Athletics To Return to JCC Cattaraugus County Campus
Jun 10, 2020

JAMESTOWN - For the first time in nearly five years, athletics will return to Jamestown Community College's Cattaraugus County Campus in Olean in fall 2020.

Cross country will now be provided as a intercollegiate sport through the JCC Jayhawks athletics program. Men's and women's cross country are the 13th and 14th sports programs to be offered at JCC.

The push for a return of athletics at the JCC Cattaraugus County Campus was one that resonated throughout the institution and community.

"For some students, just the opportunity to compete opens the door to a college education, and possibilities that otherwise would have been missed," says JCC president Daniel DeMarte. "Reintroducing athletics is essential to the revitalization of JCC's Cattaraugus County Campus in Olean."

"Bringing intercollegiate athletics back to Olean had input from the community, the administration, and the board of trustees," said George Sisson, JCC's director of athletics and recreation. "After talking to area high schools, we came to the conclusion that cross country would help build the foundation of athletics at the Cattaraugus County Campus."

With the start of the cross-country season this fall, it will be the first time student athletes on the Cattaraugus County Campus will compete since the 2015-16 academic year when the campus competed in men's basketball, women's soccer, and men's and women's golf. The men's soccer and women's basketball had been discontinued at the start of the 2009 fall season. Softball was also provided but returned to the Jamestown Campus.

"We feel it's important to have athletics as a choice for our students," said Sisson. "Athletics provides an experience for the students that want to continue to play a sport they love and do it at the collegiate level."

JCC will be the 13th institution to compete in men's cross country and the 12th institution to compete in women's cross country in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Region III this fall.

Additional details on the program can be obtained by calling Sisson at 338.1269 ext. 1269.