strive for regional and national prominence.”

August 2009

08.26.09

08.25.09

08.03.09