Suffolk CC to consolidate three sports programs
View of Veteran's Plaza looking southeast from the roof of the Huntington Library on the campus of Suffolk Community College / Ammerman Campus in Selden. (Aug. 31, 2006) Credit: FREELANCE/JOSEPH D. SULLIVAN
Suffolk Community College will no longer sponsor duplicate intercollegiate teams in three of its sports at the Selden and Brentwood campus, the school announced Wednesday. Men's basketball, baseball and women's volleyball will consolidate during a 24-month transition. Venues have not been determined. The college sponsors 19 sports.
The college also announced its intentions to formulate an enhanced intramural program. "I would say the driver was really for students on the campus to be engaged," vice president for institutional advancement Mary Lou Araneo said. "The extra support for the intramural program will enable us to impact the student experience."
Araneo denied that budgetary issues fueled the change. "We'll be using the modifications to allot funds to developing the intramural program." Araneo said about 225 students participate in athletics. With the loss of three teams, less than 50 student-athletes will be affected. "The pool for who becomes a team member in theory should be a stronger pool," Araneo said.
With an enrollment of 25,560, Suffolk is the largest community college in the state. According to Araneo, four other colleges - Monroe, Jamestown, Tompkins Cortland and Hudson Valley have consolidated its athletic programs.
Pat Pollicastro, the basketball coach at Selden, said "It's not a bad move, it is one college. Sometimes you feel like you are competing against yourself. You are competing for Suffolk kids. It has always been kind of strange in that respect."'
Brentwood volleyball coach Colleen Reid agreed. "I think it's a good thing for the college," Reid said. "The Brentwood campus struggled with getting players to commit for volleyball. This might be beneficial in competing with some of the top teams."
Selden volleyball coach Kimberly Simpson added, "It is what it is. It is not really under our control. If it is meant to help the kids, I hope it helps the kids."
Coaches in the affected sports might have to reapply for their positions. "They'll chose whomever they want to be the new coach," Simpson said. 'If I'm not the one to be chosen, I'll just have to find another coaching job."
The two campuses have produced outstanding baseball teams, with the Brentwood entry going to the junior college world series three times.
Selden coach baseball Eric Brown and Brentwood coach Bob Molinaro refused comment.
