Dear Student, Athlete or Parent:
Otero Junior College has welcomed excellence over the years both academically and athletically with helpful faculty, staff, coaches and administrators. We are all committed to working together to achieve success in both academics and athletics as we combine excellent students and outstanding coaches that are committed to helping all students succeed in life as well as their respective sport. This year we hope to bring you more opportunities to follow our teams through game-day webcasts, radio webcasts, and feature articles.
Over the course of the last two years, Otero Junior Colleges Administration and staff have worked very hard to improve many areas of the athletic department; and the renovation of sport facilities has been one of them. Last year we had the opportunity to turf our infield at the 22nd Street Baseball Facility as well as a few other upgrades making the facility one of the best in not only the Junior College ranks, but in the country. Otero will be the only college in the Region IX that will have such a facility. The McDivitt Center Gymnasium also received a major upgrade in the addition of a new bleacher system complete with back and arm rests. Our Soccer team will play their inaugural season matches at the brand new state of the art Tiger Stadium complete with a sport turf field. Tippy Martinez field, home to Otero Junior College Softball, is currently undergoing a face lift as plans are to upgrade many areas of the facility as well.
Improved facilities, community commitment, fan support, and a group of outstanding coaches will all play a major role in taking on the Region IX Conference. Many of our programs are predicted to compete for Region IX championship honors while others should challenge for a bid to the National Tournament in their respective sports. Otero Junior College sincerely thanks our community and corporate sponsors for their continued support in allowing Otero Junior College to compete at the highest level possible.
During the past academic/athletic year, all of the OJC Rattler teams combined for a cumulative 3.1 cumulative grade point average; five of our sports teams were ranked nationally for the prestigious NJCAA Academic Team of the Year award. Forty-one Rattler student-athletes earned at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA for their career. Of those student athletes, one earned the NJCAA Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence (GPA of 4.0 for their career); four student athletes earned the NJCAA Award for Superior Academic Achievement (GPA of 3.8-3.99 for their career); and ten student athletes earned the NJCAA Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement (GPA of 3.60-3.79 for their Career). In the athletic arena, fourteen student-athletes earned Athletic All-Region IX honors.
It is our desire and commitment to our student athletes to grow as people, in the classroom, and in the athletic arena. Our website will allow you to find out about each program and its success in the class room and in competition. Please email any of our coaches or myself to find out more about our programs and how you can be involved in supporting Rattler Athletics. My office is located in McBride Hall in the Student Services Center and my door is always open to discuss the present and future plans of Otero Junior College Athletics.
I would like to extend an invitation to all to come out to this year’s athletic events and enjoy the quality of competition the Region IX has to offer.
Sincerely,
Gary Addington
OJC Athletic Director &
Student Services Recruiter
Gary.Addington@ojc.edu
