FTC Men’s Soccer Championship Ring Ceremony
By Jeff Kramer
On Wednesday, May 4th, Five Towns College hosted a Championship Ring Ceremony in the Downbeat Cafe to celebrate the incredible and historic accomplishment of the FTC Men’s Soccer team winning the HVIAC Championship this past season. The team ended the regular season 13-1 (5-0 in conference) and then advanced to the USCAA Division II National Championship, where they lost in the final game to Penn State Brandywine. At the conclusion of the season, Angel Chavez, Steven Paguada, and Sebastian Gomez were named 1st team USCAA All-Americans and Anthony Campos was named a 2nd team USCAA All-American.
It was an extraordinary and emotional evening for the players, coaches, family members, staff, and members of the FTC community in attendance. Senior Team Captain Sebastian Montenegro spoke a bit of what the night meant to him overall and what the biggest lesson is that he’ll take away from being on the team as a whole.
“It means the world because I get to experience it with people I love and that I grew a lot of love for. I got to meet a lot of people that just made the process and journey very nice. And that process alone, and them enjoying the moment with me, means the world.”
Montenegro continued with inspirational words for his fellow student-athletes:
“You always have to grow. If you don’t grow and evolve in life, then there’s no point. You have to grow year by year, set goals, have a plan.”
The event included several speakers, including FTC President Dr. David Cohen, FTC Athletic Director Matt Guercio, and Men’s Soccer Team Head Coach Jason Fiscina.
Fiscina spoke about what the night meant to him from a coach’s perspective:
“It means everything. It’s the culmination of all the 6 am practices, the sacrifices, the late nights, the scouting and recruiting, team building, long road trips. It’s the culmination of all of their hard work, and they’re the first team to bring a conference championship home, be #1 ranked in the country, and go all the way to the national finals for the second year. It’s an unbelievable accomplishment. These boys have rings that will last a lifetime…We saw a program that could be a national power and could be up there with the best in the country, and through hard work, determination, skills, and sacrifice, we did it. When you build a family camaraderie, family never loses.”
The Championship Ring ceremony was a momentous evening for all involved and one that the entire Men’s Soccer Team and their families will remember for years to come. The FTC community is proud to support all of The Sound teams and looks forward to next season.
For more information on Five Towns College Men’s Soccer and other Men’s and Women’s sports programs, head to the FTC Athletics website.
