Recreation

Athletics offer an array of benefits and enhancements both at the academic and student engagement levels on a two-year college campus.

From providing countless opportunities for students of all backgrounds, two-year college athletics offer a fast and affordable higher education experience with career paths for everyone. Student-athletes are often presented with increased playing time and stronger one-on-one relationships with coaching staffs and school faculty, while students have more reasons to spend time on campus and exhibit school pride.

While many two-year colleges do not offer on-campus housing, sporting events give all students, faculty, and staff a team to cheer for and a reason to visit campus for extracurricular events. Outside of campus, athletics builds a sense of belonging for the community and locals.

There are many benefits for two-year colleges that have resources to build athletic facilities on campus or nearby. Athletic facilities draw widespread attention to college campuses, while capturing the attention of prospective students and athletes. Athletics bring local and national stakeholders to schools, improving the surrounding community and school system.

As two-year college sports continue to grow, national championships and accomplishments are being placed on prominent sports networks, news stations and social media platforms, enhancing the school image and unveiling more opportunities.

Fairfield, ME- Kennebec Valley Community College has strived over the years to create the best, most progressive environment for their students, staff and faculty, as well as their local community. The most recent development for the college is the addition of intercollegiate athletic competition; set to begin the fall of 2023. The sports being offered in this inaugural year include: co-ed golf, men’s and women’s cross country, and track and field.

With the new addition of athletic competition, KVCC now offers the opportunity for new students – now considered student-athletes – to thrive both academically and athletically. They are given the tools to develop the soft skills that intercollegiate competition provides and match those with the hard skills they attain in the classroom.

KVCC has also recently become a member of both the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC), which entails numerous conference and national competition opportunities. York County joins fellow Maine Community College System schools, Central Maine and Southern Maine, with this affiliation.

KVCC  is currently a search for the cross country and track & field coach. Coach Enrique (Kike) Calero (baseball@yccc.edu) will be at the helm of the baseball team, Coach Guy Gagnon (golf@yccc.edu) is the head coach of the golf team, and Coach Melvin Torres (softball@yccc.edu) is the head coach for the softball team.  Each of these coaches are ready to build new teams for York County and develop programs that align with the mission of the college.

York County’s goal is to enhance the values of innovation, empowerment, accountability, and cooperation. These can all be developed and promoted within the new athletic department, the new memberships with the USCAA and YSCC, and most importantly with the new student-athletes and coaches that are set to represent KVCC.

Keep up to date with all things athletic related on KVCC new athletics website at yorkcountyhawks.com.

Go Lynx!!