2021-2022 Region III Female Athlete of the Year
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Grace Vondracek College: Corning Community College Sports: Softball Class: Freshman Grace helped lead the Red Barons softball team to their second straight NJCAA Division III Softball National Championship Runner-up finish. The Red Barons finished the season with a 40-8 record, with only three losses coming to Division III opponents, including the Mid-State Athletic Conference Championship and the Region III – NJCAA North A Championship, en route to the National Championship title game. In 2022, Vondracek was named the NJCAA Division III Softball National Player of the Year, the NFCA Division III Player of the Year, the NJCAA Region III Player of the Year, and the Mid-State Athletic Conference Player of the Year. She was named an NJCAA Division III Softball 1st Team All-American and an NFCA 1st Team All-American. She led all of Division III with a .626 batting average, 97 hits, and 88 runs scored; her 46 stolen bases were fourth best while her 17 doubles and 9 home runs placed her 12th in the nation. Corning Athletic Director Isaac Bushey had this to say about Grace, " We are very happy for Grace and are also extremely proud of her. Not only did she have one of the best statical seasons in the history of SUNY Corning Red Baron softball but she did so while earning her high marks in the classroom. She was named to the Region III All Academic team as well as a NJCAA Academic 3rd team All American. She has represented SUNY CCC and the athletic department in the right way." According to Head Coach Stacy Johnson, "One of the things that makes Grace so unique is her athleticism as she had the ability to beat out a bunt and then also knock the ball out of the ballpark her next at bat.” Grace was also as outstanding in the classroom as she was on the field earning a 3.82 GPA this spring and she carries a cumulative GPA of 3.77 with 61 credits completed. |
2021-2022 Region III Male Athlete of the Year
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Greg Farone College: Herkimer College Sports: Baseball Class: Freshman Greg helped lead the Generals to their first national championship in program history at the 2022 NJCAA Division III World Series. Herkimer finished the season 41-7, including a perfect 4-0 record during the national championship. Greg was one of Herkimer's dominant starting pitchers this season displaying his dominance repeatedly throughout the season. In 60.0 innings pitched over 12 games (9 starts) he surrendered only 11 earned runs on 22 hits while striking out 139 hitters. His 139 strikeouts set a new single season record at Herkimer and lead all of Division III. Greg's 20.9 strikeouts per 9 innings also led the nation while his 1.65 ERA was fourth best in DIII. Farone pitched a perfect game in a win over SUNY Adirondack striking out all 15 hitters he faced becoming the first pitcher at Herkimer to accomplish this feat. He was named the NJCAA Division III Pitcher of the Year, 2022 NJCAA 1st Team All-American, 2022 NJCAA Division III World Series MVP, and 1st Team All-Region. Greg has accepted a scholarship to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Louisville “Greg's impact on our program will be remembered forever," said head coach Jason Rathbun. "A two-time All-American and World Series MVP are accomplishments that players dream of. He deserves everything that he has accomplished because of his work ethic and personality are even better than his on the field performance.” Herkimer Athletic Director Don Dutcher had this to say about Farone, “Greg is one of the most dedicated and talented student athletes to wear a Herkimer Generals uniform. His commitment, dedication and passion for improving each and every day to be a better person, player and leader has been proved with his success in the classroom and on the pitching mound. He truly is one of our best ever at Herkimer.” |
2021-2022 Region III Athletic Director of the Year
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Steve Mullen College: Erie Community College Steve started his career at ECC in 2008 and has served as its Director of Athletics since 2018. During the 2021-2022 year Mullen chaired Region III Sports Committees for Baseball, Bowling, and Swimming & Diving. He also served on the Football Committee and the Standards and Ethics Committee for Region 3 this year. At the national level, he served as chair of the NJCAA Swimming & Diving Committee and was a member of the Football Committee. In 2022-2023 he will continue to chair the Swimming & Diving Committee as well as the newly formed Division III Football Committee. "Steve is running one of the biggest athletic departments in our region serving multiple campuses and athletes," says Region 3 Women's Director Kristen Schuth. "He has stepped up nationally to chair and sit on multiple sport committees. He also became the Western New York Atheltic Conference president this past year which serves as a part of the Region 3 Executive Committee. Steve is always actively involved and always puts the student athlete first while making decisions. We are lucky to have him as part of our Region 3 Athletic Directors." |
2021-2022 Region III Athletic Trainer of the Year
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Amber Nichols College: Genesee Community College Amber manages all of the sports programs at Genesee as well as overseeing two training rooms. She also supervises the fitness center, training, scheduling for all workers/shifts, as well as overseeing two part-time athletic trainers. Over the past two years, Nichols' workload has increased as she has also led COVID-19 protocol implementation and rapid testing on campus. She was the head athletic trainer for the 2019 NJCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship and the 2021 NJCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship as well as multiple Region Championship tournament contests. Amber has travelled with many of GCC's sports programs during post season competition throughout her time serving as GCC's head athletic trainer. “Amber is one of the most compassionate athletic trainers in our Region. The athletes become part of her family when she oversees their care. She not only is our athletic trainer but also manages our fitness center and our conditioning programs. Day in and day out she has a smile on her face and bleeds Genesee,” says GCC Athletic Director, Kristen Schuth. Nichols is involved in leadership roles outside of the athletic department, including the NJCAA Region 3 Athletic Trainers Committee and COVID-19 reintegration committee (Genesee Community College and NJCAA Region 3), NATA member, NATA Clinical Symposia and AT Expo attendee. Amber has been a certified athletic trainer since 2004. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from SUNY Brockport and has received a Master's Degree in Athletic Training from California University of Pennsylvania. Amber is also certified as a Performance Enhancement Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. |
2021-2022 Community Service Award
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Hudson Valley Community College Hudson Valley CC has been recognized for the third consecutive time having won the award in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 (no program was recognized in 2020-2021 due t the COVID-19 pandemic). Vikings' student athletes, coaches, staff, and administrators once showed their dedication to their local communities with events through the 2021-2022 academic year. A listing of these events is listed below.
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