By Rob Potter
LOCH SHELDRAKE — August 1, 2006 – Sullivan County Community College hosted its annual girls’ basketball camp last week in the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse on the SCCC campus.
For several hours each day, Monday through Friday, a total of 23 girls ranging in age from 7 to 14 worked on their dribbling, passing and shooting skills and played regular games.
On Friday afternoon, several parents and family members came to the fieldhouse for an awards ceremony.
“These girls did a great job,” said Paul Clune, Camp Director and SCCC Women’s Basketball Coach, as the camp participants and their family members sat on the bleachers. “We had fun this week.”
Clune then introduced the rest of the camp’s coaches: Gabe Abbott, a student at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Kevin Mutz, a physical education teacher at Rondout Valley Middle School; Cory Ramos, who served as a coach at the Sullivan Generals’ boys’ basketball camp the previous week and volunteered to coach at the girls’ camp; and Jen Wright, a former team captain of the SCCC Lady Generals’ basketball team.
The five coaches presented each camper with a packet that included a participation certificate and a written evaluation. Clune noted that packets also included a list of drills the players could consult to practice some of the skills they learned during the camp.
Several campers received awards for winning skills competitions during the week. They included:
3-on-3 champions: ages 7-9 – Kirsten Jacobsen, Madison Levine, Diana Presti and Prescilla Presti; 10-year-olds – Ella Kleinberger, Dominique DeCicco, Erica Olsen and Nicolette Perrelli; age 11 and up – Victoria Baum, Diane Evans, Angie Ramos and Shaina Swerdling
Free Throws: ages 7-9 – Diana Presti; 10-year-olds – Ella Kleinberger; age 11 and up – Shaina Swerdling (one day), Victoria Baum (all week)
Musical Chairs: Diana Presti
2-on-2 champions: ages 7-9 – Madison Breslin/Kirsten Jacobsen; 10-year-olds – Nicole Ruperd/Erica Olsen; age 11 and up – Shaina Swerdling/Allyson Bowers
Knockout: Shaina Swerdling, Erin Clune
1-on-1 champions: ages 7-9 – Prescilla Presti; 10-year-olds – Kirsten Jacobsen; age 11 and up – Samantha Santiago
4-on-4 champions: ages 7-9 – Diana Presti, Prescilla Presti, McKaela Bunce; age 11 and up – Sammy Santiago, Angela Ramos, Madison Breslin, Tori Kleinberger
Hot Shot: ages 7-9 – Diana Presti; 10-year-olds – Ella Kleinberger; ages 11 and up – Angie Ramos
Around the World: Makaylah Mutz
H-O-R-S-E: Ella Kleinberger, Prescilla Presti, Nicole Ruperd
3-Point Shoot Out: ages 7-9 – Madison Levine; age 10 – Kirsten Jacobsen; ages 11 and up – Victoria Baum
Camp Free Throw: Diana Presti, Madison Breslin, Victoria Baum
Double Obstacle Course: Diana Presti, Autumn Mason, Samantha Santiago
The coaches also presented four awards – Coaches’ Award, Hustle Award, Most Improved Player (MIP) and Most Valuable Player (MVP) – in each group.
For ages 7-9, the winners were: McKaela Bunce (Hustle Award), Madison Levine (MIP), Makaylah Mutz (Coaches’ Award), Diana Presti/Prescilla Presti (Co-MVPs).
For the age 10 group, the winners were: Madison Breslin (Coaches’ Award), Kirsten Jacobsen (MVP), Autumn Mason (MIP), Nikki Perrelli (Hustle Award).
For ages 11 and up, the winners were: Victoria Baum (MIP), Angie Ramos (Hustle Award), Sammy Santiago (MVP), Shaina Swerdling (Coaches’ Award).
The complete camp roster included: Olivia Baum, Victoria Baum, Allyson Bowers, Madison Breslin, McKaela Bunce, Dominique DeCicco, Jamie Dileo, Diane Evans, Kirsten Jacobsen, Tara Kaplan, Ella Kleinberger, Tori Kleinberger, Madison Levine, Autumn Mason, Makaylah Mutz, Erica Olsen, Nikki Perrelli, Diana Presti, Prescilla Presti, Angie Ramos, Nicole Ruperd, Sammy Santiago and Shaina Swerdling.