JCC's Cattaraugus County Campus plans to strengthen its intercollegiate athletics program during the 2009-10 academic year by focusing on three sports rather than the five options previously offered.

 

"Our goal is to provide the best possible experience for our student athletes," said Eileen Goodling, JCC's vice president and dean of student development. "We believe we can accomplish that by focusing our energies on those programs that have historically provided more solid experiences for our students."

 

Offerings for the new academic year in the campus' Jaguar athletics program will be men's basketball, women's soccer, and co-ed golf. Women's basketball and men's soccer will no longer be available.

 

"We have engaged in a college-wide continuous improvement program for JCC athletics," said Ben Lindquist, director of athletics and recreation for the Cattaraugus County Campus. "This is not a decision driven by finances, but one intended to make a good athletics program even better.

 

“We compared our program to those at other similarly-sized community college campuses and it's apparent that we've been spreading ourselves too thin for the size of our student body. We believe that a stronger Jaguar athletics program will result from playing on our strengths," added Lindquist.

 

Lindquist will continue as head coach of the golf team with Ryan Deppa returning as head coach in women's soccer and Mike Blask taking over the head coaching position in men's basketball. The campus participates in Region III of the National Junior College Athletic Association. The campus also offers students a full range of intramural athletic opportunities.

 

"JCC now has exceptional athletic and physical education facilities in the complex we share with the Olean Family YMCA," Lindquist said. "Watch for exceptional intercollegiate sports to emerge as a result of refocusing our energies."

 

For additional information on athletics at the JCC Cattaraugus County Campus, contact Lindquist at 716.376.7529.