The South Jersey Jazz Basketball Development Group made a donation to the Camden County College Athletic Department for their work in the community and their support of student-athletes in South Jersey. The South Jersey Jazz AAU Basketball Program has been serving South Jersey for 20 years and many former alumni of the Jazz have continued their academic and athletic careers at Camden County College, including Director of Athletics, Bill Banks.
In the photo pictured Left to Right – Don Borden, Steve Horsley, Jim Gulla, Bill Banks
Athletics Department Honor Roll
Camden County College is pleased to announce 47 student-athletes have obtained a 3.0 GPA or higher during the Fall Semester. The Fall 2018 Student-Athlete Athletic Director Honor Roll can be found at camdenccathletic.org. Congratulations to our students!
CCC Soccer Ranked #4 in the Nation
Today the NJCAA released the 2018 Men’s Soccer Pre Season Rankings and Camden County College’s Soccer Program is ranked #4 in the Nation.
First year Head Coach Kevin Nuss will look to completely improve the program with more structure and accountability on the field and in the classroom!
Transition to College Program gives 26 students a second chance at earning their diplomas
GLOUCESTER TWP. – Cleveland Foat III was not discouraged when a former guidance counselor told him it was unlikely he’d be accepted into Camden County College’s Transition to College Program for a second chance at receiving a high school diploma.
“I used that as motivation to keep on pushing,” the 18-year-old said. “I saw people who were in the program and said ‘if they can do it, I can do it.’”
Foat, of Sicklerville, was recognized recently at the Transition to College’s Completion Ceremony along with 25 other students who had left high school early or were at risk of dropping out for earning their diplomas as the class of 2018.
The program, in its sixth year, provides a second chance for at-risk students, ages 16 to 21, from six partner high schools to pursue their education, according to Camden County College’s website.
The media advisory for the program says students “are able to get a head start on college credits in a collegiate environment that includes extra-curricular activities.”
Family and friends filtered into the college’s Civic Hall auditorium at the Blackwood campus, watching the soon-to-be graduates earn recognition for their achievements.
At the beginning of the ceremony, college President Donald Borden said, “we take hopelessness and turn it into hope; we take closed doors and kick them open.”
Terron Boone, 18, also of Sicklerville, said that before the program he was on the edge of getting kicked out of high school.
“This program was a blessing, I didn’t think I’d be here right now,” he said.
Each student’s senior bio and future goals were read to the audience before receiving their diplomas.
Kayla Bagwell, 18, of Sicklerville, plans to earn a college degree and go to cosmetology school, with hopes of owning her own hair shop.
In regards to completing her diploma, Bagwell credits the instructors of the Transition to College program.
She says that she has been shown care unlike anything experienced in her prior education.
“Being here showed me what love felt like, coming from an educator,” she said.
When Foat was asked what advice he would give to someone thinking about pursuing their diploma again, he would say to “stick with it and get back into it.”
Like his fellow graduates, Foat realizes that the completion of this program is the beginning of his future. He said no one his age should believe that they will not become something in life.
After 30 Years, Track And Field Returns
Preparations for the sport’s return begin this summer, the college announced.
Featured in the Gloucester Township Patch by Anthony Bellano
After 30 years, track and field is coming back to Camden County College, and the college’s first national champion in the sport is eager to see it happen.
“To hear that the college has committed to bringing back this sport that is available to so many and is building the facilities needed to host practices right on campus is fantastic,” said Mike Chapman, a former track star at the college who is in the Camden County College Sports Hall of Fame.
Chapman is eager to attend the meets and be involved in the debut event, likely in January. The track and field season will run from January through May. There is no limit on the number of students who can participate, and the college encourages all interested students to try out.
“I graduated in 1972, and we had a state undefeated team until they ended the sport. There were 50 team members at that time,” Chapman said. “Coach Dennis Hurley made me set three goals: graduate on time, become a national junior college champion, and get a four-year college scholarship. I achieved all three goals because I was junior college national champion in the javelin. I received offers for full track and field scholarships from nine universities and ended up attending Arizona State University. Camden County College got me ready for this.”
