Embracing Today's 'Wide World of Sports'

Hartwick College’s athletics history is one of its greatest sources of strength and pride. From conference championships and national qualifiers to women’s equality initiatives and a D-I men’s soccer national title in 1977, the Hawks have always maintained a commitment to excellence and innovation, whether on fields, pitches, diamonds, courts or in pools.

Although collegiate athletics looks vastly different than it did a few decades ago, that spirit is as present today on Oyaron Hill as ever.

Much of that is attributable to campus leaders’ focus on the ever-changing athletics landscape and asking, “How can Hartwick capitalize on these new opportunities?”

They have not been short on answers. They’ve re-established women’s softball as a varsity sport and added men’s volleyball and women’s flag football, all of which appeal to a new generation of prospective students. They’ve deepened their collaborations with Hartwick’s faculty and academic affairs leadership, complete with new majors in sport management and physical education. They’ve embraced advances in training, nutrition and mental health. They’ve even broadened the definition of “sport,” as evidenced by its 80-member Esports Club and state-of-the-art WICKed Esports Center, which opened last spring.

All of it has helped to boost enrollment and strengthen the education students receive within and beyond the classroom. That’s a strength which sets Hartwick apart, says Executive Director of Athletics Paul Vecchio.

“What strikes me is how the faculty and administration recognize the importance of athletics to our campus,” Vecchio said. “I’ve been delighted with the level of partnership we have, from recruiting and academic support to community building and alumni relations.”

The sport management major is an excellent example. As faculty researched and considered the opportunity with various liaisons, they also worked with Hartwick graduates who had found success in the field to refine the curriculum and bring the
program to life.

Chief among them was Thom Meredith ’73, who has enjoyed a 40-year career in the industry — through “pure serendipity,” he insists. From his beginnings at the Oneonta Daily Star sports desk, his journey has included public relations roles with the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and several North American Soccer League teams, én route to managing some of the world’s most prestigious athletic events, including the Pan American Games, Olympic Games and multiple FIFA World Cups. As one of North America’s foremost soccer event professionals, he has also boosted soccer’s growth in the U.S., and women’s professional soccer, in particular.

Meredith knew the depth and pedigree of Hartwick’s athletics history, including dozens of fellow Hawks who had gone on to become significant players in the field.