Atlantic Cape Recognizes Outstanding Contributions of Student Athletes at 2nd Annual Athletics Banquet

MAYS LANDING — From their prowess on the hardwood and speed on the base paths to their keen eye on the target and determination around the net, Atlantic Cape Community College’s dedicated Buccaneer student athletes rose to the occasion in their respective sports and in their classwork this school year.

In recognition of these outstanding efforts, Atlantic Cape honored their excellence in sports and academics before proud parents, family, friends, and college staff and faculty at the 2nd Annual Athletics Banquet in Jonathan Pitney Hall Gymnasium on May 16 at the Mays Landing campus.

“Thank you to all of the faculty and staff for being so kind and helpful. Thank you to the coaches. They have a hard job, and some play the role of father and mother figures to our students,” said Atlantic Cape Athletic Director Jamal Edwards. “And without the parents none of this is possible. Thank you for trusting us with your young men and women.”

Atlantic Cape President Dr. Barbara Gaba applauded the efforts and dedication of the college’s student athletes throughout the past year.

“This really has been an outstanding year for Atlantic Cape athletics. You have dedicated your time to all of your practices, games and tournaments that you attended this year,” Gaba said. “It all takes dedication and focus to successfully juggle the responsibilities and demands of your studies and your sport. You have all risen to the challenge, which is demonstrated by your presence here tonight.”

Some of the highlights from the Buccaneers’ 2022-23 season include:

• Welcoming two new programs, Esports and Crew.
• Two Women’s Volleyball student athletes, Samantha Dangler and Angeliza Disla, were named to New Jersey All-Garden State Athletic Conference First and Second Teams, respectively, while Dangler was honored by the New Jersey Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women as a 2023 Woman of the Year recipient.
• The Men’s Basketball team completed another successful season by finishing 19-10 overall and advancing to the second round of the Region 19 playoffs. Sophomore Tyrese Myrick was named First Team All-Region and All-Garden State Athletic Conference.
• The Archery team competed in the 2023 Eastern Regional Collegiate Championship.
• The Baseball team seeded fifth in Region 19 and advanced to the playoffs. Luis Sauri and Kevin Foreman were nominated for 1st Team All-Region consideration.

Atlantic Cape alumnus David Coit, who played his freshman year of men’s basketball for the Buccaneers last year before transferring to Northern Illinois University this past fall, spoke to the student athletes in attendance.

“My advice to you is to have the best of intentions wherever you go because you never know who will be in the room and who may be listening. You can be the best athlete, but if you are not the best person you can be you may not plateau and there will always be a ceiling to who you are,” Coit said. “Coach (Allen) Ragland and Coach Edwards prepared me for where I am now and Atlantic Cape is the foundation for every ounce of my success at this level. I felt like I was reborn when I came to Atlantic Cape. This was the best decision I ever made because it changed my life spiritually, mentally and physically.”

Coit was also presented with his All-American Region 19 Player of the Year Award from the 2021-22 season by Edwards.

Awards were presented to the following student athletes in their respective sports:

• Archery, Best New Male Archer: Canluan Wang
• Archery, Best New Female Archer: Sultana Zakia
• Archery, Most Improved Archer: Ashley Hamby
• Men’s Basketball, 1st Team All-Region: Tyrese Myrick
• Men’s Basketball, 1st Team All-Garden State Athletic Conference: Tyrese Myrick
• Women’s Volleyball, 1st Team All-Garden State Athletic Conference: Samantha Dangler
• Women’s Volleyball, 2nd Team All-Garden State Athletic Conference: Angeliza Disla
• Women’s Volleyball, 2nd Team All-Region: Samantha Dangler
• Garden State Athletic Conference National Girls and Women in Sports Award: Samantha Dangler

Academic award certificates were presented to the following student athletes: Justin Boston, Jesus Camacho, Carmine Cantwell, John Catapang, Aaliyah Carozzoni-Van Dyke, Maria Alejandra Ceballos, Johathan Cosme-Almeida, Chloe Cramutola, Kimi Czerwinski, Samantha Dangler, Marissa Decicco, Jonathan Dempsey, Tyler Dougherty, Shelby Einwechter, Kevin Foreman, Grace Foster, Emily Gil-Lopez, Dominick Haymaker, Alexandra Helduser, Brooke Kaeble, Marissa Nagle, Angelica Ortiz, Angel Pascual, Anthony Petrongolo, Julia Rosengarten, Badimi Rubin, Nijayen Simmonds, Zoe Torralba, Jacob Valenzuela, Matthew Vega, Chloe Vogel, Canluan Wang, Trace Warner and Sultana Zakia.

The following Atlantic Cape Buccaneer coaches were recognized and applauded for their commitment to the student athletes and to the teams they led throughout the year: John Repnicki, Archery; Jeff Ball, Baseball; Allen Ragland, Men’s Basketball; Michael Davis, Women’s Basketball; Eric Toppy, Crew; William “Bud” Morey, Esports; Luis Paz, Men’s Soccer; Wesley Raymond, Women’s Soccer; and Karla Maisto, Men’s and Women’s Volleyball.

Learn more about Atlantic Cape Athletics at atlanticcape.edu/athletics.

View a full photo gallery at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAE6jq.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape is a comprehensive two-year community college serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. The college offers over 40 career, transfer and workforce development programs to more than 8,000 students annually at three campuses in New Jersey: Atlantic City, Cape May Court House and Mays Landing.