Section 2 on campus
TROY, N.Y. » In this edition of Section 2 on campus, we take a look at how our local studentathletes are faring in the collegiate ranks across the country. We’re covering everything spanning from basketball, hockey, indoor track, and swimming and diving. Statistics are as of Dec. 15, 2023. If we missed anyone, please email our sports department.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL:
Joey Atkins, Watervliet, Daemen: The Watervliet graduate was named the Daemen Male Athlete of the Month for November after kicking off his graduate season by being named East Coast Conference Preseason Player of the Year, as released by the conference before the season. He has also picked up three ECC Defensive Player of the Week awards. The 6-foot-5 forward has averaged 12.3 points and a team-high 8.1 rebounds per game. He scored a seasonhigh 23 points against Western Washington in the seasonopening D2CCA Canadian TipOff Classic in Vancouver, B.C., and pulled down a season-high 15 boards along with 17 points for a double-double on Dec. 8 in a victory at Molloy.
Luke Bourgault, La Salle Institute, Utica: The La Salle Institute graduate is averaging 7.9 points per game. He was named Empire 8 Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 27, 2023. Bourgault shined in Utica’s 71-56 win against SUNY Poly last with a Pioneer career-high of 21 points, including shooting 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and 4-for-4 from the foul line. He also was effective on defense with four steals and active on the glass with five rebounds and a block.
James Blake, Tamarac, Hudson Valley Community College: The Tamarac graduate is averaging 14.5 points per game in 11 contests for the Vikings.
Connor Cepiel, West Sand Lake, Union College: The La Salle Institute graduate is averaging 6.7 points per game for the Garnet Chargers.
J.J. Chestnut, Watervliet, College of Staten Island: The Watervliet graduate is averaging 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in nine contests this season. He scored a seasonhigh 16 points in a win against Queens College on Dec. 2.
Messiah Mallory, Watervliet, College of Staten Island: The
Watervliet graduate is averaging 11.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in eight contests. He posted a season-high 16 points and 13 boards for a double-double in a victory against Mercy.
Zachary Rice, Tamarac, SUNY Brockport: On Dec. 5, the Tamarac graduate led the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles in scoring, posting a career-high 17 points to go with seven boards and three assists in a 94-84 loss against SUNY Morrisville. He shot 50% from the floor and 50% from long range in the contest (6-for-12 FG, 3-for-6 3PT).
Jordan King, CBA, Richmond: The CBA graduate and former Siena Saints guard leads the Richmond Spiders and A10 conference averaging 20.2 points per game.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:
Anna Jankovic, Averill Park, D’Youville: On Dec. 11, the Averill Park graduate earned East Coast Conference Honor Roll honors. On the campaign, she’s averaging 13.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. On Dec. 15, she scored a season-high 23 points in a losing effort against Columbus State.
Logan Thayne, Hoosick Falls, Cobleskill: The Hoosick Falls graduate was named the North Atlantic Conference’s Women’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week for the week ending Dec. 10, 2023. During that stretch she posted a pair of double/doubles while averaging 18.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocked shots per game converting 20-of-34 shots from the field, 58.8%, and 13-of-14 free throw attempts, 92.9%. She’s averaging 14.9 points per game this season.
Sidney Phillips, Tamarac, HVCC: The Tamarac graduate is averaging 13.4 points per contest in nine games this season for the Vikings.
Samantha Dayter, Cohoes, SUNY Canton: The Cohoes graduate is averaging 5.4 points per game, 3.0 assists per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game this season. She scored a seasonhigh 16 points and pulled down nine boards in a victory against Eastern Nazarene on Dec. 2.
Syrita Faraj, Tamarac, The College of Saint Rose: The Tamarac graduate and Russell Sage College transfer is averaging 12.4 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Golden Knights this season. She had a game-high 26 points and secured nine rebounds in a victory against Roberts Wesleyan on Dec. 11.
Kaelah Carter, Watervliet native, Saint Rose: The Watervliet native and Shaker High School graduate is averaging 5.4 points and 1.4 rebounds per game for the Golden Knights in eight games this season. She scored a season-high 12 points in a Dec. 5 victory against St. Michael’s.
Amelia Wood, Averill Park, Sacred Heart: In 11 contests, the Averill Park graduate is averaging 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. She notched a season-high 20 points in a victory against Monmouth on Nov. 15.
Kelsey Wood, Averill Park, Sacred Heart: In one game this season, the Averill Park graduate pulled down six boards and chipped in an assist in a losing effort against Rhode Island on Nov. 7.
Jenalyse Alarcon, Troy, College of Staten Island: The Troy graduate is averaging 9.7 points per contest on the campaign.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING:
Leana Padunina, Troy, Saint Rose: The Troy graduate took first place in the 50-yard butterfly and 50yard backstroke in a Dec. 8 dual meet at Mount Saint Mary. She took the 50 fly in 28.12 seconds before touching in 30.21 in the 50 back. Padunina also helped the Saint Rose Golden Knights win the 200 medley and 500 free relays. For that, she earned NE10 weekly honor roll accolades.
Willa Werwaiss, Troy, Emma Willard, Lehigh: On Dec. 2, in a meet loss against Drexel, the Troy native and Emma Willard graduate finished third in the 50-yard breaststroke for Lehigh. She also recorded a third-place mark in the 150-yard freestyle (1:25.40) and a fourthplace mark in the 100-yard freestyle (54.84).
Elaine Gillan, Rensselaer, St. Michael’s: On Nov. 18 at the North Country Invitational, the Rensselaer graduate sided in the 400 free.
MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING:
Nathan Greene, Troy, Saint Rose: The Troy graduate placed first in the 500 freestyle in 4:55.44 and first in the 1,000 freestyle in 10:16.68 at the CSI Invitational on Dec. 4 in Staten Island. He additionally placed second in the 400 IM in 4:23.34 and the 200 freestyle relay.
MEN’S HOCKEY: Logan DiScanio, La Salle Institute, University of New England (Maine): The La Salle Institute graduate has two goals and one assist in 10 games this season.
WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD:
Charisma Losse, Troy, Lansingburgh, Russell Sage College: On Dec. 2, at the Springfield College season opener, the Lansingburgh graduate broke the Russell Sage College record 1,000m standard with a time of 3:46.28.