USCAA RECOGNIZES FIVE FTC BASKETBALL PLAYERS

By Kate Miller

While the 2022-2023 Men’s and Women’s Basketball seasons may be over at Five Towns College, celebrating our student-athletes is not done yet!

The USCAA recognized five players from the FTC Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams for prestigious end-of-season awards.

Senior Guard Damani Merritt was named to the USCAA All-American Honorable Mention team. Merritt is the second person in Five Towns history to achieve 1000 points in his career and was named the 2023 HVIAC Men’s Player of the Year. He reflected on his final season here and his accomplishments.

“It’s an amazing feeling being recognized by all the coaches in the league, and it’s an honor being able to represent Five Towns College in the right way. I received this award last year but getting it two years in a row just shows how much hard work and dedication I put into the game.”

Junior Forward Jordan Tobin also achieved the All-American Honorable Mention nod award and was named 2023 HVIAC Women’s Player of the Year. Tobin stated the importance of her support system.

“It feels really good to earn [All-American] it this year because this group was really special. We did struggle all season with injuries and people stepping away from the team, so it feels good to earn it because I didn’t just earn it for myself. I earned it for my teammates who couldn’t play, my teammates who pushed me to get better every day, and my coaches who spent countless hours with me to get me better. I’m proud of the season we had. And now it’s time to lock in during the off-season to continue to grow our program.”

Athletic Director Matt Guercio spoke about Merritt’s and Tobin’s impact on the basketball program. “This is the second consecutive year both Jordan and Damani have been named to the USCAA All-American Team. They are individuals their teammates look up to, and both of them will do anything to help their teams succeed.”

Three FTC students were named to the USCAA All-Academic team: Senior Guard Maria Medina, Sophomore Guard Sydney Mountain, and Sophomore Forward Jan Filip Jagelski.  This award recognizes students who have a cumulative average of 3.5 or greater.

Mountain was proud of the recognition, saying, “I feel very honored to earn this achievement for the second time this year, first being in the soccer season earlier this year. It just shows that I take pride in my work on and off the field/court.”

Jagelski, who comes from Poland, said, “being named an All-Academic Student is an incredible honor, and it truly reflects my commitment to excel both on and off the court. I firmly believe that success comes from constant effort and dedication, so I never make excuses in any aspect of my life. Whether it’s maintaining good grades or performing well in basketball, it all comes down to hard work and cultivating good habits. The same mindset that drives me in the classroom fuels my passion on the court, reminding me that excellence is a result of unwavering determination and discipline.”

Guercio stressed the importance of these successful FTC student-athletes. “They are exemplary of what it means to be a student-athlete. We are very proud of what they have achieved both on and off the court.”

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