Men's Basketball: "Awards Show Rewind"
"Awards Show Rewind" is a Wells College Athletics 13 segment feature that reviews each 2019-20 Wells athletics team and its honorees from the May 20 Express Awards Show in reverse order from the show's countdown. Today's featured team is the 2019-20 men's basketball team. Links for the entire show can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YCv2s5JgVc or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WellsExpresslive
Wells College men's basketball team's head coach Joe Wojtylko handed out four awards to four winners and recognized three players in their final season at the Wells College Express Awards Show on Wednesday, May 20.
Wojtylko awarded rookie of the year to Izaiah McPherson. "Izaiah was third in points-per-game, third in rebounds-per-game and had a great game at NYU where he had 17 points and seven rebounds against NYU, which is pretty daunting to do as a freshman. I will say it was a close award as there was only a one-point difference in votes (among the players) for this award," said Wojtylko.
Zach D'Arpino received the Express Award, which goes to the player who embodies the true ideals of team commitment: leadership, discipline, dedication, and sportsmanship. Wojtylko added, "Zach has won this award three of the four years he has been in the program, which is a pretty great accomplishment. We always tell our guys to basically vote for whoever you think the best teammate is. Zach's a young man who's going to leave a huge hole for us to fill moving forward as he has been the greatest captain and greatest leader that we have had in the program."
Quinten Battle was awarded the team's defensive player of the year award and Wojtylko added, "Quinten finished second in steals-per-game and did a great job in the press on our second line. He has great anticipation skills to cover the back to get deflections and steals in the press."
Finally, the most valuable player of the year went to Jalen Tribble. "Jalen led us in points-per-game, rebounds-per-game and field-goal percentage and was a really great young man to have in our program. I wish I had him back for a fourth year, but he's actually in a 3-2 engineering program, so we'll miss him quite a bit next year," Wojtylko said.
Three departing players were also recognized that included Zach D'Arpino, A.J. Nesci and Jalen Tribble. "We'd like to acknowledge our seniors. A.J. Nesci and Zach D'Arpino put in a combined eight years with us. Jalen's also leaving so that's 11 years of playing time that's leaving our program. We're definitely going to miss them. We look forward to everything they're going to accomplish in the future," Wojtylko said.
Prior to Wojtylko announcing his team's award winners, Provost and Dean of the College Dr. Cindy Speaker announced academic awards for Wells College student-athletes. Zach D'Arpino, of the men's basketball team, was announced as the 2020 Kathryn S. Maloney Male Scholar-Athlete Award winner. The award is given to a male and female member of the senior class who has participated on a varsity team for a minimum of three seasons and has exemplified academic excellence at Wells College.
Provost and Dean of the College Speaker also announced the inaugural class of Wells College's New York State Alpha Omicron Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, a national organization that recognizes student-athletes from accredited four-year institutions who excel in both the classroom and competition. In order to be inducted, a student-athlete must attend a four-year accredited college or university that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA, or NCCAA. The honoree also must achieve at least junior academic standing by the fifth semester or seventh quarter, as determined by the certifying institution, and must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of a 3.4. Of the inaugural Wells College Chi Alpha Sigma class, two were men's basketball team members that included Zach D'Arpino and A.J. Nesci.
Preceding the Provost and Dean of the College was Wells College President Jonathan Gibralter, who recognized accomplishments and milestones of Wells athletes during the past season, as well as 19 NEAC players of the week.
While the live Express Awards may be remembered as the first presentation ceremony for Wells athletics cyberly, many others will remember more the inspiring closing words from Director of Athletics and Physical Education Mike Lindberg:
"2020 – it's a year none of us will ever forget. In my 40 years of serving students in higher education, I have never experienced a year quite like 2020.
Some of you who have taken my classes may remember my talk about the choices we have . . . that Stimulus doesn't have to equal Reaction. Instead, we should turn the equals sign 90 degrees, and you will find that now we have created a "pause" sign: Stimulus – Pause – Response. The pause gives power: the power to choose how we respond.
In her 152-year history, Wells College has endured fires, epidemics, world wars, economic depressions — all threatening our existence — and yet . . . we are still here.
How? The answer is: the power of choice.
As Margaret Meade wrote: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
After the Main Building fire of 1888, the "new" Main was built in time for the 1890 Commencement ceremony with Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, greeting us at the front door — having survived that devastating fire.
Did you know that, during World War I, that Wells students raised over $63,000 in war bonds? They also donated more than 60,000 surgical masks, and 10 students even volunteered to go to France to work as a canteen unit.
And during the influenza epidemic of 1918, thirty-four students contracted the flu. Classes were cancelled from October 14 through November 2, and Main 4th floor and Pettibone were filled with the sick patients who were cared for and nursed back to health by our College family.
Wells was threatened, once more, by the Great Depression of 1929; but, once again, our alumnae family said "never" — and Wells enrollment and prestige soared.
Then there was World War II, the turbulent '60s, and the "utopian society" of the '90s; the enrollment declines in the early 2000s; the recession of 2008-2009; and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 are just chapters in our history. Chapters that have made us stronger because this small yet powerful group of committed citizens (you and I), who have created change so that Wells College not only survives, but thrives.
Never forget: choice is your responsibility. an action that can empower, change perspective, provide direction, motivate, influence, and inspire.
To all of our seniors: I hope you choose to regale in the memories of bus rides, practices, wins and losses, championships, and — most of all — friendships.
In short: what will be your "Do you remember…?" story when you return to campus for your class reunion?
The wins and losses will fade, but the memories of the commitment displayed to each other; the loyalty for team; the pride of wearing your uniform; and the resilience, persistence, and grit to pick yourself up after a loss and keep going — these will always be my own "Do you remember?" moments. I love watching you all play.
Seniors: thank you for your dedication, your passion, your leadership, and the standards you have set for the teams to follow. You wore the jersey, the helmet, the swim cap with honor, and I am proud of each and every one of you.
2020 is a year for the history books . . . and the class of 2020 is a class I will never forget.
I have two signs above my desk that I look at every day. They remind me of why we do what we do:
The first says: "Believe."
And the other says: "If you don't climb the mountain, you can't see the view."
I believe that the challenges we face as an institution, as an athletics program, as a team, and as individuals will make us better and stronger.
To you seniors: believe in what you've been taught and stay in touch with your coaches.
To those of you returning in the fall: believe in yourself, believe in your coaches, believe in your teammates, and believe in Wells College. If you truly believe, the view will never disappoint.
Let me conclude with a quote from "Still I Rise," by my favorite poet, Dr. Maya Angelou:
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Congratulations to all of our teams, and to all of our award winners. This concludes our program but, before signing off:
Please be safe . . . be healthy . . . and BE WELLS."
A link to the Athletics Awards Program is at: https://wells.prestosports.com/general/2019-20/files/2020AwardsProgram.pdf
