theLAKER | 11 Joao, from Sergipe, Brazil, finished his sophomore season with 20 goals, 32 assists, and 72 points, earning him MSAC All-Conference, First-Team All-Region, and NJCAA Region III All-Tournament honors. He is the third Laker to earn All-American honors and the first in 16 years. Despite losses to Camden County College and Raritan Valley in the national tournament, the Lakers finished their season with a 15-5-3 record, an eighth-place national ranking, and a place in FLCC history. Women’s volleyball does it again Over 800 miles away in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the women’s volleyball team was competing in the NJCAA Division III National Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. In the opening round, the Lakers defeated Monroe College-Bronx 3-0. Anna Kurtzhalts of Erie County assisted the offense with 21 kills and a .405 hitting percentage. In the next two matches, the Lakers lost 3-0 to the College of DuPage and 3-2 to Dallas College North Lake in a five-set series. In the consolation bracket, the Lakers faced the three-time national champions from Owens Community College and earned a five-set victory to secure seventh place in the national tournament – their highest-ever ranking. This season, the Lakers were led by sophomore Payton Stoddard of Bloomfield, who earned Mid-State Athletic Conference Player of the Year, First-Team All-Conference, NJCAA Region III AllTournament, and First-Team All-Region honors. She finished her career with 1,725 assists, 186 service aces, 387 digs, and 60 kills over 60 matches, becoming the most accomplished setter in FLCC women’s volleyball history. Payton, who was not originally recruited as a setter, shared that she enjoys the team’s chemistry. “It’s easy to stay motivated when you have such awesome teammates who are all working towards the same goal,” she said. The team concluded with a 30-4 record. With six new student athletes committed to the Lakers’ roster for the 2025 season and key returners Anna Kurtzhalts, Jackie Neureuter and Emily Jordan, the team has already begun preparing for another season. Esports grows in dominance The Lakers esports program climbed in national rankings in the fall with record-breaking achievements, proving its growing dominance in collegiate competitive gaming. A major highlight of the season was the Open Series Fortnite Build-Duos competition, where Carl Barwald of Webster and Robert Barrett of Lyons competed against 40 teams and over 100 players nationwide. The five-game series against Herkimer College lasted over two hours, ultimately earning them the team’s third NJCAAe National Championship trophy. Previous program victories include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2023) and Rainbow Six Siege (2022). "The season was a lot of fun, and I was able to meet great people. Being a part of esports gave me something to work toward and helped me overcome challenges. I don’t think I would be where I am without it,” said fall 2024 graduate Brittany Ploof of Rushville. The program has expanded significantly, adding 115 registered members competing in teams, intramural leagues, and community initiatives. Among them, two players stand out as No. 1 nationally in their games during the regular season: Joseph Yates ’23 of Prattsburgh in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Thomas LoDestro of Ontario in Tekken 8. After the fall semester wrapped up, the esports program celebrated 131 combined wins across all teams. With 20 teams advancing to their respective postseasons, the program has established itself as one of the largest and most competitive presences in the NJCAAe. Robin Giesing, a first-year midfielder, contributed 18 goals to the men’s soccer team’s historic season.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTcyNDA=