Bushey earns top WNYAC honors

Niagara County Community College sophomore wrestler Jordan Bushey was recently named 2019-20 Western New York Athletic Conference Senior Male Athlete of the Year, following a vote of conference athletic directors. 

Bushey joined elite company on the mats this past season, becoming the sixth NJCAA champion in program history. The 174-pounder was 35-2 this past winter on his way to NJCAA All-American and Region III/Eastern District I Wrestler of the Year honors. The team captain won individual crowns at six different tournaments, helping NCCC to its 23rd regional title. 

"What a great honor for Jordan and what a great season," NCCC wrestling coach Keith Maute said. "Jordan changed his life this past year and became really focused on his academics. And along with that came great success athletically. We always preach that they go hand-in-hand. If you eliminate the stress of being borderline in the classroom, it allows you more time to focus athletically. Jordan put a lot of effort into his academics, he felt better about himself and it gave him the confidence to succeed both on and off the mat."

Other conference award winners were: Vitor Chriguer de Goes Vieiera (Genesee CC, Men’s Soccer, Freshman Male Athlete of the Year), Ally Sobaszek (Monroe CC, Women's Volleyball, Freshman Female Athlete of the Year), Jenna Caskey (Jamestown CC, Women's Volleyball, Senior Female Athlete of the Year), Jose Manoel Faria Cavalini (Genesee CC, Men’s Soccer, Academic Male Athlete of the Year), Paige Emborsky (Niagara CCC, Women's Basketball, Academic Female Athlete of the Year) and Brian Dewey (Mercyhurst North East, Athletic Director, Distinguished Person Award).