Women'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 women'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 women's basketball team's head coach Tara Ruckh handed out three awards at the Wells College Express Awards Show on Wednesday, May 20.
Ruckh awarded most improved to Maritza Scharoun. "This year's most improved award goes to a player who took on more of a scoring role this season and who also doubled her rebounding efforts from a year ago. Maritza went from scoring 96 pts and gathering 150 rebounds last season to scoring 160 pts and recorded 298 rebounds. She not only doubled her efforts in rebounding, she also had five games where she had a double-double in scoring and rebounding, which was No. 1 on our team in that statistical category. In her best game this year, she scored 19 pts and had 11 rebounds vs Cazenovia," said Ruckh.
Jennifer McCumber received the Express Award, which goes to the player who embodies the true ideals of team commitment: leadership, discipline, dedication, and sportsmanship. Ruckh added, "The Express Award on our team goes to the person who brought all the intangibles to the table. She never complained, did what was asked out of her and more, worked extremely hard, got along with everyone, and picked up the slack when something needed to be done. Jen came into the season already injured, but never complained and tried to do more than what she was physically able to do without hesitation."
Finally, the most valuable player of the year went to Jordan Jacobs. "This year's most valuable player award goes to a player who averaged over 12 points-per-game and almost seven rebounds-per-game. Jordan also had 33 blocks for the season, although I'm sure she would argue she would have had more but was probably called for a foul on a few of them! She averaged over 34 minutes per-game, and played in a couple of games while battling the flu. Her best game was vs Penn State Abbington where she scored 23 points and had 9 rebounds. This player has always been helpful off the court, often tells me when we have recruits, to just 'give them to me,' and she always wants to be involved with the growth of the program," Ruckh said.
Prior to Ruckh announcing her 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. Of the inaugural class, Maeghan Westmiller from the women's basketball team was one of 18 honorees.
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
