by Keara Dwyer
November 15, 2024

Soccer season is coming to an end, but Soccer Nationals are just starting! Between November 12th and 17th, on Genesee Community College’s field and in the Richard C. Call Arena, NJCAA’s men’s and women’s soccer championships are taking place. NJCAA is the National Junior College Athletic Association. NJCAA covers Division III sports throughout the United States.

According to Michelle Peck, the secretary of health education and athletics here at GCC, the last time nationals was hosted at GCC was for the men’s and women’s soccer teams in 2022. GCC has hosted one other NJCAA championship event which was Men’s Lacrosse Nationals in 2019. According to Peck, this year’s championship is also the first time that GCC is hosting both teams simultaneously, since the national soccer tournaments have now been combined.

Peck believes that having the soccer championship hosted at GCC is important because, “It is broadcasted nationally on the NJCAA network and brings many spectators to campus.” Having this sort of an event at GCC can be very exciting and can showcase our school for future students.

As spectators of these sorts of events, all we see is what’s on the field. But there is so much more to it. When asked about the process for hosting an event like this at GCC, Peck replied, “We have to coordinate with multiple campus departments and the NJCAA, so it’s a huge endeavor, but also an exciting opportunity.” The Athletics Department has to be in constant contact with other departments. Leading up to the days of the event, all the teams are constantly working hard to make it to the championships. Then, on the days of the events, there are many people and volunteers who work hard to set everything up to make it a successful event. We don’t focus on the hard work that is put into just setting up the event, but we should.

The teams have been working really hard so far, and it is something that needs to be seen and commended. Whether our women’s and men’s soccer teams make it to the championship or not, we should all, as GCC students, faculty and staff, be super proud of the hard work that has been put in by the coaches, players, volunteers, and every other person who has been involved in this event.

This championship event lasts six days. No matter the team, no matter the player, no matter the circumstance, as GCC students, we should go to at least one day and support our home field. To encourage people to attend this event Peck said, “We will be promoting the event to GCC students primarily through email and if we are competing, hopefully that will encourage more people to come out.”

It is important that GCC makes a good impression on other people and it’s important that as students we show other schools what we’ve got!