After graduating from Arizona State, Chapman spent 35 years in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he also coached the throwers at Scottsdale Community College. Ten years ago, he moved back to South Jersey and has been coaching at Bishop Eustace. He plans to help out with the college team as well.
Preparations for the upcoming season will begin this summer, when the college will begin upgrades to its facilities, including throwing cages, hurdles, concrete pads, and clearing space for a track upgrade.
“We want to provide our students with many opportunities for success both academically and athletically,” said Camden County College Director of Athletics Bill Banks, who said the sport is returning based solely on enrollment and student support. “Adding new sports teams brings in students who might have skipped over community college and gone right to a four-year school. This gives them a chance to excel at a sport they love, or several sports, while getting the academic supports needed to transfer and obtain scholarships that might not have been available to them otherwise.”
“I believe students are savvy and are coming to terms with the fact that it is not only a better financial decision to pursue their college careers at a local community college, but there are also opportunities to pursue activities similar to those offered at four year schools,” Camden County College President Donald Borden said. “We offer 13 different sports, and over 20 student clubs and organizations, all of which provide excellent leadership and networking opportunities. This leads to extended scholarship opportunities for the second two years of college, and, if nothing else, important job skills.”
Camden County College cross country coach Wayne Merkh is excited to have another sport in which runners will have the chance to showcase their skills.
“Many of our student athletes participate in more than one sport, and adding track and field provides a cross training that many of them find so valuable,” Merkh said.
Congratulations Fred Cappello
Congratulations to Camden County College’s Fred Cappello
Fred was recently inducted into the Monsignor Bonner Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Fred excelled while at Bonner as an All-Delco and All-Catholic Football player before moving on to play at Temple University. After graduating Temple, Fred volunteered his time as the Freshmen Football Coach at Bonner in ’65 and then as the Defensive Coordinator of the Varsity team from ’66 – ’68. Fred dedicated his professional career to teaching and earned a Master Degree in Education from Temple. His career included positions as a teacher at Rutgers University, the Assistant Dean to the President at Camden County College, Director of Vocational Tech. Education at the NJ Dept. of Education and Camden County College Dean of School-College Partnership Programs, where he worked closely w/ public and parochial high schools to provide college level experience to high school students. Fred currently is the Special Asst. to the President at Camden County College. To give you an idea on the type of impact Fred and the “Cappello Effect” can have on people, Fred was nominated for this honor by seven Bonner grads who played football under Fred’s coaching in the 1960’s. Congrats to Fred Cappello, Bonner Class of ’58, Bonner HOF Class of ’18!
Camden County College Athletics Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Student athletes, hall of famers, and athletic administrators honored
Blackwood/Camden, NJ – This year, Camden County College celebrates 50 years of serving the community and each department at the College is hosting a special event as part of “50 Events for 50 Years.” On Thursday, February 15, the Camden County College Athletics Program and kicked off the rebirth of the Camden County College Athletic Hall of Fame and honored all winter sports athletes.
Prior to tipoff of the CCC men’s basketball game, students from wrestling and both men’s and women’s basketball were honored with certificates. They were personally congratulated by the College president, their coaches, and the director of athletics.
At halftime, five high school seniors signed national letters of intent to attend Camden County College next year. Seniors Samantha Torres (Hammonton High School) and Emily Auletto (Sterling High School) will play softball next year for the Cougars. Seniors Dylan Kleiner (Seneca High School), Nicholas D’Agostino (Gloucester City High School), and Andrew Rodrigues (Chichester High School, PA) will play baseball for the Cougars starting this fall.
“All of our winter sport athletes were in the audience, and we honored our hall of famers, so it was nice to see incoming athletes interacting with current and former Cougars,” states Director of Athletics, William Banks.
Ten members of the Camden County College Athletics Hall of Fame helped unveil a banner listing all hall of fame inductees which will hang in the Papiano Gym. “This signifies the revival of our Athletics Hall of Fame which is one of our initiatives this year,” states Banks.
