February 2020

Father and Daughter Dream Team at GCC

By Lenora Kasper

February 25, 2020

A father and daughter are working together to create the ultimate coaching dream team at Genesee Community College.

Just last year there were only four swimmers and no female swimmers. The difference? The new swim coach, Jeff Reyngoudt, and assistant coach, his daughter, Macy Reyngoudt. Neither have ever coached swim before, but the sport needed someone to take the lead, and Kristen Schuth, GCC’s Athletic Director, knew Jeff was not only an experienced coach, but he’s great at recruiting players, which is exactly what the swim team needed.

“Swimming overall, nationally, the numbers have been going down,” said Schuth. “Our numbers are probably down to half the size of what they were five years ago. So when we were discussing getting the kids here and recruiting them, that’s where Jeff and Macy came in. He’s already signed a couple of kids for next year that are dual sport.”

GCC student and swimmer Olivia Carter is also signed for the soccer season and will be playing under Jeff for both sports. Jeff was originally just GCC’s Women’s Soccer Head Coach until the women’s lacrosse team was severely suffering, so Schuth put him in as assistant coach. More players were recruited, and the team was looking up until Jeff decided it was taking away from his soccer team.

He took the year off from lacrosse to focus on coaching soccer, but the women’s lacrosse team started to suffer once more and Schuth knew exactly why. Jeff was given the position of Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach, and Macy joined as his assistant coach.

Schuth said, “The other important piece of it is experience. If you’re having a great time and the coach is truly invested in you and cares about you as a human, you’re going to go and tell your friends what a great time you had here, and that’s what Jeff and Macy do.”

Macy has many responsibilities at GCC; she’s an Access and Accommodation Inclusions Specialist, the Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach, the Women’s Lacrosse Assistant Coach, and the Men and Women’s Swim Assistant Coach. “I love the sense of community here at the school,” said Macy.

She has her Masters in Social Work and has competed in dance, track, tennis, and soccer. Jeff was actually her soccer coach while growing up. “It honestly made me a better person,” she said. “I was held to a higher standard, and I wouldn’t have been as good as I was.” She hopes to be full time in her current position with the Access and Accommodations office by next year.

“October is a tough month,” Macy said. “The soccer season is going on, swimming is starting, and fall ball for lacrosse is beginning. It’s a lot.”

But for Jeff the biggest obstacle is getting each and every athlete to give 100% physically and mentally. “We only get athletes for two years,” he said. “We work with them so they can play the very best they can. It’s our job to get them to play hard mentally, but everyone is different.”

   After Jeff and Macy’s first year of coaching swim, the team came second in the region for both men and women, and most swimmers on the team are seated in nationals. Jeff has won the “Coach of the Year” award for women’s swimming.

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Sanchez Breaks Own Record (Again)

Genesee Swimming & Diving sophomore, Carlitos Sanchez, has added another new school record to his impressive season, setting the new Genesee record of 48.17 in the Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle. This is the third new record that Sanchez has set this year, including two new school records in the 50 Yard Freestyle. The time he posted on Wednesday February 5 in their Tri-Meet vs Erie and Monroe, was .02 faster than the previous record set in 2012. 

Sanchez and the rest of the Swimming & Diving Team will be traveling the first week of March to Indian River CC (Florida) for the 2020 NJCAA Swimming & Diving National Championships. 

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Ed Port Signs National Letter of Intent with University of Nebraska Omaha

Sophomore Ed Port has officially signed his National Letter of Intent to play soccer and continue his education at the University of Nebraska Omaha, a Division I athletic institution. Port has also received a full scholarship from the university.

Ed was an important piece to the Men’s Soccer program the last two seasons, helping Genesee reach the NJCAA National Semi-Finals in back-to-back years. In 2019, Port solidified his place in the Genesee record books, breaking the school record for most assists in a season (33). Port currently sits atop the Genesee record books for career assists (54), third in career points (114), and third in season points for his 2019 season (77). Ed also owns the Genesee record for most assists in a single game (5) and most points in a single game (11). Port’s 33 assists in his 2019 fall season is also now the NJCAA DIII Men’s Soccer season assist record.

Port also had his share of honors and accolades during his time at Genesee. At the end of the 2019 season, Ed was named to the Western New York Athletic Conference (WNYAC) All-Conference First Team, was a part of the WNYAC Champion team, and was named WNYAC Player of the Year. He was also named to the Region III Division III All-Region First Team. Port was also selected for the NJCAA All-American First Team.

Ed was also recognized by the United States Coaches Association, receiving All-East First Team and All-American First Team honors.

Port, who played forward for the Cougars the last two seasons, is a native of Reading, England, and attended Willink High School.

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Lacrosse Captains for 2020 Season Announced

The Genesee Community College Men’s Lacrosse coaching staff recently announced their captains for the 2020 season. Awarded the honor of leading the Cougars this spring are returning captain Jacob Smeader (Hamburg), as well as first year captains, Baden Boyenko (St. Joseph), Austin Palmer (St. Francis), and Ryan Stapleton (Hamburg).

Baden Boyenko, an attackman returns to Genesee after having red shirted the last two years with ACL injuries. In 2017 he had 30 goals and 9 assists while starting 5 games. Baden also plays Senior A box lacrosse for Nanaimo in the Western Lacrosse Association in the summer.

Austin Palmer, who played in all 13 games last year at both attack and midfield. He was selected to Region III 3rd Team and had 38 goals and 12 assists for 50 points in 2019. Austin will again be a top offensive player.

Jacob Smeader, a transfer from the University of Buffalo wrestling program. In high school at defense he was selected to All-Western New York 1st Team as a senior. Jacob started all 13 games in 2019 and was selected to the Region III 1st Team as well as the Region III All-Tournament Team. He had 45 ground balls, 23 takeaways, and added 5 goals and 3 assists for the year.

Ryan Stapleton, a defenseman started all 13 games last year for the Cougars. In 2019 he had 25 ground balls and 10 takeaways. Ryan will again be a very important part of the defense’s success in 2020.

The Genesee Men’s Lacrosse season is set to start on Wednesday, March 4, as they host Finger Lakes Community College at 6pm.