Senior Members of Men's Basketball Team Recognized in Pregame

Prior to Tuesday’s basketball game against Penn State York, the Pennsylvania College of Technology men’s basketball team honored its five graduating seniors: Nicholas Deleon, Trevor Dietrich, James Fortenberry, Jesse Newman and Adam Smith.

Deleon, a building automation technology major from the Bronx, N.Y., is a two-year member of the squad – both years as a starter and one as team captain. He is leading the team in field-goal percentage and is second on the team in blocks. Deleon played a key role in the team’s win over Greater Allegheny this year, holding the team’s best inside player scoreless throughout the contest. He was named to the Penn State University Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference team for the 2011-12 season.

Dietrich, an aviation technology major from Quakertown, also is a two-year member of the team.  He saw action in 21 games last year, four of them as a starter while the team struggled with injuries. He played a key role in last year's win over Brandywine with his defense on the team’s best interior player. He returned to the team this season after working during the fall.

Fortenberry, a construction management major from Lemoyne, has seen action in 35 games over his two years on the team. Last year, he stepped up big as the semester progressed, helping the Wildcats in victories over Brandywine and Scranton. This season, Fortenberry continues to improve: He is leading his teammates in three-point percentage and is second in blocked shots and field-goal percentage. Fortenberry is also a member of the Penn College men’s volleyball club team.

Newman, a surveying technology major from Waterfall is in his his first year on the Wildcat squad after playing a year at Penn State Mont Alto (where he was also a starter). This year, he leads the Wildcats in assists, free throws and minutes played; he is second in scoring, rebounding and threes. He led the team to victory over Lehigh Valley this season with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Newman also made the all-tournament team at Susquehanna University. He is also a member of the Penn College men’s golf team.

Smith, a building automation technology major from Duncannon, is a two-year member of the team. After joining the team in the spring last year, Smith stepped up his game and continued to develop into a reliable shot blocker and post presence.  He played a huge role in the closing minutes of an upset victory over Greater Allegheny, while battling through a leg injury he received earlier in the game that would knock him out of action for three weeks. While on the basketball team, Smith has also excelled in the classroom: He is a U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association Academic All-American and was named to the PSUAC Academic All-Conference team. He is also a member of the Penn College tennis and volleyball teams.

'Red Out'
Attendees were encouraged to wear red in honor of "Heart Health Month," with a halftime foul-shot contest (pre-nursing student Bryanna L. Valentine, of Mifflinburg, edged out Bambi A. Hawkins, learning lab coordinator for paramedic, to win a College Store gift card) and honors for the "reddest" fan. That distinction went to Hernael N. Noel, an accounting major from Lebanon.

Photos by Whitnie-Rae Mays, student photographer