Men's Basketball

Hartwick's Blazek Tabbed First Team ECAC Upstate All-Star

CAPE COD, MA - The Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced its 2010 Division III Upstate All-Stars on Wednesday. Sophomore guard Mark Blazek (Erie, PA/Erie Cathedral Prep) of the Hartwick College men's basketball team was named one of five players on the first team.

A first team all-Empire 8 pick this season, Blazek finished second in the conference in scoring with 486 points and an average of 20.3 points per game. His season scoring average currently ranks 38th in Division III basketball. He also ended the campaign second in the E8 in free-throw percentage (.808) and third in three-point field goals per game (2.33/game).

Blazek scored in double figures in all 24 of Hartwick's games this season. He registered career-highs of 35 points and eight three-pointers in a win over Elmira on Dec. 5th. In two years with the Hawks, Blazek has already racked up 110 three-point baskets which ranks 8th all-time in Hartwick history. At the conclusion of the season, Blazek was one of only five men's basketball players who were selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I First Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Blazek was one of only two Empire 8 players on the ECAC Upstate First Team, along with Ithaca's Phil Barera. He was also joined on the team by SUNYIT's Dave Golembiowski, Oneonta State's Brian Beckford, and St. Lawrence's Josh Sharlow.

Hartwick's men's basketball team closed out the 2009-2010 season with a 10-14 overall record. Despite being picked to finish last in the E8 preseason poll, first-year head coach Todd McGuinness led the Hawks to a sixth place finish and a record of 7-9 which was the program's best showing in conference play in nine years.