Article by Paul Cottingham | Owl Staff
I recently attended a Harford baseball game here at HCC, and I really enjoyed myself. The team was excellent, winning the game by way of the 10-run mercy rule. The atmosphere was comparable to that of an Orioles game with each player having his own music played over the loudspeaker as his name was announced.
All of this was awesome, but one major thing was missing: spectators. It is very rare to hear anyone around campus talking about any of the teams here at HCC. Why is that? Do people just simply not care? There are numerous reasons why school athletic teams should be important to students.
First and foremost, the student athletes who compete are a direct representation of the student body. When they put on their uniform, they are playing for the pride of the school. Students at HCC love to support the local professional teams like the Ravens and the Orioles.
“It goes to show that great athletes can come from anywhere. There are excellent student athletes here at HCC who are making a name for themselves. Who knows, maybe there is a future super star right here at HCC.”
If one student in a class starts a conversation about Ed Reed, that conversation could spread amongst half of the class. There are good athletes here at HCC too, and they are doing big things. Just last fall, Erin Lynn was named a first team NJCAA All-American in soccer and lacrosse, amongst other superlatives. The baseball team, as a whole, posted school best with 44 wins this season, ranking them number one amongst Maryland Junior Colleges.
This season, women’s volleyball coach Jason Colangelo expresses trust in the team to continue improving their game in the 2011 season. “I’ve seen these ladies play a lot this past season,” Colangelo explains. “I’m confident they will bring a lot of leadership and strength to the team.”
Jason Muffoletto will continue to coach both the men’s and women’s soccer teams this fall. This past fall, the men’s team scored a school record of 70 goals, and the women’s team ranked nationally in the top 10 for a second consecutive year. “Our goal for the upcoming [women’s] season is to improve everyday as a team. If we do that, we will win the championship,” Muffoletto adds.
Although professional and Division I collegiate sports are always going to be more popular attractions, it is important to recognize the smaller schools like Harford. Just this spring, the Carolina Panthers selected Cameron Newton number one overall in the NFL Draft. Before he was playing in the NFL, he also led Blinn College, a junior college much like Harford, to a national title.
It goes to show that great athletes can come from anywhere. There are excellent student athletes here at HCC who are making a name for themselves. Who knows, maybe there is a future super star right here at HCC.
Will you be there to see them or not?