Ongoing life lesson as a Morrisville State student-athlete
By Brandy Thurston, Director of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – March 2014) Morrisville State College athletics has made some noise over the past few years as members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), but more recently, their all-around efforts on and off the playing fields are starting to stand at the forefront of the true meaning of Division III college athletics.
With a longstanding commitment to academic success, the Mustang student-athlete body set the bar high following the last spring academic term, registering a best ever department encompassing grade point average along with record number of student-athletes named to conference All-Academic teams and institutional Dean’s and President’s Lists.
That all has since been forgotten as the student-athlete body, following the fall academic term, has topped that mark once again, posting a collective 2.80 grade point average, while having a record number 154 student-athletes named to the institutional Dean’s or President’s List at Morrisville State.
On the field, the bar has been raised for the Mustang family, as several programs have moved forward and been top competitors within their respective conferences. Alone this season, Morrisville State has captured regional and national attention with weekly and post-season awards, having 30 earn All-Conference accolades through the winter and four either player of the year or rookie of the year honors. Not to mention, a national ranking here or there in numerous statistical categories.
What makes all of that more meaningful, though, is the Mustang commitment to service to the community on top of their already jammed packed schedules.
“We are really fortunate to have student-athletes at Morrisville State College who recognize the importance service activities play in their overall development,” Athletic Director Greg Carroll stated. “That sense of community not only makes our campus stronger, but also instills in our students a spirit of giving that they take with them when they leave and go back to their homes and communities they choose to live and work.”
In the past, Morrisville State has logged 1,400 hours of service, and are on pace to establish yet another record breaking year. Activities throughout the year have included fundraisers for charitable organizations, outreach programs for food bank donations, blood drives, Morrisville Winterfest, and most recently Bully-Free Zone and Operation Northern Comfort.
“Participating in community events helps our program grow closer as a team and in becoming part of the greater community,” said softball and volleyball coach Fred Wallace whose teams were involved with the Winterfest and campus blood drive.
In early February, ice hockey partnered with Madison-Herkimer-Oneida BOCES to raise awareness about bullying and to establish a bully-free zone within the Morrisville community. “We were thrilled to be part of this event alongside Greg Auffrey and BOCES,” said head hockey coach Kevin Krogol.
“Outside of raising awareness and support for bully prevention efforts, it is a great opportunity for our team, school and community to come together in a positive way.”
“Selflessness is one of the cornerstones of our program,” said head football coach Curt Fitzpatrick, “part of being selfless is serving others.”
With a goal of reaching more than 320 hours alone in the football program, the Mustangs have been having fun serving the Morrisville and surrounding communities.
“Serving the local and surrounding communities is very important to our program,” Fitzpatrick said. “Not only are we helping great causes like Winterfest for children, and Operation Northern Comfort for families in need, but it has brought our team closer and assisted in developing the kind of leadership skills that will guide our student-athletes in being successful on and off the field.”
“The NCAA does a great job promoting that spirit across Division III and our student-athletes value the opportunity to contribute in the same way other student-athletes do in their own campus communities,” said Carroll.
Photos show Morrisville State student-athletes participating in various community service projects and activities.