Men's Volleyball: "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 volleyball 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
The Wells College men's volleyball team's head coach Jim Nichols handed out five awards to six winners and recognized three seniors at the Wells College Express Awards Show on Wednesday, May 20.
Nichols awarded rookies of the year to Jackson Lieber and Darean Schug. "They are great gentlemen and would do whatever you asked of them. They got a lot of playing time in tough spots and they always came-in and produced," said Nichols.
Josh Undari received the Express Award, which goes to the player who embodies the true ideals of team commitment: leadership, discipline, dedication, and sportsmanship. Nichols added, "Josh is the all-time leader in assists in Wells history. Josh is the type of player that you'd like to build a whole team of. He would go through a brick wall to get to the ball."
Nichols awarded three most valuable player awards of the year for defensive, offensive and overall MVPs and started by naming the defensive MVP as Robert Patzer, "Robbie was probably our most dynamic player and has the potential to play at the next level and could probably play professionally," added Nichols.
The second of three MVPs was awarded to Justin Williams as the offensive MVP. "Justin at times this year was absolutely unstoppable and he makes all the players around him better. When the opposition has to key on the middle, it makes everyone else's job a little easier," Nichols said.
Finally, the overall MVP went to Caden O'Loughlin. "Caden is the type of player whom without, my job would have been a lot more difficult. He pushed the kids all year long and kept everybody focused and put in all the extra work," Nichols said.
Three seniors were recognized that included: Kevin Batmunkh, Josh Undari and Caden O'Loughlin.
"The seniors were all huge parts of our program. They will be missed, but I understand that they may be coming back for another year; I'm holding out hope (for that)," said Nichols.
Prior to Nichols announcing his team's award winners, Provost and Dean of the College Dr. Cindy Speaker 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.
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. Among the men's volleyball names referenced were four all-NEAC selections with O'Loughlin, Patzer and Williams being named to the first team and Undari to the second team. Coach Nichols was the NEAC Coach of the Year. Patzer was an all-region selection and the NEAC's Player of the Year. In addition, Patzer surpassed the 1,000-point plateau this past season. Undari was recognized for reaching 3,000 assists this past season and holding the career record in assists. O'Loughlin was recognized for reaching 1,500 points this past season and holding four career records.
President Gibralter also referenced 19 NEAC players of the week, eight of which came from the men's volleyball team. Receiving a pair of awards each were Williams, O'Loughlin and Patzer. Single-week award winners were Joe Zimmerman and Kevin Batmunkh.
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 decline 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
