By Ted Waddell
LOCH SHELDRAKE — May 21, 2002 – The folks at Sullivan County Community College (SCCC) think the annual athletic awards banquet is more than just a great meal.
“The awards banquet is a vital part of the entire process we call our athletic program,” SCCC Athletic Director Chris DePew explained to those gathered at this year’s banquet, which took place on May 10. “The student-athletes deserve an opportunity to be recognized for all the time and effort they have put into the teams and the program. It gives us a chance to show them how proud we are of everything they do.”
Amanda Cox, an alumna of Livingston Manor Central School, was tabbed as SCCC’s Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season.
“The Athlete of the Year award goes to an individual who demonstrates all the qualities you would want in a student-athlete,” SCCC Lady Generals’ basketball Coach Kyle Walter said. “She excelled in the classroom as well as outside the classroom in both academic and community-related activities.”
Cox has a 3.4 g.p.a. in environmental science, and was recently named the outstanding second-year student in the environmental science program.
She has served on academic search committees and as a staff member during the last two Region XV tournaments at SCCC, keeping the official scorebook for all games.
“Athleticly, Amanda clearly demonstrated excellence on the court and fields here at Sullivan,” said Walter. “As a freshman, she was an All Mid-Hudson Conference and Region XV First Team All-Star in both basketball and softball.”
In her first year at SCCC, Cox averaged 16 points, four rebounds and five assists per game on the basketball court.
“And she was the number one threat opposing coaches worried about when playing Sullivan,” Walter added.
In the 2001 softball season, she had a .570 batting average in addition to playing a solid shortstop.
During the 2001-2002 hoop season, Cox averaged 18.6 points, six rebounds and four assists per game.
“I was very surprised (to receive the award), because I missed quite a few games during the season due to an injury,” said Cox, a 20-year-old sophomore. “I really thought somebody else deserved it . . . I’m surprised and thankful.”
Davon Wilson, a 21-year-old sophomore from White Plains was selected as SCCC’s Male Athlete of the Year.
“The Athlete of the Year award is not just an award that goes to the best player in his or her sport or the best athlete,” said Generals’ basketball Coach Chad Beeten. “It’s an award that is given to a student-athlete who is not only a standout in competition, but a standout in the classroom as well.”
According to Beeten, the decision to pick Wilson as the top male athlete was an easy one.
“He defines exactly what it is to be a student-athlete,” Beeten explained. “He excelled in the classroom and on the basketball court during the 2001-2002 school year.
“The sign of a good player is one who can produce at a high level when it comes to tournament time, and that’s exactly what Davon accomplished. He was truly a pleasure to coach.”
Wilson, who has a 2.7 g.p.a. in sports management, averaged 12.6 points and four assists per game this past season.
“It’s great,” he said of receiving the award. “I worked hard this year, and tried to do this for my mother.
“I just tried to excell,” Wilson added. “I don’t know man, I’m at a loss for words right now. I can’t wait to tell my parents.”
After the plaques had been presented to Cox and Wilson, DePew had a few words to say about the SCCC Athletes of the Year.
“Amanda is the best female athlete that ever came to Sullivan,” DePew said. “And Davon is the epitome of what you look for in a student-athlete. He was the kid that never gave you any lip when you were yelling at him for making a mistake, and he stepped in and did the job when we got a little thin up front.
“True leaders and true players step up when the game’s on the line,” DePew added. “Davon stepped up and carried us on his shoulders.”
Several other awards were presented at the banquet to deserving SCCC student-athletes. Those who earned conference and/or region accolades were also recognized.
They included:

• Men’s Basketball: MVP – Shiron Brown and Tim Butler; Most Improved – Wygene McCants; Coach’s Award – Dana Holmes.
• Women’s Basketball: MVP – Amanda Cox; Most Improved – Nicole Feller; Coach’s Award – Carly Sklar.
• Golf: MVP – Gregg Semenetz; Most Improved – Erinn Raush; Coach’s Award – Scott Herman.
• Volleyball: MVP – Patricia Tate; Most Improved – Smathe Menier; Coach’s Award – Debra Swan.
• Cross-Country: MVP – John Peters.

Mid-Hudson Conference
First Team
• Men’s Basketball: Shiron Brown and Davon Wilson.
• Women’s Basketball: Amanda Cox.
• Golf: Gregg Semenetz.
• Volleyball: Patricia Tate.

Mid-Hudson Conference
Second Team
• Men’s Basketball: Tim Butler.
• Women’s Basketball: Nicole Feller and Rachelle Irwin.
• Volleyball: Smathe Menier and LaTasha Wheeler.

Mid-Hudson
All-Academic Team
• Volleyball: Tiffany Barotti, Bronwyn Flewellen, Wendy Diaz, Tracy Denman and Donna Funceon.
• Men’s Basketball: Dana Holmes and Bryon Evans.
• Women’s Basketball: Amanda Cox, Nicole Feller and Rachelle Irwin.

Region XV
First Team
• Men’s Basketball: Tim Butler and Shiron Brown.
• Golf: Gregg Semenetz.

Region XV
Second Team
• Women’s Basketball: Amanda Cox.

NJCAA Pre-Season First Team All-Americans
• Men’s Basketball: Shiron Brown.
• Softball: Amanda Cox.