Community College of Rhode IslandSports
CCRI athletes announce plans, reflect on a stellar year
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The Community College of Rhode Island Department of Athletics hosted a press conference recently to announce the signing of more than 12 outstanding scholar-athletes to NCAA Division I, II and III four-year schools.
The press conference capped off the stellar community college athletic and academic experiences of these young athletes. Director of Athletics Lou Pullano presented the group as “outstanding individuals in the classroom and on the playing fields.” Included among the group announcing their commitments today were several All-Americans, as well as CCRI record-holders, in both soccer and track.
College President Thomas D. Sepe lauded the achievements of the CCRI scholar-athletes. “These are exemplary individuals who define the true meaning of scholar-athletes,” said Sepe.
Pullano echoed the sentiments of President Sepe, praising the intellectual and physical abilities of the athletes. “I am confident that each one of these young men and women will continue to excel in their field of studies while performing in a leadership role as a student-athlete at their chosen four-year institution,” Pullano said.
The Community College of Rhode Island is home to one of Rhode Island’s
finest and most successful intercollegiate athletic programs. The CCRI
program has long been considered a front-runner in the New England Community
and Junior College athletic community, and is ranked as one of the most
successful in the Northeast. The basketball, baseball, tennis, volleyball,
cross-country, golf and soccer teams have all been nationally ranked.
The year in review: CCRI athletics
The CCRI year in sports is filled with great teamwork and outstanding individual achievements.
This fall, the women’s soccer team won Region XXI for the fourth consecutive year. The ladies ended the season ranked ninth with an 11-3-2 recorded by First Team All Region members: Cat Cusson, Abby Hummel, Ann Kineke, Brittney Godbout, Jami Elliot, Sarah Lynch, and Misa Dellay. The men’s soccer team became a Region XXI runner-up when with a record of 12-5-3, led by first team All-Region XXI members Bruno Texeira, Ismael Brito, Jhon Izurieta, and Andres Perdomo.
The women’s cross country team won the Northeast District Title this fall, and placed second at the Division III Cross Country Nationals, hosted for the first time ever by CCRI. The men’s and women’s teams were led by Keith Jobin, Erin Bailey, and Saundra Barbosa. Bailey was also selected first team All-American. This winter, the women’s indoor track team won the Northeast District title, led by Jasmine Jennings. The men’s team came in second at the District meet. The CCRI Lady Knights outdoor track team came in first this spring at the Northeast District Track Meet, scoring 150.5 team points. Key players were Jasmine Jennings in the hammer throw, Saundra Barbosa in the 500m run, and Mary Oyekoya in the 400m hurdles. At the NJCAA Division III Track and Field National Meet, Jennings was recently voted Field Event Female Athlete of the Championship, after she set a new national and school record in the hammer throw—51.72m. The Knights outdoor track team finished second with help from Chris Farrell in the 1500m, Jaimaal Munir in the high jump, Keith Jobin in the 10,000 run, and Mike Dolan in the hammer throw.
In volleyball CCRI won the Region XXI title with a 20-12 record led by All-Region members LaRae Rhodes, Megan Hickey, Sonja Nealy, and Gina Ciambrone.
For the first time ever the Lady Knights and Knights basketball teams made the Nationals in the same year. The men’s basketball team ended with a record of 22-11 going undefeated in Region XXI at 16-0. The men went on to win the Region XXI and District tournaments before placing ninth at the Nationals in Danville, Ill. The Knights were led by All-Region members Alex Owumi and Marvin Owens. Owens was also voted to the National Tournament All-Tournament Team. The Lady Knights basketball team ended with a career best record of 29-4 losing only to Palm Beach (Division I) and Monroe, the eventual National Champion. The Lady Knights also went undefeated in Region XXI then went on to win and District Tournaments before finishing third at the Nationals in Phoenix, AZ—the best showing in Lady Knights history. The Lady Knights were led by All-Region Members Babette Noah, Amanda Ward, Jeanell Hughes, and Shermane Farrior. Ward was also selected the First Team All-American.
The Lady Knights softball team had a career best season with a 19-3 record. They were led by 2004 All-American Amanda Ward who batted .622 bringing her career batting average up to .590; co-captain Lindsay Cavanagh who batted .614; pitcher Jen Dupont 9-2 with an ERA of 1.51 with 62 strikeouts; and pitcher and Becky Boisvert 9-1 with an ERA of 1.86 with 42 strikeouts. The CCRI Knights Baseball Team finished the season with a 27-7 record led by catcher Gregg Allen, batting .364 with nine doubles and three HR; Brett Thornton, batting .477 with five doubles and two HR; pitcher Andy McNulty 7-2 with a 2.67 ERA and 67 strikeouts; and pitcher Marek Deska 6-0 with a 2.67 ERA and 80 strikeouts.
