24 UCW APRIL 4-10, 2018
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
MICHAEL NEAL, FTCC athletics director.
COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweek-
ly.com. 910-484-6200.
EDUCATION
FTCC Trojan athletics expanding
by MICHAEL NEAL
e Fayetteville Technical Commu-
nity College Trojan Athletics Program
returned to the basketball court in the fall
of 2016 after a 41-year hiatus. Along with
men's basketball, FTCC added women's
basketball and men's and women's golf
as new sports. Students and members of
the community were excited to see FTCC
add athletics to the college atmosphere.
e Trojans worked hard, and it did
not take long for them to achieve suc-
cess. e women's golf team won an
early event at Anderson Creek hosted
by Central Carolina Community College
in October 2016, and the men won the same event
in spring 2017. In addition to this win, the men beat
NCAA Division III La Roche College at Tobacco Road.
Neither team was eligible for the post-season due
to National Junior College Athletic Association guide-
lines for first-year programs; however, each brought
home hardware in just their first season of play.
Coach Eric Tucker, who has a great deal of experi-
ence and local connections, leads the women's
basketball program. He pulled together a full roster
of players from the greater Fayetteville area and
achieved some great wins. From the beginning,
Tucker's goal was to be competitive and constantly
build from there. He completed the season with a
9-15 record.
Recruitment went well for the second season. At
the guard position, the team improved but without
enough depth in the post to go deep in the strong
conference. In their first year eligible, the Trojans
finished at 8-18 with a win in the first round of the
NJCAA Region 10 Championships.
e men's team had a more challenging start. e
men were able to succeed in a few early wins before
a 20-game losing streak. ey broke the losing streak
with a win on Sophomore Night as the season ended.
e men's second season proved to be much bet-
ter. Coach Brian Hurd recruited a high-quality team.
ey won their first two post-season games and
made an appearance in the Region 10 Final Four.
With an overall 17-13 record, the team set a good
course for the future.
e expansion of athletics teams at FTCC begins
in the 2018-19 season with the addition of volleyball,
softball and baseball. e coaches are recruiting
players for each of these sports, and the teams
are starting to shape up.
e Trojans compete in the NJCAA, in Divi-
sion II in all offered sports. FTCC is in Region
10. FTCC appreciates the support of students,
faculty, staff and the community as the school's
athletic program expands to give students the
wonderful elements that sporting programs
contribute to the college experience.
If you are interested in learning more about
a particular program, contact the appropriate
party as listed below.
FTCC Trojans Athletics
• Michael Neal, athletics director: 910-486-3630,
nealm@faytechcc.edu
• Brian Hurd, men's basketball: 910-678-1038,
hurdb@faytechcc.edu
• Eric Tucker, women's basketball: 910-678-1039,
tuckere@faytechcc.edu
• John Michael Cole, golf: 910-486-3912,
colej@faytechcc.edu
• Moe Licardo, volleyball: 910-486-7343,
licarlom@faytechcc.edu
• Miguel Justiniano, softball: 910-486-7344,
justinim@faytechcc.edu
• Lee Troutman, baseball: 910-486-3630,
troutmah@faytechcc.edu
The 2017-18 Trojan men's basketball team with Coach Brian Hurd, center.
M A G A Z I N E
b y , f o r & a b o u t
Fayeeville Women
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