Full Feb. 9 Episode of “Hawk Athletics” hosted by David Horn
“Hawk Athletics” is a sports show hosted by David Horn airing every Friday at 12 p.m on the Where Hunter College Speaks (WHCS) radio station. The Envoy’s Conor Sullivan breaks down Horn’s weekly show and recaps the latest on all things Hunter athletics.
Hunter’s dominance in the CUNY Athletic Conference (AC) league continued over the winter recess as the Hawks aimed to break Baruch’s two-year run as Commissioners Cup winners.
With a commanding lead of 55 points, Hunter led second place Baruch by 14 in the standings for the best CUNYAC school after the fall semester. However, after last year’s capitulation, which saw Hunter lose 128 points to 126 points after having a monstrous 35-point lead, the Hawks needed to continue their momentum.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING
In terms of victory, the women’s swim team were the best performers. Although they only went two and two in their January meets, both wins came against opponents Baruch and Brooklyn College. The Hawks went into the championship as heavy favorites and finished the meet with 277 points, over 100 more than second place.
Swim co-captain and junior Kiana Guarino led the Hawks, winning six gold medals and setting two Hunter and two conference records in a standout performance. After the event, Guarino received the MVP award for the season. Teammates Germayne Chau, Nancy Leal, Kateryna Titarenko, and Lian Winter all won all-star honors, and coaches Tyrone and Kaitlin Hutchinson shared the Coach of the Year award.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The men’s basketball team started the winter break poorly, losing both games in the Moravian tournament before coming into the conference. However, when CUNYAC began, the Hawks looked like a different team. They brushed aside their lackluster form and recorded seven wins and two losses during CUNYAC play in January.
Another losing streak followed in February, with consecutive losses to Baruch, City College, and Lehman pushing them back to fourth in the conference standings coming into the playoffs.
The brightest spot for the team undoubtedly came from senior Luka Jakic, the 6’6” center who scored his 1000th point in Hunter’s Jan. 3 win over Medgar Evers College.
GUEST OF THE WEEK: LUKA JAKIC
Jakic is currently averaging 11.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and is one of two players averaging a double-double in conference this season. He looks on track to win a second all-star award after he made the CUNYAC first-team, composed of the best players in the league, in the 2021-22 season.
When asked what the team needs to do for the playoffs on the Feb. 9 episode of “Hawk Athletics,” hosted by David Horn on the WHCS radio, Jakic said in the regular season, the Hawks “dug ourselves too big of a hole, and we could not climb out [against CCNY].”
“I cannot let one or two misses affect me,” Jakic said. The Hawks lost close games this year due to bad starts, and the team needs to stick to their game plan to succeed, he added.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Hunter also started the winter below par in women’s basketball. They lost both games in the “Hoops for Hounds” tournament before coming into the conference. One win and two losses followed, and things began to look bleak for the Hawks.
Instead, they went on an eight-and-one run. They still sit fourth in the conference but are the best team in current form in all of CUNY.
Captain and sophomore Alexa Charles drove the team forward. Her play landed her two CUNY Player of the Week accolades and an All-Met DII/DIII Player of the Week award, given to the best college athletes in the metropolitan area.
She averages 23.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 5.5 steals in conference play. Her numbers for points, rebounds, and steals are all in the top 3 in CUNY, with her 3.2 assists still in the top 10. She scored her 1000th point against Brooklyn College only halfway through her sophomore year, a remarkable achievement.
Her dominance across all statistical categories almost ensures she will be in the MVP conversation come the season’s end.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The men’s volleyball team got off to a winning start in late January. They lost their opening two sets to Arcadia University, but fought back and won the match three sets to two.
However, the Hawks could not continue that momentum, going on a three-match losing streak.
MEN’S & WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
The men’s and women’s track and field teams continued strong over the winter break. In their five meets since the fall, the Hawks positioned themselves at the summit of the conference. They are looking to hold onto their title from cross-country against a reinvigorated Medgar Evers team at the indoor championships this Sunday.
The standout performers during this span were junior Brian Guillermo and sophomore Daria Niebrzydowski.
Guillermo won a CUNYAC Runner of the Week award after his personal record time of 2:05.35 in the 800 meters, putting him almost five seconds faster than second in the conference. He also secured first place in the mile and second in the 3000 meters.
Neibrzydowski won CUNYAC Field Athlete of the Week twice. Over the winter break, she placed first in CUNY in the high and triple jumps.
Guillermo and Niebrzydowski are going into Sunday’s championships as strong athletes and will continue to set the tone for their teams.
MEN’S WRESTLING
The men’s wrestling team have yet to find their form following the winter break. Their losing streak extended to 13 in a row, with eight losses coming in January and early February.
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S FENCING
The men’s fencing team attended the MACFA Event on Feb. 4 and picked up their first win this season against Yeshiva University. Meanwhile, women’s fencing attended the FDU Invitational on Feb. 11 and recorded two wins and three losses.
Notably, they beat fellow CUNYAC school City College 18 to 9.
LOOKING AHEAD: On next week’s “Hawk Athletics,” Alexa Charles (women’s basketball) and Brian Guillermo (men’s track & field) join David Horn to discuss their upcoming CUNYAC playoff matches.
The Envoy 
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