The time is finally here, my final column. As a graduating senior, the obvious feeling on leaving Iona is bittersweet.

When I receive my diploma on May 18 at Radio City Music Hall, the only thing I can do is look back at the great times I’ve had here. Thinking about it now, Iona has had great athletic success in the past four years and has put Iona College on the map in the sports world.

First thing’s first. The men’s and women’s cross country/track and field teams, are you kidding me? On the men’s side, they have won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship each year since 1991.

You read that right. For 21 consecutive years, they have been the best team in the conference. But it doesn’t stop there. The squad has had great success in the NCAA Championship as well, and recently had a streak of placing in the top 10 eight times out of the last 10 years.

Not to be outdone, the women’s team has raised the MAAC crown nine straight years and counting. It is safe to say that Iona cross country/track and field was, is, and will continue to be a national powerhouse.

Softball has been another constant threat in the MAAC. They have won three straight MAAC championships and in those three years had arguably one of the best pitchers to ever put on an Iona uniform in Sarah Jackson (’12).

Jackson demolished the season strikeout record as well as the career strikeout record and was as durable a softball pitcher can be.

Like softball, women’s water polo has now won MAACs in three straight seasons. Current junior Amy Olsen, who was just named MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, has had a tremendous season for the Gaels. She led the MAAC in goals per game with an average of 3.50 and was second in the conference in goals with 91 on the year. Olsen was also named to the All-Academic Team.

Women’s basketball continues to get better and better each season. Two out the past four years, they made postseason appearances in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

Sophomore Damika Martinez earned MAAC Rookie of the Year last season and MAAC Player of the Year this year. She led the conference in scoring back to back years and already has compiled over 1,000 points in her young career.

Martinez’s teammate, freshman Joy Adams, earned MAAC Rookie of the year this season and led the nation in double-doubles with 14.

The men’s basketball team has earned back to back NCAA Tournament appearances. They were regular season champions last year, and they were the first MAAC team in over a decade to receive an at-large bid. This season they took a more conventional road to the tournament by winning the MAAC championship over rival Manhattan in Springfield, Mass.

Scott Machado (’12) was one of the top point guards this school has ever seen, as he is the career assists leader with 880. His basketball career did not end at the Hynes Athletics Center, as he is currently with the Golden State Warriors.

Swimming and Diving has also received numerous accolades, including a gold medal won by junior Kerri-Anne Dodenhoff in the 100 breaststroke race at this year’s MAAC Championships.

All of these incredible accomplishments are just to name a few. During my four years I have been lucky enough to be around many amazing athletes who took, and will take their athletic ability beyond Iona.

To the average person, many do not see the time and dedication that athletes give for the name on the front of their jerseys. Between the games, practices, study hall, lifting, preseason and offseason, it is constant work in every sport here at Iona, and it has been a pleasure to be around such dedicated and hard-working individuals. Athletics here has made my Iona experience that much more special and I will take it wherever I go after graduation day.

To contact The Ionian’s Mike Ritz, email him at [email protected].