Additionally, Hudson County Freeholder, Jerry Walker, honored CCC Director of Athletics, William Banks, and CCC Director of Special Events and Facilities, Kay Byrd with proclamations for their work with the Team Walker AAU Basketball Team. Team Walker AAU is an organization that improves the quality of life for children of Jersey City by offering youth programs similar to those provided to Jerry and Jasper Walker when they were children. Camden County College is a proud host of Team Walker events each year.
Team Walker also donated $1500 to the Camden County College Foundation for athletic programs.
President Borden and Director of Athletics, Bill Banks, congratulate and welcome alumni from the CCC athletics hall of fame.
New student athletes sign national letters of intent to play for CCC
Andrew Rodriguez, Chichester High School, signs his letter of intent to play for the Cougars this fall.
Soccer Program Hires New Coaches
Cougars Welcome Kevin Nuss and Solomon Jacobs
Coach Kevin Nuss (front) and Coach Solomon Jacobs (rear)
Camden, NJ – Two new faces will lead the men’s and women’s soccer programs at Camden County College. Both coaches are have strong ties to Camden County College—one as an alumni and one as a professor. Solomon Jacobs takes over as the head women’s soccer coach and Kevin Nuss takes over as the head men’s soccer coach.
“We are confident that Coach Nuss and Coach Solomon will continue the history of success for these programs with an emphasis on academic success, development, retention, degree completion and moving our student-athletes onto four year institutions,” states William Banks, Director of Athletics.
Solomon Jacobs spent last season as an assistant coach for the Lady Cougars. Coach Jacobs has 12 years of semi-pro playing experience and over 10 years of coaching and training experience at a variety of different levels.
“As head coach, I am introducing ‘attractive’ and fundamental soccer playing styles, which will continue to develop the style of the game of future players,” states Coach Jacobs. “We will lead and encourage each player to reach their full potential, teach them the value of respect, care, responsibility, honesty and ability to uphold the tradition of winning both in the classroom and on the field of play,” states Coach Jacobs.
Jacobs holds a Bachelor of Science in information technology and a master’s in business administration. He is currently a full-time student in a doctoral program and is an adjunct professor at CCC, teaching computer information systems.
The Cougars men’s soccer program has been one of the most dominate teams in Region XIX, as well as a national contender. Coach Kevin Nuss played for the Cougars in 2003 under Coach Freeman and was an all-region and all-conference goalkeeper. Nuss was also named an Adidas/NSCAA First Team All-American. He went on to play two seasons at William Paterson University before transferring to Rowan University to finish out his collegiate playing career.
Coach Nuss came back to CCC for one season as an assistant coach under Freeman before heading to Rutgers University-Camden to be an assistant coach from 2008-2011. He then served as assistant coach at St. Joseph’s University from 2011 to 2012 and at Brown University from 2013-2014. Coach Nuss most recently spent time as an Associate Head Coach and General Manager of the Ocean City Nor’easters and Cedar Stars Academy.
“I am extremely excited about returning to Camden County College. I am appreciative of my experience here as a student-athlete and assistant coach,” states Coach Nuss. “I look forward to building on the storied legacy of the men’s soccer program and helping the current student-athletes fulfill their academic and professional goals, just as I did in my time at CCC.”
The men’s and women’s soccer teams will kick off their seasons on the road on August 28, 2018 against NJCAA DII CCBC-Catonsville.
For more information, contact Bill Banks, Director of Athletics, at (856) 227-7200, ext. 4260.
Lady Cougars keep dominating with win over RCGC
BLACKWOOD – The Camden County College women’s basketball team improved its record to 8-2 by beating rival Rowan College at Gloucester County 61-57 on Nov. 21.
The game was packed to the doors with Cougar and Road Runner fans and the gym was electric when the tip off took place.
An impact player for the Cougars, Olivia Pierman, has shown great strength and leadership on the court as a freshman. About Camden County’s success so far this season and how it will affect the team’s success moving forward, Pierman said, “It is always awesome having a great start. It gives us momentum for the rest of the season that hopefully leads us into playoffs.”
The scoring and momentum of the game was back and forth all 40 minutes. At halftime the Cougars trailed RCGC by five points but that did not stop the Cougars from playing their game.
