MIDDLESEX COLLEGE COLTS ATHLETICS CELEBRATES HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR AT COLTS ACHIVEMENT AWARDS BANQUET
Middlesex College Athletics held their annual Colts Achievement Awards and had a lot to celebrate after a highly successful 2022-2023 school year.
In addition to team awards, the department handed out six major awards and recognized athletes and coaches for their significant accomplishments during what was a historic year for the Colts.
"Sometimes we get caught up in the day-to-day operation of our department that we lose focus on just how successful we have been," said Director of Athletics Rocco Constantino who was the host of the ceremony. "When you put it all together and reflect back, it's so impressive to see what our students and coaches accomplished despite overcoming many obstacles along the way."
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the six major awards that were voted on by members of the Athletic Department staff and coaches. Those taking home departmental hardware included Head Men's Soccer Coach Javier Velasco and students Jamie Madrid, Carla Seyfarth, Gio Aresta, Destiny Pagan and Tyler Ryan. In addition, each team handed out individual MVPs plus two additional awards at the discretion of each sport's coaching staff.
The evening also featured remarks by Middlesex College President Dr. Mark McCormick, who has been an ardent supporter of Colts athletics during his tenure. Constantino also thanked the Athletics Department staff, which included Carey Monkowski, Anibal Hernandez, Annette Stacknick, Gabriela Jurick, Richard Catena, Montique Johnson and the late Shannon Williams as well as those who worked home events. He also noted that school-wide support by college administration and the Board of Trustees was key to student success.
Before the departmental awards, Constantino recognized teams and individuals for their performance on the fields and in the classroom. He acknowledged the seven Colts teams who qualified for the NJCAA Region XIX Playoffs and presented the Region XIX Tournament runner-up plaque to Men's Volleyball Head Coach Myia Williams after the men placed second in the tournament this year.
Constantino also acknowledged Seyfarth, Jayson Vassallo and Isaiah Figueroa, who were named NJCAA National Players of the Week in their respective sports of softball, men's soccer and baseball. Seven athletes were recognized for being named First Team All-Region and that group included Jamie Madrid and David Pereira from Men's Soccer, Destiny Pagan and Akylah Hawkins from Women's Soccer, Michael Nycz and Tyler Ryan from Men's Volleyball and Gio Aresta from the baseball team. Nycz and Madrid were honored for being named Player of the Year in Region XIX in their respective sports as well.
Middlesex College featured six athletes who were named First Team All-American this year as well. That group included Madrid for Men's Soccer, Raven Orange for Women's Track & Field and the Men's 4x400 relay team of Jessi Jimenez, Tom Bell, Jan Nolasco and Maurice Hernandez. Orange and the 4x400 relay team were named 1st Team All-American by virtue of winning National Titles in their events. In addition, Orange was honored for being named the East Region NJCAA Female Track Athlete of the Year.
While their success on the playing fields was a highlight, Constantino also acknowledged success in the classroom as well. In particular, 12 athletes received NJCAA Academic All-American recognition for having a GPA of a 3.6 or higher during their season of competition.
Lastly, Constantino recognized two coaches who reached professional milestones this year. Head Baseball Coach CJ Mooney captured his 200th career win this season and Head Women's Basketball Coach Michel Powell notched her 250th career win.
"I hope people recognize that this type of success does not come without hard work, sacrifice and dedication," said Constantino. "It's not easy to succeed as a student-athlete on the two-year level. All of our students commute, have to attend school full-time and meet academic standards in order to play. This is all while also balancing their personal lives. It's truly remarkable to see all of this success and I could not be more proud of our athletes and coaches."
MIDDLESEX COLLEGE ATHLETICS 2022-2023 DEPARTMENTAL AWARD WINNERS
COACH OF THE YEAR: Javier Velasco, Men's Soccer
Coach Velasco led his team to an 11-4-1 record and #3 seed in the Region 19 tournament after not qualifying the year before. Middlesex was ranked in the NJCAA National Poll for six weeks, reaching a high ranking of #7. Velasco also coached this year's Region 19 Player of the Year, Jamie Madrid, who was also Middlesex College's first 1st Team All-American since 1998.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Jamie Madrid, Men's Soccer
The Region 19 Player of the Year was Middlesex College's first Men's Soccer First Team All-American since 1998. He is just the second 1st Team All-American Men's Soccer player in school history. Madrid was 3rd in Region 19 with 11 goals and 29 points. Madrid had four two-goal games this season and three games of at least four points. He helped the Colts to an 11-4-1 record this season as their captain and top player.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Carla Seyfarth, Softball/Women's Basketball
Seyfarth averaged 15.3 points per game, which was 5th in Region 19 and in the top 40 nationally among qualifying players. She started all 31 games for the Colts and was one of just 12 players nationally who started more than 30 games. She was 2nd in Region 19 & 5th nationally with 339 rebounds. Her 234 defensive rebounds led Region 19. She is also one of the top players on the Colts softball team and one of the best power hitters in Region 19. Seyfarth batted .421 (40-95) with four home runs, 27 RBIs, 38 runs scored in 29 games while playingmultiple defensive positions.
VINCENT DESARIO AWARD FOR ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE: Gio Aresta, Baseball
Named in honor of Vincent DeSario, a student-athlete on the Men's Golf team who passed away in 2010, the award is given to the student-athlete who best combines success on the playing field and in the classroom while upholding the values that made DeSario such a respected student. Aresta was named Academic All-American after earning a GPA of 3.87. In addition, Aresta was named 1st Team All-Region after a stellar year as the Middlesex College first basemen and one of the top offensive threats on the team. Aresta batted .373 this year with two home runs and 37 RBIs. In 97 career games for the Colts, Aresta pounded out 112 hits and was remarkably consistent, logging a .366 career batting average while slugging .554 and getting on base at a .454 clip.
SHANNON WILLIAMS COLTS SPIRIT AWARD: Tyler Ryan, Men's Volleyball
A new award established this year to honor longtime Athletics Equipment Aide Shannon Williams, who passed away this fall, the award recognizes an athlete who embodied the same positivity and Colts spirit that Shannon brought to work with him every day for the 36 years he worked here. Ryan was selected as the inaugural recipient among six nominees from the department's coaches. Ryan was chosen not only for his outgoing personality, positivity and competitive nature, but also for the support he showed for our department. Ryan spearheaded the effort to establish Men's Volleyball as an intercollegiate sport at Middlesex and led the charge as the Colts became one of the best teams in the region and pioneers as one of the first intercollegiate Men's Volleyball team to compete in New Jersey among two-year schools. A 1st Team All-Region performer on the court, Ryan could also be seen working sidelines at soccer matches and cheering on the department's other athletics teams, especially women's volleyball.
NATIONAL GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY HONOREE: Destiny Pagan, Women's Soccer
Awarded earlier in the year at an event at Seton Hall University, Pagan was formally recognized for receiving this honor on campus. A two-year 1st Team All-Region performer on the Women's Soccer team, Pagan's selfless nature allowed Head Coach Adrienne Giordano to use Pagan wherever she was needed on the field. A fine student and leader on the pitch, Pagan scored three goals and had one assist in 20 career games for the Colts while playing mostly defensive positions.