New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz celebrated annual Division III Week, which began April 7 running until April 13, with a multitude of events.
 
On Sunday, April 6, the Hawks Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted and volunteered at the annual Special Olympics Basketball Tournament held in the Hawk Center. Nearly 30 student-athletes came out to lend a hand during the event and cheer on participants with nine different teams represented.
 
"It's always a great feeling when people show up to an event that means a lot to your organization," said SAAC President and SUNY New Paltz women's soccer senior Gaby Treble. "The Special Olympics is an event that we have been hosting for years and each year it feels like more and more individuals, both in and out of SAAC, are involved. The feedback we get from the administrators of the event as well as the participants is always so positive and heartwarming to hear. We're just thrilled that everyone has such a great time since it's a day both of the organizations look forward to.

"It's always more enjoyable when you can tell that the volunteers actually want to be there and want to take part in making the day fun," she added. "I do think it was one of the biggest turnouts since I've been here. We wouldn't have been able to have had such success without Coach [Matt] Giufre. He does such a great job of organizing events like these and forming relationships with organizations that make them excited to work with us."

There were 12 different teams signed up with the competition tight, as one game even went into triple overtime to determine the winner. A culmination of one of the best turnouts in years in the Hawk Center for the annual tournament, SUNY New Paltz hopes to continue facilitating the event with an even greater turnout next spring. 
 
"I think my perspective has changed with this event the same as it has with other events that I've gotten to be a part of as president for the first time," Treble said. "It's extra rewarding to have a deeper understanding of all the moving parts and different aspects that go into the planning of an event like the Special Olympics and then see it come to fruition in such a fantastic way. Our partnership with this organization and the joy it brings so many people is reason enough for us to continue being involved in this event for years to come."

That following night in the Hawk Center, SUNY New Paltz Director of Athletics, Wellness and Recreation Renee Bostic facilitated the Division III LGBTQ One Team training program with all first year and first-year transfer student-athletes in attendance.
 
On Monday, April 7, Hawks Assistant Director and women's volleyball coach Matt Giufre hosted an Academic Celebration event that recognized all students who earned a 4.0 in the spring and fall 2024 semesters, along with first- and second-year Chi Alpha Sigma Inductees. The newly minted Chi Alpha National Honor Society recipients were called up to receive their honorary certificates while special guest speaker, women's basketball senior Morgan Hammell spoke on her experience balancing athletics and academics to the group. Also in attendance were Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. Heather Lai, SUNY New Paltz President Darrell P. Wheeler, Vice President Kathleen Lieblich and Provost William McClure. (to see the full list of Chi Alpha Sigma Inductees see below*)
 
 
"I am extremely grateful that our FAR, president, vice president and provost felt compelled to join us in our signature annual academic event to celebrate high achieving student athletes," Giufre said. "I'm happy to be a part of anything that highlights the achievements of our athletes and this one being an academic achievement is certainly exciting to be a part of. We're proud to not only acknowledge our student-athletes between our staff, but among the greater community for the student part of being a student-athlete given the time commitment it takes them to be successful in everything they're involved in.
 
"It was also really great that the department staff and our University's upper administration stayed and socialized with the athletes after the ceremony," Giufre added. "I think it made the event even more special."
 
Additionally, the Hawks were represented at the annual SUNYAC SAAC Retreat by women's soccer freshman Alyssa Deutsch and men's soccer junior Ryan Bochenski. The two attended several forums and mingled with fellow SUNYAC student-athletes. They participated in a variety of conversations revolving around student-athlete experience and heralded ideas that can be carried over to each respective campus within the SUNYAC. The two also took part in the SUNYAC SAAC's annual Special Olympics Bowling Event that highlighted the weekend.
 
"It was a memorable experience being able to represent New Paltz with athletes from all around the SUNYAC," Bochenski said. "It allowed me to learn from every other student-athlete's different experience from their school and allowed me to voice mine to them. We all learned so much from each other and from the conference, and there's a bunch of ideas and concepts I'm excited to share back at New Paltz."
 
Voting for next year's SUNYAC SAAC E-Board also took place with Bochenski voted as the SUNYAC SAAC Vice President for the 2025-26 academic year.
 
"It was honestly not something I thought I would've done prior to the weekend… then after day one, I was voicing my opinions and experiences as others were, and learning I had similar ones to them, so I decided to run and it ended up working out," Bochenski said. "Now I can continue to voice the opinion of New Paltz's student-athletes on a larger scale."
 
For more information on the SUNYAC SAAC annual retreat visit sunyacsports.com.
 

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Chi Alpha Sigma Inductees:
First-Year Inductees:
Michael Ascanio (baseball)
Jeff Lundsedt (baseball)
Matt Sarni (baseball)
Jason Wall (baseball)
Xavier Zykoff (baseball)
Thomas Keane (men's basketball)
Gail Comiskey (field hockey)
Ayden Fleming (field hockey)
Madelyn Graves (field hockey)
Madeline Meyer (field hockey)
Rachel Tama (field hockey)
Colin Cleary (men's lacrosse)
Lexi Atwater (women's lacrosse)
Morgan Atwater (women's lacrosse)
Gabriella Tommaso (women's lacrosse)
Sam Wohlmut (women's lacrosse/women's soccer)
Sophia D'Arcangelis (softball)
Kelsey O'Brien (softball)
Sydney Waldon (softball)
David Acker (men's soccer)
Maddie Franklin (women's soccer)
Gaby Treble (women's soccer)
Antonio Vavalle (men's swimming)
Molly Snyder (women's swimming)
Nina Genzone (women's tennis)
Mike Handell (men's volleyball)
Matt Teplansky (men's volleyball)
Ava Nargentino (women's cross country)
Crystal Rustami (women's cross country)
 
 
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