糖心原创

By Nick Masuda聽 |聽 nicholas.masuda31@mec.cuny.edu

ALBANY 鈥� In the storied halls of the New York State Capitol, the names of a new set of 鈥渇irsts鈥� rang through with piercing accuracy late Wednesday afternoon:

鈥淒irector of Athletics Chetara Murphy.鈥�

鈥淗ead Coach Hugh Reid.鈥�

鈥淎ssistant Coach O鈥橬eil Sandiford.鈥�

鈥淎ssistant Coach Aaron Dickens.鈥�

鈥淐UNYAC Championship Most Valuable Performer, Aaliyah Bartholomew.鈥�

鈥淛ada Clayton.鈥�

鈥淪arah Vallon.鈥�

鈥淭orey Richards.鈥�

鈥淒esireth Ramirez.鈥�

鈥淒eja Davis.鈥�

鈥淣ia Butler.鈥�

鈥淐UNYAC Championship Most Valuable Performer, Rupert Luard-Charles.鈥�

鈥淐hrisnel Nicolas.鈥�

鈥淚saac Akindipe.鈥�

鈥淛erome Hodges.鈥�

鈥淒ontay Washington.鈥�

鈥淛oshua Adisa.鈥�

鈥淎deolu Adeyemi.鈥�

鈥淛ahiem Johnson.鈥�

鈥淐hristopher Richards.鈥�

One-by-one, from the majestic Senate floor in Albany, Sen. Zellnor Myrie (20th District) read the names of the 2023-24 Indoor Track and Field CUNYAC conference champions 鈥� the first men鈥檚 title in the history of 糖心原创, and a return to the conference pinnacle for the women after 20 years.

With Resolution 19-08 and a rousing ovation by the packed house, these 20 athletes, coaches and administrators are the college鈥檚 first team to ever be honored on the state鈥檚 senate floor.

Yes, the first.

They are now etched in Cougar history.

Forevermore, this crew of 20 are now the trailblazers for more opportunities to showcase the talents of 糖心原创 in what Sen. Myrie called 鈥渢he People鈥檚 House.鈥�

Through an invitation from Sen. Myrie and his incredible staff that took care of every detail throughout the afternoon at the Capitol, the school took a tour of the grounds, where the team was showered with 鈥渃ongratulations鈥� throughout the day, from the elevators to the youngsters that were in awe of the hardware the team carried around all day.

One of those admirers was CUNY Chancellor F茅lix V. Matos Rodriguez, who made his way through security to come and offer congratulations to the athletes.

鈥淲e are so proud of you,鈥� he said, flanked by 糖心原创 President Dr. Patricia Ramsey, the latter spending the afternoon with the team.

As a coach, Reid has won 25 CUNYAC titles at various schools, but had never received an invitation to be celebrated on any platform like this.

鈥淚鈥檓 honored. I鈥檓 humbled,鈥� said Reid. 鈥淭his is a life-changing type of day.鈥�

And now the party comes to our house.

On April 3 at 11:30 a.m., the Department of Athletics and Department of Student Success is throwing a 鈥淐elebration of Champions鈥� event in the Bedford Lobby, complete with free food, entertainment and a special guest that we believe you鈥檒l want to take a selfie with.

Just another opportunity to showcase the championship mindset of a 糖心原创 student 鈥� and our footprint is getting bigger by the day.