The tide of the game swung in the direction of the Cougars toward the final stretch as they took the lead with 2:10 left in the game. The Road Runners could not regain the lead as the Cougars played inspired defense at the end of the game. John Merkh, the clock operator at home games, said, “It is always fun to watch these girls play. They play together and that’s why they come out on top more times than not.”
Pierman said beating their rivals was important to the Cougars. “It feels amazing. It is always a good feeling when you beat your rivals. We knew it was going to be a hard game and we were able to come out with the win.”
She noted playing well together matters to the team. “Chemistry has been a big part and knowing what we have to do every game. We do not take any game for granted.”
The Cougars finished the day as the number one team in the conference and a top five team in the region.
To read full article visit ccctimes.net
Bobby Girgenti
CCC Journalism Program
Four CCC Athletes continue at NCAA Level
Four Camden County College student athletes have signed national letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) level.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our student athletes,” stated William Banks, Director of Athletics. “I know they will excel at the next level academically, as well as athletically. Camden County College has laid a solid foundation for these individuals to succeed.”
Three of the CCC athletes are on the women’s soccer team.The teammates played two seasons for the Lady Cougars–Fall 2015 and Fall 2016. In 2016, the team advanced to the Region XIX Championship Game where they lost to the defending National Champs, Brookdale Community College. During their time at Camden County College, the team went 18-13-1, making the playoffs both seasons.
Rachel Ingram is a 2015 Pennsauken High School graduate and is currently in her second year at Camden County College studying Biology. During Ingram’s career at Camden County College she has played in 32 games making 28 starts at midfield and defense. In her career she has scored two goals and two assists. Today she signed with St. Peter’s University.
Lauren Larmanis and Emily Goeltz signed with Goldey Beacom College (NCAA DII). Larmanis is a 2013 graduate of Timber Creek High School and is currently in her second full year at Camden County College studying Psychology. During her career at Camden County College she played in 32 games making 30 starts. She has five career goals and 10 assists. In her final season at Camden County College Larmanis was named 1st Team All Region XIX and 1st Team All GSAC. Emily Goeltz is a 2014 graduate of Haddon Heights High School and is currently in her second full year at Camden County College studying Liberal Arts and Science. During Goeltz’s career she played in 26 games making 13 starts. In her career she has scored five goals and dished out four assists. Her nickname on the team is Rocky.
“I am so happy and wish them the best of luck as they move onto the next stage of their academic and athletic careers. I hope they can come out and make an impact for their new schools,” states Madison Gregory, CCC Assistant Women’s Soccer.
Wrestler Dymere Rappa signed with Lindenwood University (NCAA DII). Rappa is a 2011 graduate from Paulsboro High School. His path to Camden County College is a long traveled road. Rappa original started at Gloucester County College in Fall 2011 and wrestled for the Roadrunners before an injury cut his freshman year short. After going to school and taking some time off, Rappa decided to attend Camden County College after he heard the wrestling team was brought back under Head Coach Gary Papa. Rappa enrolled at Camden County College Fall 2015 and had to sit out the fall to re-establish his eligibility. When Spring 2016 hit, Rappa was on the mat ready to go.
Spring 2016 saw Rappa go undefeated on his way to winning the 197lb NJCAA National Championship. Over the summer Director of Athletics, William Banks was able to obtain a NJCAA Medical Redshirt for the 2011 season at Gloucester County College, so Rappa was able to wrestle an additional year at the Junior College Level. The 2016-17 season saw Rappa finish the year at 27-5 overall and taking a 3rd place finish at the NJCAA National Championships at 197lb and helping the team to place 10th overall Nationally and was one of four All-Americans on the Wrestling Team. During Rappa’s career, Camden County College he has an impressive 41-5 record, was named 1st Team NJCAA All-American (2015-16) and named 3rd Team NJCAA All-American (2016-17).
“Dymere was a pleasure to coach and I wish him all the best at Linwood. I know he will succeed in the classroom and on the mat.” stated Gary Papa, Head Wrestling Coach Camden County College.