Nassau Community College on Long Island, N.Y. adds women’s varsity wrestling
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Garden City, NY - The Nassau Community College Athletics department is taking a big step and looking to lead the NJCAA into a new generation of athletics. At NCC we proudly hosts over 20 varsity sports, and have never be shy to adapt and evolve. This year is no different as we excited to announce the addition of Women's Wrestling as a varsity sport.
As many of our readers and longtime supporters of Nassau Community College know, our Men's wrestling team is nationally recognized and nationally respected. Our program has consistently produced national champions, All-Americans, and even professional fighters like Chris Weidman. Coach Paul Schmidt has, for more than 30 years, been part of the Coaching staff. He was a gifted and talented member of the Nassau wrestling team when he was a student, and upon his return to his alma mater joined the coaching staff. Since he has become the head coach he has led teams to 8 National titles, been named the National NJCAA Coach of the year 7 times and had been inducted into the National Wrestling hall of fame in 2015.
Coach Schmidt has been the driving force in bringing the women's wrestling program to our campus.
"I am very excited about incorporating the women's program into the Nassau community college wrestling family, we are looking for great things down the road and I know it's not going to happen overnight but we expect to have a women's program up and running and competing at a national level within a few years," Coach Schmidt said when asked what he expected for the program in its infancy.
As the head Coach of the program Coach Schmidt has made sure to always surround himself on his staff with talented and experienced coaches. This includes a former NCC veteran, and former wrestler at University of Pittsburgh Tyshawn Scarlett, and Mac Maldarelli another NCC product who went on to have an outstanding career at Lock Haven University. However two members of the men's program will be shifting two double duty this winter as they remain on the men's coaching staff but also cementing themselves in the history books as the new coaches of the Women's program.1637
Coach Sam Thomas, a NCC alum, and former NCC wrestler himself, has been named the new head coach. He brings in years of his own experience as both a former athlete and Coach which he looks to help build the new program. Speaking to Coach Thomas he shared this about the new program and being named the new Head Coach.
"What makes me really excited about running the women's program is we will be starting our own history, the men's team has been very successful and we are looking to create our own history, and when I am out recruiting, each member I add is going to be part of history, not just for our team or for NCC but this is a new step for the country."
Coach Thomas will be joined by associate head coach Vougar Orounjov. Coach Orounjov is internationally respected and renowned. Any facet of his career as a player, coach, or trainer can be summed up with one word, excellence. As an athlete Vougar has far too many accolades to mention, some highlights include: medaling in two separate Olympics, earning the titles of European Champion, World Cup Champion, and World Champion all in 1995, he is the owner of the VHW Club (Vougar's Honors Wrestling Club) where is has trained some of the nation's top wrestlers, and spent the past 13 years coaching at Nassau CC.
"We don't have women's wrestling in Long Island, we have the athletes, but not a program for them. I am very excited we now will have a place for them to compete and eager to start the new program," said Vougar when asked about the status of Long Island and women's wrestling.
Women's wrestling has been gaining a lot of traction nationally as the NCAA is now reviewing adding the sport to its list of varsity programs. Nassau Community College will be getting in on the ground floor of the sport as it just starting out.
NCC Athletics Athletic Director Kerri Ann McTiernan stated "We are committed to be in the forefront for women's athletics", she continued "women's wresting is a growing sport and we are proud to have this team be part of our National award winning wresting family."
For more information on Nassau CC Athletics and the Women's Wrestling program visit Nassaulions.com or @lionsNCC (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube)
As many of our readers and longtime supporters of Nassau Community College know, our Men's wrestling team is nationally recognized and nationally respected. Our program has consistently produced national champions, All-Americans, and even professional fighters like Chris Weidman. Coach Paul Schmidt has, for more than 30 years, been part of the Coaching staff. He was a gifted and talented member of the Nassau wrestling team when he was a student, and upon his return to his alma mater joined the coaching staff. Since he has become the head coach he has led teams to 8 National titles, been named the National NJCAA Coach of the year 7 times and had been inducted into the National Wrestling hall of fame in 2015.
Coach Schmidt has been the driving force in bringing the women's wrestling program to our campus.
"I am very excited about incorporating the women's program into the Nassau community college wrestling family, we are looking for great things down the road and I know it's not going to happen overnight but we expect to have a women's program up and running and competing at a national level within a few years," Coach Schmidt said when asked what he expected for the program in its infancy.
As the head Coach of the program Coach Schmidt has made sure to always surround himself on his staff with talented and experienced coaches. This includes a former NCC veteran, and former wrestler at University of Pittsburgh Tyshawn Scarlett, and Mac Maldarelli another NCC product who went on to have an outstanding career at Lock Haven University. However two members of the men's program will be shifting two double duty this winter as they remain on the men's coaching staff but also cementing themselves in the history books as the new coaches of the Women's program.1637
Coach Sam Thomas, a NCC alum, and former NCC wrestler himself, has been named the new head coach. He brings in years of his own experience as both a former athlete and Coach which he looks to help build the new program. Speaking to Coach Thomas he shared this about the new program and being named the new Head Coach.
"What makes me really excited about running the women's program is we will be starting our own history, the men's team has been very successful and we are looking to create our own history, and when I am out recruiting, each member I add is going to be part of history, not just for our team or for NCC but this is a new step for the country."
Coach Thomas will be joined by associate head coach Vougar Orounjov. Coach Orounjov is internationally respected and renowned. Any facet of his career as a player, coach, or trainer can be summed up with one word, excellence. As an athlete Vougar has far too many accolades to mention, some highlights include: medaling in two separate Olympics, earning the titles of European Champion, World Cup Champion, and World Champion all in 1995, he is the owner of the VHW Club (Vougar's Honors Wrestling Club) where is has trained some of the nation's top wrestlers, and spent the past 13 years coaching at Nassau CC.
"We don't have women's wrestling in Long Island, we have the athletes, but not a program for them. I am very excited we now will have a place for them to compete and eager to start the new program," said Vougar when asked about the status of Long Island and women's wrestling.
Women's wrestling has been gaining a lot of traction nationally as the NCAA is now reviewing adding the sport to its list of varsity programs. Nassau Community College will be getting in on the ground floor of the sport as it just starting out.
NCC Athletics Athletic Director Kerri Ann McTiernan stated "We are committed to be in the forefront for women's athletics", she continued "women's wresting is a growing sport and we are proud to have this team be part of our National award winning wresting family."
For more information on Nassau CC Athletics and the Women's Wrestling program visit Nassaulions.com or @lionsNCC (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube)
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